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3/14/2005 11:05 AM Minneapolis St. Paul THE BUSINESS JOURNAL February 18, 2005 When I first met my roommate at American University in Washington, D.C., in the fall of 1977, I knew we’d hit it off. Tom was a great guy, who, as my roommate, obviously was a big part in my years at AU. But it was his father who had a lasting impact on me. The Honorable Fred B. Ugast, now retired, was chief judge of the Superior Court of Washington, D.C. One of the advantages of attending AU is the opportunity to participate in the activities of our nation’s capital. Judge Ugast played a significant role in my experience and understanding of the world inside the Beltway. In the process, he taught me the importance of unwavering integrity and using a team approach to tackle problems. The uncommon wisdom he gained from the bench and shared with me has guided my own philosophy on business values. I mention this, because January is National Mentor Month. As chair of the Minnesota Business Partnership’s youth mentoring initiative, I want to take this opportunity to highlight the vital role that mentors played in the lives of a few business leaders and encourage Minnesota’s business community to actively support youth mentoring. For many of us, our parents served as our mentors and role models. Janet Dolan, president and CEO of Tennant Corporation and chair of the Business Partnership, says her father was her greatest mentor. “He encouraged me to aim high and live every day to the fullest. He was a great reader, a deep thinker and the wisest person I ever knew.” Unfortunately, too many young people don’t have that kind of relationship with their parents. In the Twin Cities alone, 180,000 kids, for example, are growing up in single-parent households. Such was the case for Al Annexstad, chairman, president and CEO of Federated Insurance Companies. “I remember well what it was like to grow up without a father. While I will cherish the memories of my loving mother, I will likewise never forget the caring guidance of Coach Gus Young and his lovely wife Evelyn, who took me under their wings as a child. Their kindness and love has left a lasting imprint upon me, and to this day guides me as I try to make a difference in the lives of Minnesota's kids.” Most of the time, mentoring isn’t a formal relationship between an adult and a child. Often, it’s an extension of an existing relationship. John Stanoch, Minnesota president of Qwest Communications, said Ruben Haugen, his clarinet teacher “went above and beyond our formal lesson time to expand my knowledge and appreciation of the arts and engage in discussions regarding politics, current events and sports. He took an interest in me as an individual, encouraged me to look at learning as a lifelong process and gave me confidence in my ability to succeed.” In Minnesota, there are an estimated 450,000 “at risk” young people between the ages of five and 18. These are kids from all income levels in every community across the state who are “at risk” of making some bad choices because they don’t have an adult to turn to. That might mean drug or alcohol abuse, falling behind in school, dropping out, and struggling to make ends meet for the rest of their lives. Mentors don’t have to be superstars. They don’t need all the answers or have to impart the wisdom of the ages. Mentors are adults who take an interest in a young person. Spend some time with them. Help and encourage them. It doesn’t take much time. But it does make a difference. Research shows that young people with mentors are more likely to stay in school and stay out of trouble. They’re more likely to be optimistic about the future, become good employees, good parents, good friends and neighbors. Mentoring takes many different forms, from traditional one-to-one relationships to e-mentoring. To learn more about how you or your company can get involved in mentoring, visit www.mentoringworks.org. Give it – and a young person – a chance. James N. Andersen, President and CEO of IWCO Direct
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