SYS-STEM Program Development: An NSF Pilot

SYS-STEM (See Yourself Succeeding in STEM) is a BHEF (Business-Higher Education Forum) and NSF (National Science Foundation funded pilot. The program focuses on students interested in working in the water industry, that are currently enrolled in a 2 year technical college program. SYS-STEM creates relationships with industry to extend paid internships to these first generation or minority students, increasing the likelihood of transition to a four year institution and ideally graduate school.

Developed & Conducted:                                                 Global Rapid Growth Training

Global teams are responsible for identifying, testing and implementing strong growth opportuntities. The Rapid Growth Process is a foundation and structure used to identify, test, and launch those opportunities to be vetted within a 3-6 month time frame and then reformulated for either greater success, but modified scope or to be eliminated from the list of high potential target opportunities.

Accelerated Team Building: Dragon Boat Racing

Intense, positive relationships are formed through unique hands-on experiences that bind a team together, illustrating what is possible when in sync and the benefits of a diverse group of participants. Dragon boat racing served as the most successful, team building event I’ve proposed and hosted. Team Pentair placed 2nd among 40+ teams the first year participating. The synergy of the wins achieved that day, carried over as great personal and team pride in the office for posterity.

Program Development: Internships & Co-ops

Historically I had hosted professional growth workshops for organizations outside my employer. Then, the day came that I was asked to host one internally, and another … and another. I became one of the go-to business personnel for innovative, engaging ideas to help identify, vet and prepare young talent for the strong career and challenges ahead.

Mental Grit: MS150

Intense life experiences that combine fitness, team success and require consistency in showing up, build great – sustainable high functioning employees and teams. I am one of them. During the final interview, my future VP of Global Marketing asked me, ‘Do you row?!?’ I peered back him with the internal dialogue ‘… ummm I never have,’ but instead I said, ‘If you need me to row … I can row.’ [blink. blink.] Him ….’noooo, if you are not already a rower forget it, … but do you cycle!?! (said completely serious).  Me … thinking … (‘What am I in for?’). I was IN. That moment transformed my life … I became a distance cyclist, for charity and now … its’ part of me, and what I do.

Leadership Workshop Development

My first official internship, was with MRA – The Management Association. I conducted cost and profit analysis on various product lines and services offered. I was encouraged to take management courses while working there to better understand the teaching style of workshops and to engage in the hands-on learning. I did … and throughout my career, talent has been an integral part of who I am. I work to share in an interactive way, strategies to be one’s best advocate, to move one’s career forward at an accelerated rate, and to offer people a lense to see opportunity, and when it is even partially clear … I teach the method about how to seize it, how to step forward, via baby steps or via great, life altering leaps.