Ted Martinez
Hanover Insurance Group
board member, Conexiones
I decided to pursue the Leadership Premier program after observing my daughter Elizabeth’s positive experience with Leadership U and Youth on Board from a parent’s perspective. Once she completed both programs during her high school junior and senior years a couple years ago, it served as a source of personal inspiration for me. That’s when I realized that I had relatively little appreciation for all that Howard County has to offer.
The timing also coincided with a personal goal I established for myself, i.e., identify local areas of interest whereby I could “give back” to my community in a leadership capacity. As I learned more about the Leadership Premier program, it became clear it was a perfect blend that would help me reach my objective.
Not only did the Premier program exceed my personal expectations, it prompted me to reflect on what community leadership is really all about. As the year progressed I learned that before I could actually give back, I had to review my own personal priorities to make room for what was to come. Essentially, I found myself being in the “right place at the right time” to ensure I can make a meaningful contribution to my community.
The Premier program not only exposed me to what truly makes Howard County a great place to live, it encouraged me to find and follow my personal passion in order to make a real difference. This is how the Premier program became much more personal for me. I now find myself being much more aware of those in need within our local community, and I have identified some areas where I intend to make a personal impact.
Ironically, the entire notion surrounding my desire to make an impact prompted me to review my professional aspirations. As a result, soon after the Premier graduation ceremony, I decided to leave my prior employer, which is a large global company that required extensive travel. Now I am with a much smaller company that encourages local community involvement, which is now more consistent with my personal goals.
The basic principles I learned about in the Premier program have inspired me to “right-size” my personal priorities. By deciding to take my professional career in a new direction, I hope to foster community-based relationships that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible.
While the Premier program showed me the way, it provided me with a new level of confidence to help me make an impact on the community in which I live.
Felicita Solá-Carter
Feli Solá-Carter Consulting
board president, Conexiones
While I anticipated broadening my network of community leaders, I did not anticipate the breadth and depth of information to be learned about Howard County.
Despite my active community role to date, the Leadership Premier program exceeded expectations in every way. The class colleagues each brought superb talents and unique experiences that enriched us all. The program structure ensured we each gained exposure to multiple perspectives of life in Howard County, from elected officials to educators to corporate, agricultural and community challenges.
Each of us leaves the program with a renewed appreciation of what it means to reside in the county, and more importantly, a focused commitment to serve so others may also benefit from life in Howard County.
