Mike Winder - Millcreek City Manger
"Success is often found in the small, quiet details. What is one non-negotiable ritual or habit in your morning or workday that keeps you grounded and ensures you’re performing at your best?”
There are always so many plates spinning and I never want to anything to drop, so I faithfully keep a pen in one pocket and a blank 8” x 11” piece of paper folded in fourths in another pocket. At the start of each work week, I transfer over the to-do list from the previous week, and continuously add notes, calls to return, or items to follow up on with my staff. There is something about the physical paper that keeps the tasks relevant and urgent!
"The definition of 'being a man' is constantly evolving. In your eyes, what does it mean to be a man of impact in our community today, and how do you try to model that for others?”
A man must build a team and listen to voices from both men and women. Our mayor and the majority of the city council is female, as are half of my department heads. If we do not respect both men and women, we will be selling ourselves short on the ideas and contributions from a variety of life experiences and perspectives.
Lieutenant Luis Lovato - Millcreek Unified Police
"The definition of being a man is constantly evolving. In your eyes, what does it mean to be a man of impact in our community today, and how do you try to model that for others?"
To me it has less to do with rank or image and far more to do with character,
accountability, and service. It means being someone others can rely on, someone who
shows up consistently, keeps his word, and does the right thing even when no one is
watching. It means having the strength to make difficult decisions and have difficult
conversations, while also being able to listen, learn, and own mistakes when they are
made.
I have learned that real strength is steady, dependable, and respectful. To have impact
I have to be able to lead in difficult moments, remain calm under pressure, and still treat
people with dignity. That applies whether you are working with a victim, an officer facing
challenges, or a community member who simply wants to be heard.
"Leading a full life requires both a soft heart and a sharp mind. How do you balance the
drive to win in your career with the need to be present and intentional with your family
and loved ones?"
In this profession, there’s always another call, another case, another challenge to
address or issue to solve. I’ve learned that winning at work and losing at home isn’t
winning at all. My family is my foundation and my reason.
Wes Isarelsson - CEO, Main Street Office Furniture
"We all have that one thing that makes the long hours worth it. What is the heartbeat behind your work, and how do you keep that spark alive when the 'daily grind' sets in?"
The heartbeat became when I broke my back. Something was taken away to never return, so I thought. All of us have something in us that can become our biggest weakness or our greatest strength. I loved helping others first, showing and serving with a focus on fulfillment. When I became (what I thought was limited) it stunted something in me. However, that love and passion for a genuine connection and deep need to help whether it is a solution, product, service or just listening became the thing that drives me. When my father passed away, I became in a dark hole. My goddess (my wife Sarah) was the most crucial thing that there is light in that tunnel, this is something you can work toward and find deep within yourself. She helped pull me through that dark tunnel and became a true inspiration of what love means. Shortly after this, I went through an exercise the would change my daily grind to a focus of If I don't this I may stunt or limit our family or business or team. Knowing that you have written your obituary as if your children's, children will say what you did to impact this world, how you changed and impacted the family and how you lead is the thing that makes the grind become the consistent daily effort. We are all working on the same 24 hours, tomorrow is never promised and I want to make sure when I lay on my death bed, I never say well I wished I would have done it. The daily grind and effort shows my princesses and team that we can work hard, focus, achieve, love, laugh, and spend time with the one you love most. When you can start the day with the end in mind, you have lost but never give up and realize tomorrow is not promised. You live, love and commit differently.
In this profession, there’s always another call, another case, another challenge to
address or issue to solve. I’ve learned that winning at work and losing at home isn’t
winning at all. My family is my foundation and my reason.