The Mentors Project: John Wanamaker

MENTEE
Paden Wilcox, business development manager at Computer Recycling Center

OBJECTIVE
This is part of the Springfield chamber’s Experienced Professional/Young Professional Mentor-To-Mentor Program to establish a connection benefitting each personally and professionally.

HOW
Monthly meetings at the place and time that works for both Paden and myself. At our meetings, we share experiences, background, advice and insights.

RESULTS
One measure of success is for me to establish a contact with Paden as a successful young professional allowing me to gain valuable insight into our city’s developing workforce and future leaders. For Paden, the goal is for him to earn a respected professional as a reference and for him to gain insight into the established workforce and to gain valuable knowledge and career coaching. I believe we both are seeing these things as a result of our relationship.

YOUR MENTOR
BKD practice partners Darryl Bueker and Dave Henderson were great mentors for me and helped me greatly progress in my career as a practice partner. As I moved into management roles for the firm, (former Chief Operating Officer) Bill Kirkman unquestionably became my mentor and taught, coached and counseled me regarding practice unit management.