Leadership skills are learned and practiced beyond the classroom.
Effective leadership is not only needed in the workplace — it’s also a necessity for the community. Leadership is about creating opportunities all around us. At Crestcom, we know leadership goes beyond the classroom. Crestcom and its partners choose to make a difference around the world, whether it’s giving back to the community, helping others as an advocate or mentor, or serving in leadership roles for community organizations.
Dr. Paul Latortue
Crestcom and its franchisees aspire to make an impact for others inside and outside the classroom. For instance, Dr. Paul Latortue, a Crestcom franchisee in Haiti, wanted to instill positive change for Haiti by investing in the future of its people by providing an effective structure for professional leadership.
“In Haiti, there is a lot of need for learning how to deal with people and how to treat people professionally; for learning how to exercise and model positive leadership in the workplace. I think people really enjoy it because it’s not their reality at work, but they want it to be—and they want to be part of that change,” said Latortue.
Crestcom HQ staff at a Habitat for Humanity event.
On October 2, Crestcom headquarters completed a volunteer project for Habitat for Humanity, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families build homes. Crestcom franchisees worldwide have also dedicated time and passion for helping others in their communities.
Bich Hoang Ngoc, a Crestcom franchisee in Vietnam, is a national advocate for families affected by autism. She serves as Chairperson of the Vietnam Autism Network and the treasurer for the ASEAN Autism Network.
Some Crestcom franchisees invest in the impact of education and future opportunities for students. Bart Kohnhorst, Crestcom franchisee in Texas, serves as a mentor for graduate and undergraduate students in the Hendrick Scholarship Foundation program. Bart is also a member of the Thunderbird School of Global Management’s Executive Leadership Council as an advisor, mentor, and consultant.
“I love helping today’s managers and learners become leaders who commit to inspiring change and to developing amazing teams that drive long-term productivity and growth,” Kohnhorst said.
Other franchisees who have contributed a leadership role in community organizations and activities include:
(Right) Tammy Berberick, Crestcom CEO and President.
Maria Ortiz, Crestcom franchisee in Puerto Rico, is a professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She is currently the President of Ortiz, Lord, Hope, & Associates, which is a non-profit organization adding value to diverse educational institutions through strategic analysis, professional development, and technical training of human resources.
John Partington’s participants donating the fruits of their action plan to a food bank.
Bazz Houston International (BHI) is a successful, innovative metal-forming contract manufacturer in Garden Grove. BHI’s Crestcom participants created a team project to carry out their monthly action plan company-wide. by creating a summer Food Drive competition to aid their local food bank. The team came up with a vision, mission and established goals. By the end of two months, 1,500lbs of food was ready for collection by the food bank. The Four-Slide, Tooling and Production Control departments were declared winners and BHI held a luncheon in their honor. BHI’s CEO and owner, Javier Castro, praised the success of the initiative not only for serving the community but also for generating comradery and excitement at BHI. As a Crestcom graduate himself, Castro believes in Crestcom’s leadership and development program as he sees his managers develop into leaders.
Crestcom’s approach to leadership begins in the classroom; however, the lessons learned have a global impact through the individuals that develop the skills to inspire, guide, and lead others towards a better tomorrow.
