Lakehurst employees participate in ‘speed mentoring’ day

Published Jan. 31, 2013
By Tom Worsdale
NAVAIR Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Navy civilian employees here on Lakehurst took part in a "speed mentoring" day Jan. 23, 2013.

The concept of "speed mentoring" comes from "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.

Marie Pizzella and Michael Nguyen Recently, human resource specialists for the Total Force Strategy and Management Department at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst, recently adapted the new concept. Pizzella and Nguyen held the speed-mentoring day in January in observance of National Mentoring Month.

"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 with them throughout their careers," said Pizzella.

A team of ten senior managers, led by Kathleen Donnelly, senior executive service director of support equipment and aircraft launch and recovery equipment here, 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. The mentors offered to answer questions about career paths and discussed personal development tips.

The first-time event allowed for a personal connection between the participating mentors and mentees that might not normally occur in the day-to-day workplace. Mentees met with leaders from other NAWCAD divisions and received advice and guidance on what to expect from a civilian career with the Navy.

Pizzella and Nguyen said they look forward to future career-development programs to support the joint base workforce with the success of this "speed mentoring" event and last year's mentoring workshop.