Leadership Council students
(photos courtesy of Alan & Tom Piotrowski)
BRISTOL — Student
athlete leaders from Bristol’s three high schools joined
with members of the host Bristol Sports Hall of Fame Committee to
take part in the last of three programs the latter has provided
this particular group of students to hear former local athletes
and leaders of the community who share stories of how they found
success.
Held at
Nuchie’s on Tuesday morning, the Leadership Council
Breakfast keynote speaker this time out was Nancy Blanchette,
financial and human resources manager of Ultimate Wireforms which
is located next door to Nuchie’s.
The message
she brought to the podium was that from the experience of an
employer.
"We had
no clue what we were up to when we started our business,"
said Blanchette. "We didn’t have college, had an
opportunity to start a wire business and went ahead.
"My husband (Paul) didn’t known
what nickel titanium was, so he spent a week looking into it.
"With
every step of the way, we hired people who were smarter than
us."
She went on
to give examples of how to go after a job.
"First
of all, take every opportunity that’s out there," said
Blanchette. "Find your passion and this way it won’t
seem like work. Don’t just follow the crowd."
Mark Ziogas,
a Bristol attorney and Bristol Sports Hall of Fame Committee
(BSHOF) member who organizes the three times a year breakfast,
reminded the athletes that the lessons they learned on the fields
of athletic endeavor would only help them down the road.
"Being
competitive on the field carries forward into the work
place," said Ziogas. "The skills you’re learning
from your coaches and teammates will help you."
Following
Blanchette’s presentation, the students were asked
questions.
The table headed by BSHOF committee member Bernie O’Keefe
was occupied by Eastern’s Joe Bak, Alan Pastyrnak, Matt
Taylor, and Andy Degan, Central’s Dan Owsianko and Rachel
Dombroski, and St. Paul’s Kara Meleski.
When asked what they received from the morning’s
presentation, the students said it was all positive.
"Today’s
speaker kept my attention," said Dombroski. "She
related to us."
"She
told us to follow our passion," added Degan.
Each
of the students were presented with Hall of Fame paper weights
with the wording: "If it is to be, it’s up to me."
These words have become integrated into the Hall of Fame’s
leadership program after first being shared by Bob Fiondella,
former CEO of The Phoenix insurance company, who was the first to
address the Leadership Council a couple of years ago and now
sponsors the event.