AUSTINBURG TOWNSHIP —
Within every great leader there are qualities that are inborn and those that have to be learned. At Grand River Academy students had the chance of getting to meet a person to help teach those lessons. Ashtabula native Kevin Grippi, who was essential to both the Light the Lift Bridge project and the Rails for Trails bike path, came to speak at the Lunch with a Leader Program at Grand River Academy held in the Robert S. Morrison Lecture Center.
The Lunch with a Leader program was started in 2009 by Tom O’Neal, the director of development at GRA and also a 1971 GRA alumnus.
“The goal of the program is two fold,” said Mr. O’Neal. “Obviously it helps our students learn more about this community and the world that they will soon step into, but it also gives the speakers a chance to connect with our boys, and learn their goals.”
Mr. Grippi came to talk mainly on the importance of networking and how it can give you an advantage in the world and set you apart from other people.
“This experience was valuable and provided good insight for situations I’m sure I will encounter later in life,” said Greg Geis, a senior at Grand River Academy.
Mr. Grippi also hit on topics ranging from being able to be versatile to the small risks that you may take, the ability to maintain relationships and how some decisions that will have impact on your life long term.
Past speakers have included Mark Winchell of the Ashtabula County Convention & Visitors Bureau; businessmen George Milbourn and Richard Morrison; Steve Varckette of Andover Bank; and local business leader Louise Morrison Raffa. Topics have included goal setting, interviewing techniques, and the importance of personal appearance. Mr. Grippi spoke specifically about the need to watch what is published in social media pages like Facebook.
“Employers are going to scrutinize everything they can before hiring you, and photos that make you look angry or slovenly are going to register with them as they evaluate you,” said Grippi.
He also pointed out that many employers are moving away from hiring smokers because of the time loss during the day, as well as the increased health insurance costs associated with smoking.
“I learned during a summer job that leadership is a large component of interaction in the adult world,” said junior Tony Householder. “This program helps promote a foundation of leadership skills.”
The Lunch with a Leader program is an outstanding way for students at Grand River Academy to associate themselves with quality leaders that could in some way impact their lives and potentially their career paths. While this was the first meeting this year with the Lunch with a Leader Program it will not be the last. For many this experience was eye opening in the fact that relationships, how one presents themselves, work ethic and leadership qualities all play an enormous part in how one can be successful when pursuing a career.
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Related Photos
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Nick Bare
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GRAND RIVER Academy seniors greet Kevin Grippi as the guest speaker for the Lunch with a Leader program in January in the Robert S. Morrison Lecture Center at GRA. Pictured: Greg Geis, Grippi, Jeremy Pace and Derek Mou. Grippi has been involved with community projects such as the Light the Lift Bridge project and Western Reserve Greenway Trail. He is also village administrator of Roaming Shores.
Discussion
Local professional shares leadership insight with students at Grand River
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