BLI Graduation Year: 2001
Tell us briefly about yourself and please update your classmates on your personal/professional experiences since graduating from BLI:
Since my BLI experience, I took the leap from working as the Director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action Officer at Tompkins Cortland Community College to entrepreneurship. I formed a leadership coaching and consulting company to support leaders in developing their full potential. I’ve had the honor of working with leaders in many small and large organizations in New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. I expanded my coach training and obtained an Associate Coaching Certification from the International Coaching Federation plus two additional coaching credentials from the Boss Whispering Institute and the Bregman Leadership Coaching Training Intensive.
Favorite Books/Movies:
I’ve always been an avid reader! I enjoy reading for pleasure as well as for work, therefore it’s hard to recommend one or two books. A couple of my favorite authors for pleasure reading are Richard Paul Evans and Nicholas Sparks. The business-related authors I appreciate include John Maxwell, Marshall Goldsmith, Jim Collins and many more. Two leadership books I often recommend to people are “You Don’t Need A Title to Be a Leader” by Mark Sanborn (a quick and easy read) and a great basic leadership book titled “The Leadership Challenge: How to make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations” by Kouzes and Posner.
Current and Past Notable Civic Activities (boards, organizations, [member/officer]):
Since BLI, I was a member of the BLI Alumni Board, the Family & Children’s Society Board, the Southern Tier Association for Human Resources (STAHR) Program Committee, and volunteered at the Discovery Center. I currently participate on the Binghamton Rescue Mission Development Committee, the Greater Binghamton Chamber Membership Committee and I’m a member of Business Networking International (BNI), the Society for Human Resource Management and the International Coach Federation.
Interests/Hobbies (sports, music, travel, etc):
I have a passion for traveling. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting almost every state in the United States. I’ve also enjoyed taking trips to Italy, France, Mexico, Bermuda and numerous other tropical locations.
How did your BLI experience change your perception of the community?
Because I grew up in the area, I thought I knew quite a bit about our community. However, the BLI experience helped me to gain an in-depth understanding of the many issues facing Broome County and how I could contribute to the development of our community.
How did your BLI experience motivate you to become more involved in the community?
One of the BLI sessions included a discussion about the needs of some of the non-profit agencies in the area. It sparked a desire to step up and increase my volunteer efforts in the community.
What was your most memorable BLI activity/moment?
The most memorable activity was the ropes course we went through. It was fun and at the same time it challenged you both physically and mentally.
What was the most valuable benefit to your from your BLI experience?
The biggest benefit of participating in BLI is the friendships you develop. You have the opportunity to meet a great group of talented people from diverse backgrounds.
What “nugget of wisdom” do you have for your fellow BLI alum?
I encourage my fellow BLI alum to inspire others to participate in BLI. I’ve recommended it to numerous other professionals over the years and all of them have enjoyed it and have grown from the experience.