Big Brothers Big Sisters builds strong relationship with business community
Irving Express Employment Professionals, a local privately owned staffing company, is dedicated to forming up-and-coming leaders by giving them the tools and training necessary to succeed in today’s high speed business world. In order to accomplish this mission they host workshops and conferences.
Last week they facilitated the Refresh Leadership Live Simulcast, a part of Express Employment’s leadership development program in which participants watch a web cast conference with speakers ranging from Patrick Lencioni, the author of a number of best-selling books on leadership, to Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith, two Dallas Cowboys who went on to become very successful business after retiring from professional football.
Express Employment, however, is not just a renter, assured owner Mike Overby. “All the proceeds for this program, we donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters. The same is true for the event’s co-sponsor, Chick-fil-a, as well.”
Will Benson, who attended the event in order to hone his management skills, said it gave him a “few tips and pointers” like the reminder that confrontation is an unavoidable part of leadership.
Trish Barton, who has just been given more responsibilities at her office, was also very positive about the simulcast and was very definitive about coming back in the future.
“I was given tools to become a better manager. I have a team to lead, and I want to do it to the best of my abilities,” Barton said.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star’s VP of Marketing and Communications, Dan Stuchal said that his organization did not only benefit monetarily from the event.
“We have a lot of volunteer mentors because of events like this,” he said. Although Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission is primarily with children, they are very happy that they have “a space like this that we can let the community use.”
On the whole, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ move to Irving has helped them in many ways.
“We moved our headquarters here about a year ago, and it’s been an unbelievable transformation to be in the middle of such a fantastic corporate center. It exposes our brand and mission to people we don’t usually get in touch with,” Stuchal said.
Tiffany Olson, Event Manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star (and a big sister herself) explained that they specifically focus on leadership building by doing events with organizations like the First Tee of Dallas, which teaches leadership through sports, and give them a glimpse into life in the business world as well. Their ‘bring your little one to work day’ program and Old Navy program, where the kids get a behind the scenes look at what makes a department store run, are exposing participants to the challenges that are faced by adult leaders at all levels.
