Archives for August 2015

My name is Patrice Hazel-Garcia and I reside in Brooklyn N.Y. with my husband and two children (12 and 8). I currently work as a Senior Manager of a contact center for a financial institution; a task which can be challenging at times but is also a rewarding experience as you help people in one of the toughest area of their lives… their finances. My long term goals are to complete my degree and while I love what I do I am more interested in working in an area that is more tailored to developing corporate culture.

I have worked with my employer for the last 14 years during which time I was afforded opportunities to move up the different ranks within my department, starting the journey as a part time customer service agent to the position that I currently hold as Senior Manager. As a leader of a staff of about 56 part time and full time employees, 3 team leaders and 3 assistant managers, my day can be very interesting as I try to devise ways to manage the work but also the multiple personalities in the mix.

There is a quote that Maya Angelou penned which is not necessarily a leadership quote per se, as it can be applied in many facets of life, but I think that it is something that leader should always keep in the forefront as they exercise their role:  “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

I hope that we all have a great semester and I look forward to working with you all!

Hello Class!

My name is Ryan Kinkade, and I am located in Beaverton, Oregon. Technically I’m in Boston while writing this, but my home is in Oregon. I travel for work pretty frequently (I’ll be in Florida next week) although I think that will settle down soon which I’m very much looking forward to.

Professionally I’m a Product Manager at Nike’s World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. I’ve been at Nike for almost 8 years. My “Product” at Nike is digital communications. In short, if you receive an email from Nike that’s my team. It’s a pretty fun job and I get to meet a lot of interesting people through it. My wife also works at Nike, and a couple of our children are working their way through the Nike daycare as well. We’re all in with Nike you could say. We have three children total and a German Shepherd dog as well.

I have a lot of long-term goals. The first is to graduate from college. I guess with only two semesters left this long-term goal is shifting into short term. At work I’d like to become an industry expert, and not just the expert on my team. I’d also like to travel the world and learn about other cultures along the way.

Currently I manage a small team of about ten people located in Beaverton and offshore in India. My team is currently merging with another team though, and my team will grow to about 25 people in the next couple of weeks. I’m excited and nervous for the new members of my team.

Before this assignment I didn’t have a favorite leadership quote. I had to look them up. But after a quick Google search I found one that resonates with me:

“If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” Steve Jobs (Mohan, 2014)

I like this quote because I try to get my team excited about the work we do. I always think the easiest way to motivate them is to get them excited about what they are doing. I can’t “make” them work hard or be innovative. But if they love being on the team and the work we do it comes easier for them.

I’m looking forward to this semester and learning a lot along the way.

Thanks Ryan

Bibliography Mohan, M. (2014, 02 01). Over 61 Inspirational Steve Jobs Quotes You Should Know. Retrieved 08 27, 2015, from Minterest: http://www.minterest.org/best-inspirational-quotes-by-steve-jobs/

I am Andrew Van Buskirk and currently serve as a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy with the Marine Division.  I am a leading petty officer for about 10 people and I love it.  I have been a leading petty officer for about 5 years now and have had ranges from 10 to 55 junior personnel directly responsible to me.  My Wife and I live with our two pets in southern California, both pursuing degrees of our own, mine in Organizational Leadership and hers as a pastry chef.

Professionally, I am fairly senior and made it semi quickly, roughly half way to a retirement.  My eventual goal is to finish this degree and get accepted as a Healthcare Administrator, completing a dual masters program through Baylor-Army within the next 4 years.  Additionally the wife and I are looking to have children soon and purchase a home.

My favorite Leadership quote, said by William Arthur Ward, is: “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change.  A Leader adjusts the sails.”  Mostly this is because it is directly relatable to me being in the Navy but I also believe it correctly illustrates that leadership requires more than an outlook; it requires the skills and abilities to make necessary changes to guide their junior personnel.

I look forward to meeting and working with all of you this semester.  best of luck to everyone!

Andrew

My name is Ross McMurray and I’m from York, Pa. My wife and I have a 7 year old daughter and two 5 year old boys. I’m currently the Operations Quality lead engineer on the Paladin Integration Model for BAE Systems. Basically we are building the Army’s first major acquisition in 25 years since the Abrahams. It’s a M109A7 self propelled 155mm howitzer. Prior to that I spent 8 years on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle program.

Prior to working at BAE I was a United States Marine from 2000-2004 serving one tour in Irag at the start of OIF in 2003. I was a Light Armor Vehicle mechanic or LAV serving in 3rd LAR Battalion in 29 Palms, Ca. I miss it everyday.

Other than work and my kids I’m an avid Orioles fan and an insane Ohio State Buckeye fan. Growing up in Ohio we didn’t have much else in life other than beer, friends, and the Bucks. Unanimous #1 baby!!!

My goal in OLEAD is to complete my bachelors and proceed into the Program Management masters program to eventually take a program manager position at BAE. I like my job in quality but it gets old quickly always being tasked to clean up all the messes people make of the program and always having to be the bad guy.

Hershey Park ’15.

My name is Jennifer, I’m from Central PA.  I currently own my own cleaning company which was started about 3 months ago after a very bad experience from my previous employer.

– I’m in central PA, near (approx. 15 minutes) Penn State Main Campus

– I am currently the owner of a cleaning company.  It is very new and I am learning new things everyday.

– My long term goals are to be the CEO of a company which I am currently working towards with owning my own company.

– Before I owned my own company I was a supervisor for 9 years and worked at that place of employment for a total of 11 years.

– I do not have a favorite leadership quote as of yet.  I think when I see that quote it will always be with me, something that is meaningful forever.

In addition I do have 2 children and before I met my current fiance I was a single mother. Because of the world today I don’t post photos of my kids online, I know, I know over protective.  Life is full of experiences and lessons, I’m not perfect in this life and will never claim to be I just hope to better it for myself and my children.  I hope my kids learn that in life no matter where you are you can do anything you want to do.  Good luck to everyone in class.  I wish you all the best.

Hi Everyone!

My name is Joseph (Joe) Melton.  I currently live in Savannah, GA with my wife, 12 year old daughter, 2 year old son, and 6 year old dog.  I journeyed here after growing up in Tennessee and spending most of my adult life in Philly.  I have since stopped shoveling snow and enjoy hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, and adventuring through the Southeast, especially via water.

I currently work at Gulfstream building airplanes like the G650 as an SAP Basis and Security Team Manager.  I have over twenty people working with me on our team from all over the globe both on and offshore.  This is my first official leadership capacity although I’ve had to lead teams unofficially for years in my consulting days.

My quest is to enjoy my life and try to help other people enjoy theirs’ while doing great work and leaving a legacy along the way.  I tried planning my career out before, and I’ve found I enjoy going where life takes me rather than targeting certain positions or titles.  It seems to me that leadership never leaves you wanting for adventure or advancement.

My favorite leadership quote is attributed to Antoine de Saint-Exupery who said, “If  you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders.  Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”  I like this so much because I think giving people vision that they embrace and getting out of their way gets so much more done than seeing yourself as George Washington on the front of a boat crossing the Delaware.

Hello all! My name is Aaron White and I am currently a Project Manager at The Vanguard Group in Malvern, PA. I am trying to finish up my Bachelors degree after a several year hiatus from classes. I attended Purdue University a while back and I’m originally from Indiana. My long term goal is to make as much money as I can and retire early. While finishing up my education will help me obtain this, I really am doing it because it’s something I want to accomplish on a personal level. Also, while I am currently an independent contributor, I’d like to move into people leadership at some point.

I don’t have children and I love to golf (not unusual). I did hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine 10 years ago so I usually use that as an icebreaker.

Here’s me giving the “thumbs up” to all of you and enjoying learning about global leadership!