Where will the future business and community leaders of Fairfield County come from?
Many may emerge from the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County”™s Young Leaders Society, which is focused on the building blocks needed for a good life: a quality education that leads to a stable job, income that can support a family through retirement, and good health.
At a recent Breakfast with the Boss event in Stratford, 22 members of the Young Leaders Society heard from Jeffrey Pino, president of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. and past chairman of United Way”™s campaign, and Eric Stone, regional vice president of the Southern New England Region of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and current chairman of the campaign.
Pino talked about his early desire to become a baseball player, a dream shared by Stone as well. But when Pino”™s brother suggested he join the ROTC training program, he enjoyed the adventure. He fell in love with helicopters and become a test pilot.
“My feeling is, make sure what you do is something you are passionate about,” he advised the group.
A relationship with employees
Pino feels leadership also includes the relationship with employees. He engages his employees through town hall meetings to connect them with the big picture. He also believes in fostering leadership skills in his managers and to “expand what managers do so that they become leaders.”
Through Stone”™s leadership, his region has assisted Enterprise Rent-A-Car New York in winning Enterprise”™s highest honor ”“ The Jack Taylor Founding Values Award for seven consecutive years. This award is presented to Enterprise groups that excel in core areas of the business including internal and supplier diversity, government relations, business ethics, community relations, philanthropy and employee work-life balance.
“I agree with Jeff when he says, ”˜Whatever you do, it needs to be the best it has ever been done,”™” said Stone. “I was excited to accept the role of campaign chair again this year because I believe it is so important for local companies to give their employees the opportunity to give back to the community, both financially and through volunteerism. United Way provides companies the ability to do just that, which not only positively impacts the local community but brings employees together around a common cause. The companies benefit as well by creating a more engaged work force, which can enhance both morale and company performance.”
Pino, Stone want results
For both of these corporate leaders, getting results is key. Sikorsky Aircraft views community involvement as a way to help youths and other neighbors live healthy, educated and productive lives, which circles back into stronger communities and businesses.
“During my year as chair, I saw the passion and commitment that United Way has to change lives and with the help of corporations and employees like Sikorsky, we can do that together,” said Pino.
For Stone, who is serving his second year as campaign chairman, he is focused on bringing the message of United Way”™s work to more companies and their employees throughout the region.
“There is so much we can do in partnership with United Way to help our local communities and therefore our employees and their families,” he said. “Together, we can make change happen.”
According to the United Way, the group”™s mission is to create a network of young, aspiring professionals who demonstrate leadership through volunteerism and philanthropy. Members of the Young Leaders Society have the opportunity to develop personally and professionally through opportunities such as nonprofit board training workshops and networking events, be invited to special group service events, and learn about leadership and the programs that are changing our community. The society gives members the tools to become leaders and make a difference.
I, for one, cannot wait to see these young people make a tremendous impact on our community.
Rob Sullivan is the publisher and executive editor of the Bridgeport Banner daily website and monthly print edition. The website can be accessed at www.bridgeportbanner.typepad.com. He lives in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport.
