The Mentors Project: Greg Burris

MENTEE
Over the past few years, I’ve served as an “experienced executive” (i.e., old person) in the chamber’s program that provides a mentee from The Network.

OBJECTIVE
For me to learn as much as I can from these smart, energetic young professionals.

HOW
It should look like me getting smarter, but I’m not sure that’s happening. On the other side of the equation, I’m hopeful we are building future community leaders. This is going to be their community to lead before we know it!

RESULTS
I’ve witnessed one young professional, Teresa Coyan, create a young professionals group within her organization at CoxHealth. I’ve witnessed another young professional, Clay Trautman, start a nonprofit.

CHALLENGES
Time, time and time. There’s never enough time, so it’s important that community and business leaders make the time for this.

BREAKTHROUGHS
Working with Teresa to develop a flowchart on my conference room white board for what she wanted to accomplish within her organization. I think we both learned a lot through that process.

YOUR MENTOR
I’ve never had a formal mentor, but I’ve been fortunate to have a number of informal mentors, especially at MSU: Fred Marty, Jim Baker, John Keiser, Mike Nietzel. I learned something different from each of them.