Texas Tech University Athletics
Mentor Initiative Enters Sixth Year for Tech Athletics
October 01, 2019 | Student-Athlete Development
Nine-month mentor initiative seeks to impact select Texas Tech staff with leadership training
LUBBOCK, Texas – The J.T. and Margaret Talkington Leadership Academy began its sixth year of providing leadership development for Texas Tech athletics department staff Wednesday afternoon with its annual mentor initiative opening luncheon.
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In this program, members of Texas Tech's executive staff are paired with an employee from a different area outside his or her normal expertise in order to learn various leadership techniques and expand their general knowledge of the athletics department.
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"This program is designed specifically to invest in our people," said Amy Heard, the Senior Associate Athletics Director in charge of the leadership academy. "We work to build future leaders from within our own athletics department. The skills development, connections across units and shared knowledge create powerful opportunities to become better professionals for the ultimate benefit of our student-athletes."
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This is the sixth-consecutive year Texas Tech Athletics staff has benefited from the nine-month mentor initiative through the leadership academy. During that span, more than 60 participants have gone through the program, which features small group meetings, leadership sessions and one-on-one meetings with each mentor.
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This year's class consists of Gene Canal (Assistant A.D. for Promotions and Fan Engagement), Dayna McCutchin (Director of Sports Nutrition), Bryan Gates (Assistant A.D. for the Red Raider Club), Jessica Gray (Assistant Director in J.T. & Margaret Talkington Leadership Academy), Kevin Hansen (Associate Director for Compliance), Drew Ingraham (Associate A.D. for Communications and Marketing), Morgan Thomas (Associate Head Volleyball Coach) and Danielle Villarreal (Assistant Director for Compliance).
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The mentor initiative will close in early May with a celebration lunch for every participant along with Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt and his executive staff at the Texas Tech Club.
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In this program, members of Texas Tech's executive staff are paired with an employee from a different area outside his or her normal expertise in order to learn various leadership techniques and expand their general knowledge of the athletics department.
Â
"This program is designed specifically to invest in our people," said Amy Heard, the Senior Associate Athletics Director in charge of the leadership academy. "We work to build future leaders from within our own athletics department. The skills development, connections across units and shared knowledge create powerful opportunities to become better professionals for the ultimate benefit of our student-athletes."
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This is the sixth-consecutive year Texas Tech Athletics staff has benefited from the nine-month mentor initiative through the leadership academy. During that span, more than 60 participants have gone through the program, which features small group meetings, leadership sessions and one-on-one meetings with each mentor.
Â
This year's class consists of Gene Canal (Assistant A.D. for Promotions and Fan Engagement), Dayna McCutchin (Director of Sports Nutrition), Bryan Gates (Assistant A.D. for the Red Raider Club), Jessica Gray (Assistant Director in J.T. & Margaret Talkington Leadership Academy), Kevin Hansen (Associate Director for Compliance), Drew Ingraham (Associate A.D. for Communications and Marketing), Morgan Thomas (Associate Head Volleyball Coach) and Danielle Villarreal (Assistant Director for Compliance).
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The mentor initiative will close in early May with a celebration lunch for every participant along with Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt and his executive staff at the Texas Tech Club.
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