Here is where all my reflections are listed . It lists who they were, what they spoke about, and what I can take away for my life. Through this process I have learned much I can take into my career.
Tod Griffin
Recently we heard from Mr. Tod Griffin the owner of the Parker Chick-fil-A. He talked to us about how to run a Christian business, and what he does when looking for people to hire. He says that running a business isn't easy, and there are multiple factors to be considered when starting a business. He says that if you are looking into starting a business buy into a chain and that is much easier. What I can take away form this is are some interviewing skills, and he says especially having character, he said he hires people with character and I can use that to help get me a job.
Doug Campbell:
Recently we heard from Mr Doug Campbell, a representative of South Metro Supply Water Authority. He talked to us about the importance of water and how our water supply affects so much of our lives. We taught us about how water moves in Colorado and where it all comes from. He told us how we should be concerned about the future of our water supply. He told it takes lots of time and money to move water around Colorado and who has the rights to the rivers here. Something I can take away for my life is that sometimes it takes hard work and time to do things, and the best way to approach things is with foresight and a plan.
Bob Rossehl:
Recently we have heard from Bob Rossehl, president of Republic financial. He talked about what Republic financial does. More importantly, he told us about their company values. He told us how they were developed, and how they make the company look better. What I can take away into my life is having a set of values is important. I could create my own set of values and live those in my daily life and make myself more marketable to other companies, and see how their values line up with mine and if I should be working with them. The last thing I want to do is work for a company who breaks my moral code.
Edmund Tartar
We heard from Edmund Tartar in the recent past, the Senior Managing Director of GMT Global Republic Aviation. He talked about how the sub-company of Republic Financial makes money. They buy planes and lease them to airliners to and make a profit on the rent and scraping the plane when its lifetime is up. He talked about to how identify a "good deal", not only in their business, but in the rest of the world. For example, he talked about buying things lower than retail price, and making sure it always has resale value, and always being skeptical of what you buy, and consider all options before purchasing. This is applicable to my life so I know how to identify a good deal and not lose money on something, and how to identify how to buy anything really. The real question he taught us to answer was, "How do I get the most bang for my buck?".
Tom McCarthy
Recently we heard from Tom McCarthy, Vice President of Clean Coal Solutions, a company which distributes machines to lessen emissions from coal plants for tax deductions. He told us about joint ventures, several businesses coming together to create a new one for a joint purpose. The companies involved in Clean Coal Solutions are ADA, nexgen, Republic Financial, and Goldman Sachs. He also talked about all the work that went into their product and how hard work pays off. In my life I can apply this by working hard to accomplish my goals, and sometimes realize that I need not go at it alone, others can help me and share in my profits.
Steve Budnack
Recently we heard from Mr. Steve Budnack about running non-profit organizations. He is the chairman of the Parker Task Force, a food bank in Parker, Colorado. He shared how he ran a nonprofit, and made it successful. He said that he started budgeting and created a board of directors so he is responsible for the money that goes through is hands. He also talked about the counseling that people need to get themselves out of their bad situation. I can apply this to my life by using this to help me run my business if I own one and to better help me serve in the community.
Mr. Black Sr.
Recently, we heard from Mr. Black Sr. about making connections, who has made many connections and has spent 50 years is the Lutheran Ministry. He came to tell us his stories, and give us his ideas about making connections. Some of the things that I came away with was to not break communication, and dig deep to seek better connections. Some of the things I have heard that I can apply in my life is that connections have value and can get me places and I can do cool things. Also, sometimes making connections helps people come out of their shell and makes them feel loved.
Mr. Gager
We recently heard from Mr. Gager from the business department at LHS, and his talk about adversity. He has faced much adversity in his life, with his wife being diagnosed with cancer and the all the pain and struggles that came along with it. Some of the main points we heard from him was that do not look at the big picture, and that will seem more overwhelming. Instead, take it day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute, and the task becomes much more bearable. We also learned that support from other people is a great help, as their words of reassurance helps keep you moving on. We also talked about faith, which he believed was key in overcoming adversity and how he survived the ordeal of his wife's cancer. What I can take with me forward is that I should not freak out over adversity, and that taking it slowly helps, and keeping my faith along the way. I also learned that I should be a support to others and their times of overcoming adversity
Mrs. Soderqust
We recently heard from Mrs. Soderquist, the Vice President of Operations at Great West financial, and she talked to us about some skills needed in the current financial workplace. Some of the things she said were needed was research skills, intellectual curiosity, analytical skills, logical thinking, creativity, can-do mindset, emotional intelligence (or EQ), positive intelligence, and organizational skills. She says that good people that thrive in her line of business will go on to succeed in the work place, and that we should try to acquire these skills now so we can use them later to make ourselves look better. What I can take away from this is that I need to develop these skills now, and that I should identify what I am good at and use that to make myself shine in the workplace.
Ryan Bredow
Today, we heard from the director of Admissions and marketing, Mr. Ryan Bredow. He shared with us several key points, mainly that you don’t just market companies, you market yourself. Your brand is who you are, your mission is what you do, and your vision is where you are going. Another important thing is that people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. The why is your purpose, the what is your principles, and the how you do it are your methods in the analogy above. These are all things I will use in marketing myself to companies in the future, and to help me find a job.
Ryan Bredow pt. 2
Recently we finished our meeting with Mr Ryan Bredow of Lutheran High School, He continued to talk about the importance of your personal brand. He defined brand as who you are, and five things you communicate through brand are vision, purpose, value, commitment, and transparency. He also said don't create a personal brand that isn't you at the core, because not being you sucks. He also says don't change your identity to the age, it changes rapidly, and Christ does not. What I can take away from this is that my personal brand is important, and that a good personal brand will help me find a good university and a good job. Not only that, but the importance of not being too attached to this world, because it so rapidly changes.
Mr. David Ness
Today, we heard from Mr. Ness about personality, he is the principal of Lutheran High School in Parker, Colorado. He highlighted to us the importance of personality, and how to use our personality to our advantage. We need to identify our personality and make sure we are compatible with the people we work with. We should also be careful that our excess of strength does not turn into our weakness. I have taken away that my personality can have a major impact on how I work with other people, and that in the future I should take care that my personality is put to it’s best use.
Mr. David Ness pt. 2
Mr. David Ness, principal of Lutheran High School in Parker, Colorado spoke to us about the topic of personalized learning. He talked about the different teaching styles, the "sage on the stage" who tries to know everything and preach to the students what they know, or the "guide on the side" who helps guide students in their learning process instead of trying to learn everything about what all the students are interested in. We did a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) of ourselves and our own personalized learning. We talked about what skills we would need to develop, and how overcoming obstacles is important. What I take from this is that I should continue in personalized learning, and that it will be beneficial for my future.
Mr. Dan Gehrke
We heard from Mr. Dan Gehrke, Executive Director of the Colorado Lutheran High School Association. He worked his way through the ranks of the Denver Lutheran High School, becoming Principal, and when DLHS combined with Lutheran High School Parker, he became the executive director. He talked to us about how he runs our school. When asked about his job he says he does three things: Raise the vision (What do we want to look like), Raise the people (Get the right people for CLHSA), and raise the fund (He is the CEO, CFO, and Financial Director). He explained to us how the school runs on policy, and that he governs and is governed by policy of things that make his superiors uncomfortable if he goes outside those policies. He says three things that are necessary to runs a Lutheran school: 1. A high Lutheran population, Location of the school and money in the area, and unique source income/cash. What I can take away from this is that schools are hard to run, and how to better run my business if I start one.
Mrs. Hannah Buchholz
Mrs. Hannah Buchholz is the director of Admissions and Marketing. She spoke to us about the use of web design to make ourselves look more professional on the internet. She spoke to the importance of fonts to convey your message, use colors to help with that message, and make your theme drive it home. What I learned is that your website and promoting yourself is very important. If the typeface and font are too laid back, then you will carry yourself that way and look silly. Being to uptight will drive people away as you being unable to change. Finding the right balance is the key too being successful.
Mr. John Rinks
Mr. John Rinks is the Director of Development at Lutheran high school in Parker, Colorado. He spoke to us about following your interests and using those to direct where my life goes. He said that your life can be a lot of super cool things, and don't just stand on the sidelines expecting to catch touchdowns. He also made the point that life is short, and live it while you can. The final point he made is that life is full of risks, and you should take them, otherwise your life will be boring. What I took away from this that my interests will fuel my life, and if I do that I will never work a day in my life.
Mr. Steve Budnack
We recently went to observe the Parker Task Force, an organization in Parker which is meant to help feed the poor and get them back on their feet. We walked around with Mr. Steve Budnack, the chairmen of the Parker Task Force. He told us that most other food banks allow you to come as many times as you want, but the Parker Task Force only allows you to come a limited number of times to hold people accountable. It also tries to put the message of Jesus in the lives of people, in order to give them hope through these tough times. It has a backpack program for kids who go home and may not eat, trying to make sure everyone is fed at all times. I learned not only that am I very fortunate , I learned that keeping people accountable as well as keeping them fed makes for a successful food bank.
Mr. Paul Albers
Mr. Paul Albers is the Executive for Congregational Services for the Rocky Mountain district of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. There are 183 congregations, and 60 schools of all ages excluding universities that he coordinates to work together. His primary job is conflict resolution and problem solving as he serves as a consultant for churches having issues. He emphasized the foundation of why he does what he does is Jesus Christ and he believes Lutheran schools are the best places to form Christians. In schools people are spiritually formed, not made, because formed indicates that faith never stops developing. He also emphasized not knowing what to do in life is ok, as God takes you on your journey day by day. Some of the things I learned from his talk is that a Christ centered life will help you go far, and not knowing what to do in life is ok, because God will guide you.
Reverend Eckelkamp
Reverend Eckelkamp is a Pastor at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Denver, Colorado. He recently spoke to us about decision making and vocation. He taught us about the "mind map", a tool for making decisions and weighing the pros and cons of each option we have when making a decision. On the topic of vocation, or God's calling for our life, he talked about our SHAPE, or Spiritual gifts, Heart, Aptitude, Personality, and Experiences. Using these things we can find what we like or what we don't, what we are good at and what we aren't, and then we can use SHAPE to help find our vocation. Some things I am going to take away from his talk are asking myself five "whys" to get to the root of the problem, and that I don't have to find my vocation right away, and that it may take a few tries to find it.
Samantha Hedberg
Mrs. Samantha Hedberg is the Regional VP of Primerica Financial Services. She came and discussed the importance of finances and having a good financial plan. She talked about the exponential growth of money, and how beneficial it can be. She said that the important things is finance are not always the urgent things, and that the things that seem far away will come quickly and you should let the exponential growth of money work for you. She talked about how making your money work for you is the best way to make money. Some of the things I took away from this talk are invest early and let compound interest work for you, and that money is a resource that will go far with better management.
Mr. Dan Gehrke
Mr. Gehrke talked to us about running a good business and working with partners in running a business. Mr Gehrke is the executive director at Lutheran High School in Parker. One of the steps to working well as a team is know how people work. By knowing what the strengths and weaknesses and strengths of your partners, you can cover each others weakness and work with each others strengths. Another key is know how to present change to them. If you know how to present change to them, you can know how to get them on your side or who to go to to scrutinize the change. Another thing is to have a plan, to know who is doing what so that you can hold each other accountable. Some things I will take away from this talk is that working as a team can be beneficial and that you need good planning as a team to work well.