Following a successful pilot run in 2017, the Coaching for Emerging Leaders developmental training program graduated its second group of participants Aug. 22.
During the graduation on the Galveston Campus, participants received a certificate of completion and shared their biggest takeaways from the six-month program, which gives high-performing, high-potential UTMB employees the chance to receive one-on-one coaching and mentoring from leaders within the organization.
Jorge De La Garza, senior consultant with UTMB Human Resource’s Talent & Organizational Development, serves as the primary coordinator for the Emerging Leaders program—a dual-effort between his team and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s EMERGE Resource Group.
The name of the program was changed from Coaching for Rising Leaders earlier this year to make it inclusive of participants from the EMERGE group, De La Garza said.
When planning the ceremony, De La Garza invited the graduates and coaches and also the participant’s managers and supervisors.
“We want people to hear firsthand from our participants about how they’ve grown and what they’ve learned over these last few months,” said De La Garza. “Their personal testimonies and experiences help illustrate the value of what we’re doing.”
While the recent graduates’ time with the program may be complete, De La Garza and his team will continue to track their professional journeys and progress.
“We keep an eye on their performance before, during and after the program,” said De La Garza. “It’s a good way to measure growth.”
He added that the graduation ceremony is also a time to thank the various coaches for the time and energy they’ve committed as mentors over the recent months. Coaches also had an opportunity to share some words of wisdom during the event.
As the dust of the last graduation is just beginning to settle, De La Garza and his team are already looking ahead to the future and what that means for the Coaching for Emerging Leaders program.
“We’re working hard to grow and expand this program,” said De La Garza. “I’m excited to bring in the next round of emerging leaders.”
At this year’s ceremony, the following UTMB employees were recognized as graduates of the program: Dena Bannan, administrator, Office of the Provost; Clara Brown, human resources business partner; April Ciccarello, manager, Clinical Community Outreach Program; Lori DeWillis, assistant administrator, School of Medicine; Leti Ford, senior business manager in the School of Health Professions; Stephen Hadley, senior communications specialist in Internal Communications; Robert Hastedt, nursing administrator, Adult Patient Care Services; Leah Jacobs, Institutional Effectiveness analyst; Jeanna C. Leek, senior quality assurance analyst, Regulated Non-clinical Studies; Sherry Marques, Angleton Danbury ICU; Jayco McCowan, training manager, Regulated Non-clinical Studies; Michael Rape, inpatient business manager, Health System; Katherine Rosen, senior business coordinator, School of Nursing; Nate Schueller, quality management specialist; Susan Smith, senior director of Development; and Michelle Thierry, project manager, Health System.
Coaches participating in the program this year included: Celia Bailey-Ochoa, vice president of Finance, Institutional Support; Ashlyn Baker, administrator, Primary Care Services; Dr. Ian Barrett, associate vice president, Human Resources Talent Management; W. Scott Boeh, associate vice president, University Student Services and Registrar; Steve Campbell, vice president, Marketing and Communications; Marcel Blanchard, assistant vice president, Business Operations & Facilities–Utlities Operations; Betsy Clardy, vice president and chief development officer; Craig Elmore, director of Financial Reporting; Philesha Evans, associate vice president, Human Resources Operations and Employee Relations; Kevin Haslam, associate vice president, Alumni Relations and Annual Giving; Scott Hermstein, associate vice president, Faculty Group Practice; Becky Korenek, senior vice president, Strategic and Business Planning; Craig S. Kovacevich, associate vice president, Waiver Operations and Community Health Plans; Dr. Annette Macias-Hoag, vice president, Health System and Service Line Operations; Dr. David Marshall, Health System Chief Nursing and Patient Care Services executive; and Bo Stults, Human Resources business partner.