Sean Brennan, left, an engineer on the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, mentors Pedro Swaby, an intern in the Support Equipment Common Avionics Branch on career decisions and options during the Jan. 23 Speed Mentoring day at NAWCAD Lakehurst, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Navy photo)
“Speed Mentoring” Day for Navy Lakehurst Employees
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Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. – We’ve all heard about “Speed Dating,” where two potential partners meet for a few minutes to exchange likes, dislikes and thoughts before moving on to the next potential partner to engage in a few more minutes of similar banter. The end goal is to find a mutual attraction and set a “date” to further explore a potential relationship.
The same concept, with a few obvious variations, was recently adapted by Marie Pizzella and Michael Nguyen, Human Resource specialists for the Total Force Strategy & Management Department at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Pizzella and Nguyen held a “Speed Mentoring” day at Lakehurst on Jan. 23 in conjunction with National Mentoring Month (January).
“Recent employees to NAWCAD, all with less than three years experience, were teamed with senior Navy leaders to ask questions about balancing career and home life, exploring career options and the varied programs offered within the command and to garner other bits of advice to take throughout their careers,” according to Pizzella.
A team of ten senior managers, led by Kathleen Donnelly, Senior Executive Service director of Support Equipment and Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment at Lakehurst spent the morning with the young engineers, scientists and contract specialists in a relaxed atmosphere that allowed the mentees to talk one-on- one with the senior leaders. Questions about career paths and development were discussed and personal tips were offered by the mentors.
This first time event was well received by the participating mentors and mentees and allowed for a personal connection that might not normally occur in the day-to-day workplace. Mentees got to meet with leaders from other NAWCAD divisions and received frank advice and guidance on what to expect from a civilian career with the Navy.
With the success of this “Speed Mentoring” event and last year’s mentoring workshop, Pizzella and Nguyen look forward to future career development programs to support the Lakehurst workforce.
The same concept, with a few obvious variations, was recently adapted by Marie Pizzella and Michael Nguyen, Human Resource specialists for the Total Force Strategy & Management Department at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Pizzella and Nguyen held a “Speed Mentoring” day at Lakehurst on Jan. 23 in conjunction with National Mentoring Month (January).
“Recent employees to NAWCAD, all with less than three years experience, were teamed with senior Navy leaders to ask questions about balancing career and home life, exploring career options and the varied programs offered within the command and to garner other bits of advice to take throughout their careers,” according to Pizzella.
A team of ten senior managers, led by Kathleen Donnelly, Senior Executive Service director of Support Equipment and Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment at Lakehurst spent the morning with the young engineers, scientists and contract specialists in a relaxed atmosphere that allowed the mentees to talk one-on- one with the senior leaders. Questions about career paths and development were discussed and personal tips were offered by the mentors.
This first time event was well received by the participating mentors and mentees and allowed for a personal connection that might not normally occur in the day-to-day workplace. Mentees got to meet with leaders from other NAWCAD divisions and received frank advice and guidance on what to expect from a civilian career with the Navy.
With the success of this “Speed Mentoring” event and last year’s mentoring workshop, Pizzella and Nguyen look forward to future career development programs to support the Lakehurst workforce.
Mentors and mentorees meet and discuss career development concerns during Speed Mentoring day at NAWCAD Lakehurst, N.J., Jan. 23. (U.S. Navy photo)