INROADS 2016 November Magazine

THE 

INTELLIGENCE 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 

NOVEMBER 2016 

Morgan Stanley 

Finance Center 

INROADS 

Alumni Features 

Message from the 

National Director 

VISIONES 

Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month 

LIVES. CAREERS. COMMUNITIES. 

CORPORATE LEADERSHIP

THE 

INTELLIGENCE

FOLLOW US! 

INROADS Inc. 

@INROADS 


INROADSInc

A letter to you from 

National Director, Seddrick T. Hill, Sr. 

Greetings INROADS Alumni and Friends: 

Thanks to you, the office of Alumni Engagement is a busy 

place these days! Here’s a quick recap: 

The alumni database is filling up. Your response to my 

request for help improving our reachable internal alumni 

data has resulted in more than 5,000 updates. Your eachone-reach-one 

effort is going a long way in helping us 

materialize Frank Carr’s vision. 

We can help with internships. Interested in sponsoring 

an INROADS intern? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to 

me. Interested in creating an internship where one doesn’t 

exist? I can get you the information you need to reach out 

to business, HR and/or diversity representatives in your 

company, community or network with funding to sponsor 

an intern. 

Hot Prospects reduce ramp up. Need someone with a little more experience or coursework? 

INROADS Hot Prospects are out of school and Day-1 ready. 

INROADS PROS offers opportunity and advantage. INROADS PROS, an alumni 

community website, offers a host of opportunities in a wide variety of careers and locations. 

As an INROADer, you have a competitive advantage. Submit your application. Put “INROADS 

Alumni” on your resume, LinkedIn profiles, bios and other social media outlets. Get your 

company to post job openings. 

Save on insurance. As an affiliate of INROADS, you could receive exclusive savings on auto and 

home insurance from Liberty Mutual. For a free quote, call 800-524-9400 or visit libertymutual. 

com/INROADS and use Client # 7808. 

As always, it’s a tremendous privilege to serve the alumni of this great organization. Thanks for 

supporting the office of Alumni Engagement, thanks for upholding INROADS’ mission. Feel free 

to contact me at shill@INROADS.org or 404-414-6645 if I can be of service to you or your 

Alumni Chapter. 

5

INROADS Elects New Chairman of 

National Board of Directors 

ST. LOUIS, MO, November 2, 2016 — INROADS, Inc., a nonprofit 

focused on development and career preparation for 

talented, underserved youth, is pleased to announce the 

appointment of Barron M. Witherspoon, Sr., Vice President 

of Corporate Industry Affairs for The Procter & Gamble 

Company to chairman of the National Board of Directors. 

“I’m honored to assume this position and have the 

opportunity to serve such an impactful organization in 

its continued pursuit of its mission,” said Mr. Witherspoon. 

“INROADS has been transforming lives for more than 40 

years. We need to begin the next 40 years with urgent focus 

on our two-pronged approach of fund development and 

program development, creating a virtuous cycle where one 

feeds the other.” 

Since joining the INROADS Board of Directors in 2009, Mr. 

Witherspoon has served as Vice-chairman of the Board 

and chairman of the Development Committee. “As a member of the development committee 

for more than two years, Barron knows the importance of ensuring the necessary support 

for program innovation,” said Forest Harper, INROADS President and CEO. “I look forward to 

him bringing that insight – along with his expertise in customer relations and organizational 

leadership – to this new leadership role.” 

Witherspoon’s 30-year history in consumer packaged goods (CPG) at P&G began in field 

advertising and progressed through positions of increasing responsibility in customer business 

development across multiple categories, customers and global regions. In his current position, 

he is responsible for influencing external thought leaders and shaping the CPG industry to 

maximize P&G’s value. In his previous role as vice president of Global Operations for Strategic 

Revenue and Pricing, he developed P&G’s revenue strategy playbook and taught over 300 

general managers and Brand Builders to develop and execute revenue growth strategies. 

Prior to that, Mr. Witherspoon served as sales VP for Asia, responsible for all of P&G’s customerfacing 

operations in ASEAN (Southeast Asia), Australasia, India and Korea. Based in Singapore, 

he grew P&G’s business in a trading environment of over 7 million retail outlets — the highest 

store concentration in the world. His region served a third of the world’s consumers and included 

revenue of $3 billion. Barron also led P&G’s $5 billion global Paper Business with Walmart, the 

company’s largest customer. 

A published author and accomplished public speaker, Mr. Witherspoon was also an eminent 

scholar and college exchange student in Konstanz, Germany. He has earned degrees in 

education from Brevard College and in economics from Tuskegee University. He is a licensed, 

ordained minister and has held numerous board positions for civic and industry organizations.

INROADS MATCHING 

GIFT PROGRAM 

Does your company have a Matching Gift Program? If so, you can double your charitable contribution to 

INROADS. And if your spouse’s company has a matching gift program, you can grow your contribution 

further. A single donation would effectively be tripled. Here’s how it works: 

1. You or your spouse/partner make a donation to INROADS. 

2. Donors check to see if their employers match donations. 

3. Donors submit a matching gift request, electronically or using a paper 

form, to their employer. 

4. INROADS confirms with the employer that a donation was made. 

5. The employer sends a check to INROADS. 

Information on how to submit the paperwork to secure a matching gift is usually on a company’s website or 

in the human resources office. The process is simple, yet the impact is huge. Your support will help talented 

underserved youth — often minority and first-generation college students — complete high school and 

college and build successful careers by providing mission-driven leadership and development training, 

coaching and mentoring programs. Together, we can continue to impact underserved youth. 

NOW 

VISIT INROADS.ORG/SUPPORT-US/DONATE

Tap 

into 

YOu 

Connect 

with 

Thank you for Connecting with Deloitte at our 

October even in New York City. 

We enjoyed seeing all of our alumni in the 

place for the evening. 

Make sure you stay in 

touch with us by visiting 

INROADS.org 

for our upcoming events.

THANK YOU 

Thank you message 

Buenos Días! 

On behalf of INROADS, we want to thank you for celebrating the kick-off of 

Hispanic Heritage Month with us at our 4th annual VISIONES event on September 

16. We hope you enjoyed a beautiful evening filled with Latin inspired flair along 

with the breathtaking views overlooking the city of Atlanta from the rooftop 

of Ponce City Market. As you know, this annual event allows us to further the 

awareness of our organization within the Hispanic community while also raising 

funds to support educational opportunities for Latino students. Your support of 

this event has and will continue to make a profound impact on the personal and 

professional development of the many talented students we serve. 

Missed the Opportunity to Give? 

Your corporate or individual gift will provide academic scholarships for Latino 

students who are participating in the INROADS Leadership Development 

Program. Visit INROADS.org/southeastgiving to make a contribution or send a 

check payable to INROADS VISIONES.

VISIONES100 | MEMBER BENEFITS 

VISIONES100 is a group of 100 plus corporate and philanthropic leaders committed to providing academic 

scholarships for Latino students in the INROADS Leadership Development Program. The goal of VISIONES100, 

over the next 12 months, is to raise $100,000 in scholarships for students. 

Please join VISIONES100. 

*Individuals or groups who pledge at the Patron member level before August 31, 2017 will be listed as a Founding Member. 

LIFETIME MEMBER 

Commitment: $1,500 or above 

Payable either as a one-time gift or three consecutive annual gifts of $500 each. 

BENEFITS: 

• Listed as a Lifetime Founding Member of VISIONES100 

• Invitations to general and premier events 

• Guaranteed admission, with purchase of tickets, to premier Annual VISIONES Gala Dinner and Party 

• Newsletters and other publications 

• Lapel pin 

ADVOCATE MEMBER 

Commitment: $1,000 – $1,499 

BENEFITS: 

• Listed as an Advocate Founding Member of VISIONES100 




• Lapel pin 

DONOR MEMBER 

Commitment: $500 – $999 

BENEFITS: 

• Listed as a Donor Founding Member of VISIONES100 



• Lapel pin 

PATRON MEMBER 


BENEFITS: 

• Listed as a Patron Founding Member of VISIONES100 

• Newsletter 

• Lapel pin 

Annual gifts will be made payable to INROADS VISIONES Scholarship Fund. These gifts may be tax-deductible and will provide 

scholarships for Latino students. 

INROADS, INC. · 10 South Broadway, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63102–1729 · INROADS.org · (314) 655-1543

VISIONES100 | PLEDGE FORM 

VISIONES100 is a group of 100 plus corporate and philanthropic leaders 

committed to providing academic scholarships for Latino students in the 

INROADS Leadership Development Program. The goal of VISIONES100, 

over the next 12 months, is to raise $100,000 in scholarships for students. 

Yes! I want to join VISIONES100. 

*Individuals or groups who pledge at the Patron member level before August 31, 2017 will be 

listed as a Founding Member. 

LIFETIME MEMBER 

Commitment: $1,500 or above 

Payable either as a one-time gift or three consecutive annual gifts of $500 each. 

BENEFITS: 

• Listed as a Lifetime Founding Member of VISIONES100 




• Lapel pin 

ADVOCATE MEMBER 

Commitment: $1,000 – $1,499 

BENEFITS: 

• Listed as an Advocate Founding Member of VISIONES100 




• Lapel pin 

DONOR MEMBER 


BENEFITS: 

• Listed as a Donor Founding Member of VISIONES100 



• Lapel pin 

PATRON MEMBER 


BENEFITS: 

• Listed as a Patron Founding Member of VISIONES100 

• Newsletter 

• Lapel pin 

Annual gifts will be made payable to INROADS VISIONES Scholarship Fund. These gifts may 

be tax-deductible and will provide scholarships for Latino students. 

I WOULD LIKE TO 

CONTRIBUTE IN OTHER WAYS 

Monthly Sustainer 

$_____________ each month 

One-time Contribution 

$_____________ 

Response Form 

Name ___________________________________ 

Title ____________________________________ 

Company ________________________________ 

Street ___________________________________ 

City/State/Zip_____________________________ 

Phone (include area code) _________________ 

Email ___________________________________ 

Contact Name (if different than above) 

________________________________________ 

Payment 

A check for $_________ is 

enclosed will follow (indicate) 

Make checks payable to: INROADS VISIONES 

Please charge $_________ to my (check one) 

Master Card Visa American Express 

Name on Credit Card ______________________ 

Account # _______________________________ 

3 or 4-digit Security Code __________________ 

Exp. Date ________________________________ 

Signature ________________________________ 

If you’re making a pledge today, fill out your contact 

information so that we may contact you regarding how 

you would like to fulfill your pledge. 

If you’re writing a check today, please make your check 

payable to INROADS VISIONES. 

Questions? Contact Myrna Garcia at (404) 480-3941 

x74211. Please complete this form and place it in one 

of the envelopes provided. 

www.INROADS.org/VISIONES 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! 

INROADS, INC. · 10 South Broadway, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63102–1729 · INROADS.org · (314) 655-1543

ALUMNI MIXER 

We just want to say 

THANK YOU 

to all of our alumni that came out to The 

Duce in October for our mixer. 

We hope you enjoyed the evening and got 

a chance to meet some new connections. 

Find out more about new events coming up at www.INROADS.org.

CHARLOTTE 

ALUMNI EVENT 

Thanks to all of our alumni who came out to 

our Charlotte Mixer last month. We had a 

great time mingling for the evening. 

We want to stay in touch with you, 

so make sure you visit 

www.INROADS.org for upcoming events. 

Thursday October 20 

6:00-9:00p.m. 

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INROADS Presents 

POWER 

OF YOUR NETWORK 

Thank you for attending The Power Of Your Network Event presented by Wells Fargo Advisors and 

INROADS on Tuesday, September 13th. Through the INROADS process, more than 27,000 individuals 

have entered the workforce prepared to begin successful careers and contribute their talents to our 

economy. By partnering with Thank distinguished you companies for attending! 

such as Wells Fargo Advisors, INROADS’ Alumni 

are able to tap into tremendous job opportunities to further them along their career path. We truly 

believe in The Power of Our Network and the impact it can have on your personal and 

professional success. 

TEKsystems and INROADS thanks each person 

who attended We hope you enjoyed the Power the powerful of panel Your discussion Network and the evening event. It 

while having the opportunity to engage with fellow leaders. 

was a success because of you. 

Again, thank you for your continued support and 

we look forward to seeing you at our next event! 

Want more opportunities to connect with 

business professionals and industries? 

We would Register love to hear for your INROADS feedback and thoughts Pros on at the event! 

www.INROADS.org/alumni. 

Interested in Wells Fargo Advisors Opportunities? Visit www.wellsfargo.com/careers 

Please take the opportunity to complete our survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/wellsfargocultivation 

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The Frank C. Carr National Day of Service promotes awareness, volunteerism and stewardship from coast to 

coast. This national initiative is one of the largest of its type, engaging students from more than 300 colleges and 

universities nationwide who are Interns with more than 200 INROADS Corporate and Government Partners.

NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE 

SOUTHEAST REGION 

The Frank C. Carr National Day of Service promotes awareness, volunteerism and stewardship from 

coast to coast. This national initiative is one of the largest of its type, engaging students from more than 

300 colleges and universities nationwide who are Interns with more than 200 INROADS Corporate and 

Government Partners. 

The National Day of Service provides a myriad of opportunities for leadership engagement to include 

cleaning up neglected communities, feeding the homeless, mentoring and tutoring youth, senior 

citizen outreach and much more. This year, INROADS partnered with the Boys and Girls Clubs of 

America for the National Day of Service activities. 

Frank Carr was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, 

making community outreach a top priority in relation to the founding mission. 

19

GREAT LAKES REGION 

On behalf of the Great Lakes Region and the entire INROADS organization, I would like to 

THANK YOU for your support and the dedication of all the volunteers that joined us for our 

signature professional and leadership development summer training sessions. We could 

not have brought this to over 120 participants — interning at over 35 corporate partners 

and individually representing 56 colleges and universities, 2 high schools and 1 community 

partnership (Common Ground Foundation) — without all the hard work and passion you 

brought to the two-day event! 

Special thanks again to Aurora Healthcare, Badger Meter Foundation, Colgate Palmolive Co., 

Deloitte, Enterforce, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, Froedtert & the Medical Colleges of 

Wisconsin, KPMG, Microsoft, Nieto Advisory LLC, Nissan, Rockwell Automation, Rush University 

Medical Center, We Energies and Wells Fargo & Co. for sponsoring this event. 

Thanks to Colgate Palmolive for a fantastic and engaging case competition on Saturday! 

Thanks to our facilitators: Ken Barraza, Rasheed Alhi Cromwell, Zuleemah Edwards, Brianna 

Feole, Marshanell Ferguson, Cedric McCay, Angelica Calderon, Yolanda Ross-Davis, Sabrina 

Austin-Edouard, Calvin Bruce, Nigel Bruce, Lindsey Buckheit, Jese Caple, Mark Davis, Meredith 

Glansberg, Alexis Guevara, Bob Haley, Crystal Hill, Clarissa Hill, Chad Riley and Candace 

Washington. 

Learning Summit pictures can be found in the INROADS Great Lakes Facebook Group. 

If you have any feedback, comments or suggestions please do not hesitate to reach out to me 

or anyone on the INROADS team. 

We are looking forward to partnering with you again! 

Jose J. Alvarado 

Manager – Great Lakes Region

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ARIZONA MARKET

ATLANTA HEADSHOTS 

AND HANDSHAKES 

Student Testimonial by Victor (Alex) Villanueva 

“I wanted to reach out and say thank you [Mr. Harper] for taking an hour out of your day to sit 

down and speak with me. The power of relationships and mentoring is a very integral part of 

my life story, which is something that I have grown an appreciation dearly throughout my time 

with INROADS. Being able to hear your personal stories about your Uncle Walter Crenshaw being 

106 years old and wanting to continue to “get another ladder to bring up another President 

Obama” and prepare the world for America’s next great leader was truly inspirational! As I draw 

nearer to graduation I will definitely take your advice to heart and keep an excel spreadsheet of 

those who offered to lend a helping hand to informally mentor me as I begin my career. Thank 

you again for the advice on aspiring leaders like myself, continuing to deliver the keys back to 

my village, and how to go about acquiring mentors as I continue to grow. As I close, I would like 

to send an invitation to you on behalf of my Vice President of Professional Activities Sierra Tossie 

included in this email. Sierra is a Marketing major at Kennesaw State University who has been 

a key proponent of rebuilding the professional mold of our chapter at KSU. If possible I would 

love for Sierra to coordinate a time with you to come and speak. I look forward in hearing back 

soon and take care!” 

23

Travelers Inside Look 

Thank you to everyone who came to the Travelers 

Inside Look event. We hope you enjoyed the fun, prizes 

and all around eventful evening “under the umbrella.” 

We look forward to seeing you at our next 

Travelers Inside Look event. 

Travelers Inside Look is a series of on-site evening events where 

we invite members of partner organizations to our office to 

meet our leaders, hiring managers, talent acquisitions and 

human resources staff. 

24

Hosts Professional Development Workshop 

and Golf Clinic Hosts for participants Professional of Development 

Workshopand Golf Clinic 

the 

INROADS Program. 

for participants of the INROADS 

The Mission of INROADS is to develop and place talented underserved youth 

Program. 

in business and industry, and prepare them for corporate and community 

leadership. 

The mission INROADS is to develop and place undeserved youth in business and industry, and 

prepare them for corporate and community leadership. 

This fantastic event was sponsored by RENASANT BANK. 

This fantastic event was sponsored by RENASANT BANK. 

Students learn valuable lessons 

on how golf can be used as a 

tool for career advancement. 

SisterGolf provides executive coaching, relationship building and professional development 

training through interactive “introduction to Business Golf” workshops and seminars. These 

events are designed to provide college students, and business professionals with a basic 

understanding of the game of golf so they can “join the conversation” at work, and leverage the 

Students learn valuable lessons on how golf 

can be used as a tool for career 

sport for business and career advancement. 

advancement. 

Presentation topics include, but are not limited to the following: 

- Introduction to Golf for Business 

- Ninety days to your next promotion 

- Successfully navigating workplace politics 

- Excelling in male dominated industries 

- How golf helps women succeed 

- Your hired! Now What? The importance of soft skills for 

millennials entering the workforce 

To book your SisterGolf for your company, group or organization, 

please call us at 205-564-2040 or e-mail us at sheila@sistergolf.com 

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MORGAN STANLEY 

FINANCE CENTER 

Election Cycles Mean More Than Just Choosing a President 

A presidential election year can change the direction of the country. It may also change the 

direction of the stock market. This article looks at market performance and elections since the 

1920s, the beginning of the modern era of diversified market indexes. 

When people think about cycles in the stock market, they tend to look at the obvious drivers of 

stock prices: major forces such as the state of the economy, the level of corporate profits, and 

conditions in global markets. But did you know that a presidential election itself can be a key 

pivot point in stock price trends? 

Consider the average yearly performance of the stock market in the table below. After 

accounting for random volatility, average presidential election year performance was slightly 

below overall average performance. 

But look at the other years in the election cycle. The first two years of presidential terms have, 

on average, lagged significantly. But then, in the third year, the market made up the lost ground 

and more. 

What’s Going On? 

Election years tend to have a degree of uncertainty over the future direction of the country, 

and the market may translate that uncertainly into some reluctance to commit on the part of 

investors. Then, after the direction is set, it may take some time for policy changes to assert any 

influence, further depressing investment demand. By the third year, clarity could return and 

investors could embrace the future. 

Stock Market Performance and the Election Cycle 

26

Exceptions May Be More Powerful Than the Generalities 

Keep in mind that the amount of variation in annual returns is substantial, and is reflected in 

the high variability, measured by standard deviation. As a consequence, the chances are good 

that performance in any given year could end up being far different from the average for its 

category. 

That becomes clear when looking at the extremely good and extremely bad performing years 

in the S&P 500 performance data set. The four best years were 1928 (44%), 1933 (53%), 1935 

(60%), and 1954 (52%). The four worst years were 1931 (-41%), 1937 (-34%), 1974 (-26%), and 

2008 (-37%). 1 

No two of the extreme up years occurred at the same point in an election cycle, neither did 

any two of the extreme down years. Three of the extreme years are associated with Democratic 

incumbents and five with Republican incumbents. 

Ultimately, six of the eight extreme performance years were associated with unpredictable 

macroeconomic tidal waves — the Great Depression, the oil price shock (when energy prices 

quadrupled in a few months), and the recent financial crisis — events much bigger than any 

election news. 

So if you are thinking of cashing in on an election year rally — or selling before an election year 

rout — think again. As history has shown, trying to time the market — for whatever reason — 

is often a loser’s game. Instead, work with your financial advisor to determine an appropriate 

long-term asset allocation that suits your 

goals and needs. 

If you’d like to learn more, please contact The Roth Group. 

Courtesy of: The Roth Group at Morgan Stanley 

1290 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor 

New York, NY 10104 

Website: http://www.morganstanleyfa.com/therothgroup/ 

Michael Lysenko IV, CFP®, CRPS® 

Financial Advisor 

Financial Planning Specialist 

Office. (212) 692-2909 

Fax. (646) 737-0628 

E-mail: michael.lysenko@morganstanley.com 

Eric S. Roth 

Executive Director 

Financial Planning Specialist 

Financial Advisor 

Office: 212-878-3922 

Fax: 212-878-3925 

Mobile: 917-816-1993 

E-mail: eric.s.roth@morganstanley.com 

Sources 

1 

Source: Wealth Management Systems Inc., a DST company. Returns based on yearly total return of the S&P 500 for the period from January 1, 1928, to December 

31, 2014. The S&P 500 has performance data going back to 1926, including the elections that occurred in 1928 and every four years thereafter. It is an 

unmanaged index generally considered representative of the US stock market. Investors cannot invest directly in any index. Index returns do not represent 

the performance of any actual investment and do not reflect the costs and commissions associated with investing. Past performance does not predict future 

results. 

STANDARD DEVIATION. A statistical measure of volatility (risk) demonstrating the degree to which an investment’s returns have varied over time. 

Asset Allocation does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining financial markets. 

The author(s) and/or publication are neither employees of nor affiliated with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”). By providing this third 

party publication, we are not implying an affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement, approval, investigation, verification or monitoring by Morgan Stanley of any 

information contained in the publication. 

The opinions expressed by the authors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. The information and data in the article 

or publication has been obtained from sources outside of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or 

completeness of information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. Neither the information provided nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation 

by Morgan Stanley with respect to the purchase or sale of any security, investment, strategy or product that may be mentioned. 

Article by Wealth Management Systems Inc. and provided courtesy of Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor. 

The Roth Group may only transact business, follow-up with individualized responses, or render personalized investment advice for compensation, in states 

where they are registered or excluded or exempted from registration, http://www.morganstanleyfa.com/therothgroup/. 

© 2016 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. 

27

IN MEMORIAM 

Shan Shipman was a proud Tuskegee graduate who passed 

away on August 11, 2016. She was a current employee 

of Lockheed Martin, and her sponsoring company 

was Regions Bank in Birmingham, AL. A fund has been 

established in her honor. All donations will be given to 

Tuskegee University. To give please visit www.gofundme. 

Frank A. Robinson was a proud INROADS NYC alumnus 

who was an intern from 1990 to 1993. His sponsoring 

company was the Dime Savings Bank under the leadership 

of Dick Parsons, the former CEO/Chairman Time Warner, 

who became a mentor to him. Frank attended Hampton 

University and earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing. 

He went on to build a decade-long career at HBO, where 

he rose from national trainer to Director of Satellite Sales. 

He also successfully built his own national DIRECTV 

provider business, Directview. It was later acquired and 

Frank continued to manage it as the Senior Vice President 

of Sales until his untimely passing on May 6, 2016. Frank 

is survived by his wife, Kristin Vaughan Robinson, and 

two young children, Brianna and Alexander, for whom 

a scholarship fund was created at www.gofundme. 

28

INROADS IN THE NEWS 

City of Orlando names Ana Cruz new HOLA 

Office Coordinator 

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has announced the selection of 

Ana Cruz as the new Coordinator of the City of Orlando’s Hispanic 

Office for Local Assistance (HOLA) following the 

announcement of Alicia Ramirez’s retirement after 15 years with 

the City of Orlando. 

Cruz has served Orlando residents since 2008 as Aide to District 

2 City Commissioner Tony Ortiz. She is excited to further 

her commitment to public service and Orlando’s multicultural 

community in this new role. 

“Being a City for everyone means providing state-of-the art 

amenities and multilingual services to our diverse multicultural 

community and for twelve years the HOLA office has been a 

testament to that,” said Buddy Dyer. “I am confident Ana will 

continue the excellent service HOLA provides to residents, 

visitors and businesses.... 

INROADS and Facebook Connect for Student Internships 

INROADS CEO Forest Harper with some of the INROADS Facebook Interns on their first day 

in Menlo Park, CA: (from left to right) Kristen Shipley-North Carolina, A&T State University 

(INROADS Intern); Marcus Pereira, Princeton University; Chris Ebhogiaye, Northwestern 

University (INROADS Intern); Alicia McPhoy, Rutgers University (INROADS Intern); Angel 

Montesdoca, Columbia University; and Jean Leconte III, St. John's University. (Back row) 

Marc Brooks and Harold Lowe, INROADS staff. 

Facebook has partnered with 

INROADS to provide internships 

for talented students from 

traditionally underserved 

backgrounds. INROADS 

leadership development 

process includes salaried 

internships, which help change 

the economic and career 

trajectory of students, families 

and communities by providing 

access to Corporate America, 

government and entrepreneurial 

professional opportunities. 

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ALUMNI 

MAKING INROADS 

LEROY ABRAHAMS 

Recognized as Birmingham’s Most 

Influential Executives for 2016 

BRIAN HAMILTON 

Recognized as Birmingham’s Most 

Influential Executives for 2016 

LASANDRA BOYKIN 

The Network Journal’s Top 40 

under Forty Class of 2015 

34

ANDREW HERRERA 

Voice of New York, president and 

founder of Remezcla 

SHADAN DELEVEAUX 


under Forty Class of 2016 

ANDREW AU 

INROADS Alumnus recently featured 

in Forbes Top 30 Under 30 

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TODD CORLEY 

INROADS Alum receives Ebony 

Magazine feature story 

SIVONNE DAVIS 


under Forty Class of 2014 

MALCOM GRIGGS 

Appointed New President for 

Alabama Alumni Association 

36

THASUNDA DUCKETT 

CEO of the Consumer Bank 

JONATHAN PORTER 

Appointed Chairman 

of the Birmingham World 

Games Foundation 

ANTHONY MAYS 

Diversity in Action features 

INROADS Alumnus in Faces of Diversity 

37

ALUMNI FEATURES 

DARRIEN BROWN 

Darrien Brown is the Nuclear Quality Assurance Manager for 

ValvTechnoloy, global leader in the design and manufacturing of 

zero-leakage metal-seated ball valve solutions for severe service 

applications, located in Houston, TX. In this role, he is responsible for 

oversight of all aspects of the Quality Assurance Program pertaining 

to the Nuclear Industry. 

Brown joined ValvTechnology on March 28, 2016 as the Nuclear 

Quality Assurance Manager. Prior to joining ValvTechnology, Brown 

began his career at Raytheon in El Segundo, CA as a Test Engineer. 

After two years with Raytheon, he moved across the country to work at the Norfolk Naval 

Shipyard in Portsmouth, VA, where he held a number of leadership positions in engineering 

and project management and specialized in the repairing, overhauling and modernizing of 

aircraft carriers and submarines. In 2010, Brown was selected as the Lead Engineer for the 

Material Condition Assessment Process (MCAP), where he was responsible for the successful 

execution of correcting propulsion plant maintenance deficiencies on nuclear vessels. After 

six years with the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, in July 2012 Brown accepted a position as a Senior 

Quality Assurance Engineer with Southern Company on the Vogtle 3 and 4 Nuclear Construction 

Project in Waynesboro, GA. 

A native of Zachary, LA, Brown holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering 

from the Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, LA. While residing in Augusta, 

GA, Brown has demonstrated an on-going commitment to servant leadership. The various 

external leadership positions that he has held include serving on the My Brother’s Keep Augusta 

Advisory Board, serving as the Vogtle 3 and 4 Construction Site Lead on the UNITED WAY of 

the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) Fundraising Campaign, Chairman of the Professional 

Development and Networking Committee for the INROADS Alumni Association – Atlanta. As 

the INROADS committee chair, Brown’s responsibilities included managing a team of INROADS 

alumni that provided strategic oversight of the planning and execution of following events: 

• “Creating Your Own Personal Brand” professional session on the role of social media sites 

(LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter) in creating a Digital Personal Brand. 

• “Unwritten Rules of P.I.E.” event that focused on fine tuning their skills and moving up in their 

professions. This was a professional development event sponsored by Georgia Power. 

•“Headshots and Handshakes” networking event that provided an environment for students to 

update their professional brand while networking. 

38 

• "Workforce Readiness Program” professional development event. The program is a multievent 

workshop which includes the following topics: Resume writing, Interview skills and 

Net Serving. 

After spending as much time as he can with his family and friends, any remaining time is 

devoted to community service, golf, mentoring INROADS interns, reading and exercising.

PAUL HURON 

I am a rising senior studying Computer Information Systems 

at the University of the Incarnate Word. I am also proud to 

call myself a recent graduate of the INROADS professional 

development program. I would like to express my sincerest 

of gratitude to INROADS and my sponsoring company, Shell 

Oil, for providing a one of a kind leadership development 

experience this past summer. This has been one of the greatest 

experiences of my life. Throughout this journey, I have been 

able to work on a project that has brought true meaning and 

value to a wonderful group of people who were passionate 

about connecting others and bringing innovation around the 

world. 

Throughout this internship, I was allowed to take charge of a multinational project by working 

with managers and project personnel to form new tracking systems for Shell’s IT Services 

and Operations department (ITSO). Working globally as an Intern opened numerous doors of 

opportunity for me. Throughout the revitalization, I had the opportunity to collaborate with 

team members from the U.S, Britain and India. This allowed for data and deliverables to flow 

from country to country on a daily basis, which really exposed me to the size and scope of Shell 

itself. During my project, I maintained contacts for over 100 Legal Entities worldwide. Not once 

did I ever think that I was simply an intern but rather an employee of Shell. As I went through my 

summer internship, INROADS was always there to provide me nearly endless knowledge and 

support so I could become the leader that Shell had expected of me. 

While this internship has taught me a great deal of skills involving project management and 

information technology, INROADS helped prepare me to lead and think from an executive 

perspective in order to develop new solutions for the future. During the Intern Development 

Sessions, I was able to experience gratifying and highly educational business simulations that 

helped challenge the way we as interns tackled the problems that corporate America faces. 

Not only were we taught what the businesses of today expected from young professionals and 

leaders, but we were also taught the soft skills necessary for success by mentors who strive to 

see us succeed every step of the way. These are the skills not readily taught in conventional 

educational institutions and have helped set us apart from the rest. I was glad to have worked 

with the brilliant minds and mentors who have helped me along this intellectual journey. I 

know that I will take this knowledge throughout my studies and into the future that lies ahead. 

INROADS is preparing the next generation of corporate leaders and innovators. The programs 

that INROADS has provided to its candidates and the lasting impacts the organization has 

had on me from both a professional and personal level is insurmountable. As I go about my 

professional career, I hope to give back to this organization just as they have invested in me. 

Thus, I write this message as a message of gratitude to everyone at INROADS. 

In particular, first I would like to extend my gratitude to the late Douglass Scott. Douglass 

Scott was renowned for finding the potential in every intern he met and crafting that potential 

into valuable skills that are crucial for everlasting success. Mr. Scott told me about the potential 

he saw in me and thought I could have a remarkable future ahead with INROADS. Mr. Scott 

always referenced what he called “The Art of the Possible”. It was a belief that with dedication, 

perseverance, and a strong will to learn, success is well within the grasp of those who strive to 

reach for more. The INROADS program proves that “The Art of the Possible” is a reality. 

Most notably, I would also like to thank my INROADS mentor for continuing the art of the 

possible, Mr. Robert Dunlap. Robert Dunlap has an unwavering dedication to the INROADS 

mission and strives to ensure that every intern under his guidance will obtain success in 

life. For Mr. Dunlap excellence is his only standard and expects for all of us to show our 

potential every single day. His leadership and life lessons have resonated with me as I 

face numerous challenges throughout my internship and in life. There is no other mentor that I 

could think of with such a passion for his work than Mr. Dunlap. 

39

On a final note, I would like to thank everyone in INROADS for their dedication to the mission that 

was formed by our founder Frank Carr. Thank you for your dedication to helping develop the leaders 

of tomorrow. Thank you for the experiences that have transformed me from a student to a professional. 

These are the experiences that will never fade from my mind. For that, I would like to thank 

you. 

With highest regards, 

Paul Huron IV 

40

INTERN SPOTLIGHT 

ARMANDO MENJIVAR 

I spent my summer at BBVA Compass supporting the Internal 

Communications, Talent Acquisition and Development, Team 

Member Services, Partner Center, and the Strategic Planning teams 

in Talent & Culture, gaining valuable experiences on projects like 

standardizing touch points in the employee lifecycle, optimizing 

Twitter and Facebook careers communication, and redesigning the 

Top Talent Google Website. My T&C colleagues say they appreciate 

my contributions over the past 10 weeks, which is great because I’m 

hopeful that I gave as much as I received. 

And just what did I receive from the bank this summer? More than a paycheck that’s for sure. 

The highlight of my summer? Conversations with Chairman and CEO Manolo Sanchez, Chief 

Talent & Culture Executive Rosilyn Houston, Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Dominiquine, 

and others. All gave great advice on how to navigate the halls of BBVA Compass and 

guidance on how to start and manage my career. I thought I’d share a key themes from those 

discussions here in the hopes that other young professionals across the bank might benefit. 

Here’s a recap: 

Take Initiative 

As a new and aspiring young professional, I was told that it is important for me to proactively 

familiarize myself with the bank, my department and key leaders and influences, and to seek 

the knowledge I need to excel. That means taking initiative by asking managers in-depth 

questions about assignments and to not be limited to exposing myself to my immediate 

work environment. I put this advice into practice early and identified leaders and managers I 

believed could give me advice that would be pertinent to my career aspirations and carefully 

constructed emails expressing my interest in learning about their careers and experiences. I 

was surprised by how many were willing to share their professional journey and offer advice. 

Patience and Flexibility 

Two very important words resonated with me after meeting with Mr. Sanchez, patience and 

flexibility. He explained to me that while it is important to be eager and ambitious, success 

doesn’t happen instantaneously. Career growth requires careful planning as well as the 

fortitude to bring these plans to fruition. He advices me to also be flexible and allow my plans 

to change. Long-term goals are often more important that short-term contentment, he said. 

Networking 

Ms. Dominiquini and members of her leadership team stressed the importance of networking. 

They told me to maximize my summer by attending as many work-related events as possible, 

say hello to everyone and ask managers and coworkers for career advice. I was told that the 

people you meet, the hands you shake, and the relationships you create can greatly affect the 

early stages of of your career. 

41

Brand Yourself 

During my meeting with Ms. Houston, she emphasized the importance of developing a 

personal branding, or, in other words, proactively constructing a professional personal. She 

told me to think about how I want to be perceived and take steps to make it happen. I, not those 

around me, will determine my reputation, she counseled. She advices that I be consistent in 

my interactions with everyone; be aware of my body language and mannerisms. And most 

importantly, she said, be genuine. Branding yourself doesn’t mean being inauthentic, but 

presenting your best self in every interaction. 

Overall, my internship experience has taught me lessons that will follow me throughout my 

professional and personal life. I must take this opportunity to thank the Talent & Culture team 

for supporting me throughout my internship, in particular Talent Portfolio Partner Tameka 

Eubanks and Director of Internal Communications Ralph Evans for all the advice and support 

they have provided throughout the summer. 

About Armando: 

Armando is a 2016 graduate of University of Alabama in Huntsville, where he earned a 

Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing. He’s a Loya-Tudar Leadership 

Scholar, finished UAH with a 3.8 GPA and co-founded the Society of Hispanic Professional 

Engineers at UAH. Armando is also a BBVA Compass-sponsored INROADS intern. The mission 

of INROADS is to develop and place talented underserved youth in business and industry, 

and prepare them for corporate and community leadership. 

The name of the scholarship I won is the Executive Leadership 

Council's Award for Excellence in Business Commentary. 

NATASHA ARMSTRONG 

Here is some basic info on the award: Since 1995, top business 

undergraduate students have competed in a national writing 

competition centered on exploring business trends, issues and 

insights. Sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, The Award for 

Excellence in Business Commentary scholarship is awarded to 

high achieving undergraduate Black students who demonstrate 

academic excellence, leadership and a commitment to community 

service, and are pursuing a business discipline degree at a four 

year college or university. Annually, 10 winners across the nation are selected to receive 

scholarship awards and an opportunity to engage with ELC members through participation 

in The ELC’s Honors Symposium. More than $1.5M has been awarded since the inception of 

the competition. 

The essay prompt: Using the Executive Leadership Council’s white paper- 21st Century Global 

Leadership: Global Black Leaders Speak and additional resources, provide your perspective 

on why rising business leaders should gain global exposure and experience. Specifically, 

what impact can a global experience have on your academic, personal or professional 

development? Briefly share your plans on how you will expand your global perspective by 

maximizing an opportunity to participate in a global experience (i.e. course, internship, study 

abroad program). 

As an ELC Scholar, in addition to my scholarship award, I will be attending the ELC 

Honors Symposium in October, a week long professional development program, in New 

York and Washington, DC. As well as the ELC's Annual Recognition Gala, a black-tie event 

recognizing ELC scholars and their achievements. 

42 

Best, 

Natasha Armstrong

Volume 1, Issue 4 

April 4th, 2016 

Edited by: 

Leandria Vickers 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 

Read about Evelyn 

Mojica, a Mechanical 

Engineering senior at 

FIU, her experience as 

an Intern with UTC 

and how she obtained 

this great 

opportunity. 

Who Am I? 

• Major: 

Mechanical Engineering 

• Hometown: 

Miami, FL 

• Graduation Date: 

May 2016 

• Position: 

Intern 

• Company: 

United Technologies 

Corporation (UTC) 

• Email: 

Emoji001@fiu.edu 

Past Student Highlights: 

 

 

 

Jermaine Elliott 

Jorge Cisternas 

Ryan Sheffield 

“The internship experience I gained helped me 

realize that I wanted to be involved in research and development. 

I realized that I enjoyed the process that goes into 

designing and testing a product. At my internship, I had the 

opportunity to interact with the higher ups. This helped me 

immensely in being able to network more comfortably with 

recruiters.” 

Internships are not only about getting experience, but also 

about finding your passions and interests and this is what 

happen to our Student Intern who we are highlighting this 

week. From an internship with UTC to a full-time position 

with Lockheed Martin, Evelyn Mojica, our feature this week, 

shares her story of her internship and how it has positively 

affected her life. 

Career Services Office (CSO): How did you obtain your internship 

with United Technologies Corporation (UTC)? 

Mojica: I applied through the InRoads program. This involved 

doing a 3 hour candidate prep session and a mock 

interview before interviewing with companies. After requirements 

were fulfilled I interviewed over the phone with 

United Technologies Corp. in Bradenton, FL. Shortly after I 

got an internship offer letter. At the end of my first summer 

there (summer 2014) they invited me back for a second 

internship summer 2015. 

(CSO): What did you gain from your experience in your position? 

How did you grow professionally? 

Mojica: The internship helped me visualize what to expect 

as an engineer in research and development. I learned how 

to use Solid Edge, a 3D CAD program, to create engineering 

drawings utilized in manufacturing as well as how to better 

design products for manufacturing. In addition, I learned 

concepts used in the Six Sigma certification such as the 

development of design failure mode and effect analysis to 

target and address any areas that could potentially fail. 

(CSO): Would you recommend our office to other students? 

If so, why? 

Mojica: I highly recommend that students take advantage 

of the services the career services offices has to offer. Networking 

and professional development events are highly 

useful in acquiring an ability to interact with 

potential employers at conferences, career 

fairs, etc. 

((CSO): What are some benefits that you didn’t 

expect, but encountered in using the Career 

Services Office to help you? 

I was impressed with them facilitating employers 

to interview with students after the career 

fair in Fall 2015. That career fair was by far the 

best. 

CSO): What advice would you give a student 

who is pursuing the same thing you were aiming 

for (internship, job position)? 

Be actively involved on campus. Many organizations 

are engineering great products and 

giving back to the community. Being involved 

in the design and development of a rocket, 

airplane, car, etc. will help students gain engineering 

knowledge that is applicable in industry. 

When talking to recruiters 1% is about your 

GPA the other 99% is all about how involved 

you are on campus and in the community. Recruiters 

want to know who you are as a person 

and what your passion are. 

To learn more about Evelyn Mojica and her 

experiences, connect with her by reaching out 

via her email (found to the left). If you or anyone 

you know would like to be featured in this 

newsletter highlighting an internship, email 

Lvickers@fiu.edu. Look out for our newsletter in 

the next two weeks highlighting another great 

student. Until then, go Panthers! 

43

A Newsletter brought to you by the INROADS Interns at Kaiser Permanente 

INROADS 

Summer 2016 

Kaiser Permanente 

Cultivating the Leader in You 

On June 13th, 2016, 26 college 

students gathered in the Kaiser Permanente 

Pasadena Walnut Center conference room 

to begin their first, second, third and even 

fourth summers as Kaiser Permanente 

LAUNCH (Learn About Unlimited New 

Careers in Health Care) INROADS 

interns. What has grown to 28 interns, 

would be spread across the Southern 

California region with one goal in 

common, to work towards cultivating 

themselves as leaders and future 

stakeholders in the world of healthcare and 

business. 

With Carolyn Dallas, intern 

coordinator in the Diversity and Inclusion 

department, and MayLynn Melendez, Sr. 

Manager for the Southern California 

regional INROADS office both there to 

support the interns, each student was 

ensured to have a successful summer with 

Kaiser Permanente. 

Kaiser Permanente Interns 

National Day of Service 

KP|INROADS: A Digital View 

Click above for a closer look at this year’s interns, staff, and 

more! 

INROADS Intern FAQS: 

Q: Who are INROADS Interns? 

A: The best and brightest college 

undergraduates selected by INROADS 

corporate partners. 

Q: What is the education 

requirement to become an intern? 

A: INROADS Interns range from 

college freshman to seniors. 

Q: What is the application criteria? 

A: Full-time undergraduate, one open 

summer before graduation, a 3.0 

cumulative GPA. 

Q: What are some of the fields that 

the interns are exposed to? 

A: Business, accounting, finance, 

engineering, public affairs, supply 

chain, computer and information 

sciences, sales, marketing, community 

benefit, and healthcare. 

INROADS Kaiser Permanente: Pacific Region 

Website: INROADS.org Instagram: @INROADSinc Twitter: @INROADS 

44


What Does it Mean to Be a Leader? 

This year’s theme, “Cultivating the Leader in 

You” has influenced many interns to take the time 

to identify the marks of a true leader. Interns are given 

the opportunity to listen, learn, and ask questions, but 

they also wear the confidence to be a leader in their 

departments. Each summer, INROADS interns 

continue to sharpen their leadership and skills. 

“It’s good to make the distinction between a 

leader and a commander. A commander makes 

decisions on behalf of a group, while a leader inspires 

others to work as a team towards a common goal. I 

think what makes a good leader is the ability to inspire 

a group of people to put their own interests aside and 

act towards the overall well-being of the group.” 

Maximiliano Hernandez-Zapata 

Multi-Media —Eagle-Rock 

Hamilton College 

“Over the years my idea of being a leader has 

evolved. In the past I’ve seen leaders as listeners, 

observers and facilitators, yet I’ve realized, some of 

the greatest marks of a leader are being able to 

delegate roles, trust the team and multitask to the 

fullest. The managers and executives at KP have 

definitely influenced my shift in thought on what it 

means to be a leader.” 

Symone Williams 

Media Relations —Pasadena Walnut Center 

Howard University 

First Day Jitters 

For many interns, this would be their first year 

working at a large corporation like Kaiser 

Permanente. Even though INROADS instills in each 

student confidence and poise for success, those first 

day jitters can be inevitable! 

“Walking into my first day at KP Regional, I 

was excited, curious, and nervous. Funnily enough, 

everything I seemed to touch would stop working. My 

computer, telephone, and laptop lock all had technical 

difficulties. I was scared I started my internship on 

the wrong note but thankfully I've had a great 

experience so far.” 

Hafsa Khalid 

Decision Support —Pasadena Walnut Center 

University of California, Berkleley 

“The staff is a big family. They support each other 

in any way possible. When I began on the first day I 

was quite nervous and scared, but I walked in and 

they all hugged me and kept telling me how excited 

they were to have an intern working for them for the 

summer.” 

Alexis C McDowell 

Primary Care –Anaheim Kraemer Building 

University of California, Merced 

75% of our intern’s report their 

weekly bedtime from: 

10:00 PM to 1:00 AM 

What is yours? 

INROADS Expansion 

For the past 30 years, Kaiser Permanente 

and INROADS have partnered together to offer 

young professionals the opportunity to gain 

experience and knowledge in their respective fields. 

Today, the program has grown tremendously through 

the expansion of interns to new KP locations across 

the Pacific Region. 

“Whenever someone assigns me a project 

and I do it better and quicker than they expected, 

they are so shocked. I am glad I am the first intern 

they have had here because they didn't have positive 

or negative biases of me before coming in; I have 

been able to mold their expectation through my work 

ethic. The work environment is so great that some 

days it doesn't even feel like work.” 

Lilia Calleros 

Behavior Health —Panorama City/Reseda 

University of California, Berkeley 



45

“Working in Bakersfield, California has a lot 

of perks. First off, my commute to work is at most 

fifteen minutes long. Second, rent is cheaper 

compared to other Southern California locations. 

Third, the feeling of walking into an air conditioned 

building after being outside in one-hundred+ degree 

weather is like no other.” 

Angel Lara 

Administration —Bakersfield 

University of California, Berkeley 

Interns commute 

between 15-60+ 

minutes a day 

A Word from the Supervisors 

INROADS interns have had the opportunity 

to engage and work alongside a variety of KP 

employees throughout the SCAL region. From 

professional development workshops led by ‘AIMS’ 

at Kaiser Permanente Walnut Center to personal 

encounters with colleagues, every opportunity to 

learn something new has been of great value to both, 

the interns and employees of Kaiser Permanente. 

“Our team was extremely impressed with the 

professionalism, communication skills and thirst for 

knowledge that you [the interns] all displayed. The 

questions asked by the interns really reflected the 

determination you have and the investment you're 

willing to make in achieving your career goals.” 

Rica P. Lilly (AIMs Workshop) 

Recruitment Consultant Regional Offices –SCAL 

“She [Lilia Calleros] has completed projects 

that have been languishing for over three years; it did 

not take a lot of time, but it did take someone with 

the time and the drive to get them done. Many of our 

staff have complimented her, and commented on how 

great it has been to have her in the Clinic.” 

Elizabeth Hamilton, LCSW, MPH 

(Supervisor of Lilia Calleros) 

Department Administrator, Behavioral Health 

Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine — Panorama City 

INROADS Alumni Profile 


With a growing network of 28,000 seasoned 

professionals, departmental Vice Presidents and 

CEOs spread across the nation, INROADS alumni 

continuously stand as a representation of the 

organization’s ability to support the professional 

development of underserved young adults from 

diverse cultural backgrounds. 

“Being a first generation college 

student, I was never around 

individuals who had degrees or 

[individuals who even had] thoughts 

[on] how much they could achieve 

in life. Being in INROADS gave me 

the opportunity to be around individuals who were 

like me. I soon began to realize there was a whole 

world full of possibilities.” 

Mike Davis 

USC Alumnus/INROADS Alumnus 

“INROADS Learning Summits 

provided me the necessary soft skills 

training which gave me confidence 

and competence to present my goals 

and tasks in a disciplined and orderly 

manner. When I had to present my 

end of internship summary (three summers), I could 

speak intelligently to executives and show how I 

contributed directly to the protection of information 

and data security assets at the company. Second, 

working with highly qualified and polished 

information and data security professionals in my 

group allowed me to learn complex abstract concepts 

fast, and how to translate those ideas into corporate 

data strategy, program and project plans, and 

implementations to add value to the organization.” 

Zefren Edior 

California State Polytechnic University -Pomona /INROADS 

Alumnus 



46

INROADS National Day of Service 

Over 1,200 nationwide INROADS interns, 

alumni and corporate sponsors partnered nationally 

with the Boys and Girls Club for our 2016 National 

Day of Service on Friday, July 29. Interns were 

divided into seven teams and led the kids in 

interactive activities including a college and career 

panel, STEM room wall design, karaoke, music, 

games, and more! 


we are incredibly appreciative for that. All the 

INROADS coordinators and KP supervisors have 

worked incredibly hard for our benefit throughout 

this program and they deserve a huge thank you from 

all of us [interns].” 

Jesus Nunez 

Administration and HR —Bakersfield 

San Jose State University 

Kaiser Permanente INROADS Leadership 

“This years INROADS theme, 

Cultivating the Leader in You, runs 

deep among the Kaiser INROADS 

Interns as they complete complex 

department projects, mentor the 

summer youth, attend professional 

development training, and collaborate among each 

other to make sure that all interns succeed. Along with 

my INROADS Interns, we thank Kaiser Permanente 

for their continued support of the INROADS Mission - 

to develop and place talented youth in business and 

industry and prepare them for corporate and 

community leadership.” 

MayLynn Melendez 

INROADS Senior Manager 

Senior Spotlight 

INROADS develops and prepares interns 

ranging from college freshman to seniors for 

networking and career opportunities with like-minded 

peers, corporate executives, and alumni. Interns learn 

life long skills in their respective departments and are 

likely to be presented with a full time career after 

graduation. As the undergraduate clock continues to 

tick, INROADS ensures your success after your 

internship. 

“INROADS has provided us the 

opportunity to gain valuable experience & knowledge, 

in the office and at training seminars, that I believe 

hold incredible value in corporate environments that 

we would not have been able to obtain on our own and 



Carolyn Dallas, Business 

Coordinator for the Diversity & 

Inclusion department, has been 

connecting students with 

employment opportunities at Kaiser 

Permanente for over 50 years. Her 

work with the high school SYEP 

(Summer Youth Employment Program) and the 

INROADS LAUNCH program has proven to be the 

beginning focal point of many students’ careers as 

healthcare/business professionals. Part of her 

dedication comes from her belief that these 

engagement programs “are shaping the INROADS 

Interns to become a part of the healthcare workforce, 

be it at KP or elsewhere”, she states “It is a benefit to 

all.” 

Carolyn Dallas 

Business Coordinator for Diversity & Inclusion 

47

Creating Memories 

As I approach my third year, at Howard University, as a Strategic Legal Communications 

major, with a concentration in Advertising, I am fortunate enough to say, at the ripe age of 

20 years old, I have been able to work in my field of interest, accomplish a few of my 

goals and set dreams that seem less and less like ethereal thoughts. 

This summer, working in the Media Relations department, I’ve taken witness to how 

Kaiser Permanente, as an organization, values its work, its relationships, its surrounding 

community and its own employees. In coordinating the 2016 INROADS Newsletter, I have been able to, 

not only, uncover some incredible things about this year’s interns, in collecting statements and stories— 

but, I have also been able to digitally showcase this program’s diversity, its mission, and ultimately, its 

success. Alas, with little background in video editing and shooting, I’d personally like to thank my iPhone 

5, which bared with me on its last legs and allowed me to capture the greatness that is INROADS and 

Kaiser Permanente! 

Symone Williams 

Media Relations —Pasadena Walnut Center 

Howard University 

I have created so many amazing memories as an INROADS intern and I cherish the 

nostalgia now conveyed through our newsletter. Speaking on behalf of all of the INROADS 

interns at Kaiser Permanente, we have been granted the opportunity of a lifetime, trusted 

enough to work alongside healthcare professionals, and given a safety net of support, 

mentorship, and resources to guide us along the way. However, we brought our experiences, 

stories, innocence, and confidence that demands recognition and applause! I wanted to be 

apart of creating and designing this newsletter because I longed to share our appreciation 

and our accomplishments with our peers, friends, advisors, and future employers. 

I am a rising Junior at the University of California, Riverside studying Public Policy with an emphasis on 

Social, Cultural and Family/Healthcare policy. My internship with Public Affairs/Community Benefit has 

cultivated my interpersonal, technical, and leadership skills that are vital for an outstanding career. I dream to 

be a catalyst of change in healthcare, and in preparation, I look forward to the rest of my journey as an 

INROADS intern at Kaiser Permanente! 

Marlisha Jean Burris 

Public Affairs/Community Benefit —Los Angeles Medical Center 

University of California, Riverside 



48

For the past 25 years, MetLife and INROADS have partnered to place hundreds of 

INROADS cohorts in valuable internships and full-time jobs across every division at 

MetLife. Currently, we have a variety of exciting and challenging roles in Finance, 

Technology, Actuarial, Marketing and Operations. If you are currently looking for a new 

opportunity with a global, world-class organization, check out a few of our jobs on the 

INROADS Alumni Job Board and apply today. To explore more open positions and learn 

more about MetLife, visit metlife.com/careers and follow us on 

Linkedin, Twitter and Glassdoor. 

49

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PROFESSIONAL 

AND ETIQUETTE TIPS 

Four Important Things to Remember 

for Cubicle-Style Office Etiquette 

1. Respect your neighbor. 

Working in a cubicle-style setting can take some time to get used to in a busy, collaborative 

environment. You and your neighbors will have times when one or the other is too noisy. So, be a 

good neighbor and stay aware of your coworkers. Whether they are on a client call or trying to meet 

a deadline, being quiet and considerate of your neighbor goes a long way. 

2. Watch your tone. 

As your mother always said, “Use your inside voice,” especially when at your desk. Use conference 

rooms for meetings. Take personal calls in an empty conference room or hallway. Itcan be awkward 

trying not to listen to a coworker’s distressing personal call. If you are atsomeone’s desk giving 

information, keep it to 2-3 sentences. If the conversation needs to belonger than that, schedule a 

meeting for discussion. 

3. Don’t be a chatterbox. 

No, everyone does not want to know what you did over the weekend. We all enjoy talking and 

visiting with our coworkers, but “work is not social hour.” Stay focused on work while at work and 

make plans to chat for lunch or at afterwork networking events. 

4. Do collaborate and bond. 

Because of the open setting in a cubicle space, teamwork is a must. Remember those afterwork 

networking events? This is a great way to get to know your officemates. Have regularly scheduled 

team or project meetings. Make sure you do what you can to get to know your neighbors and foster 

strong team bonds.

Southeast Region Newsletter 2016 

As we enter our fall season here at 

INROADS, we reflect on an extraordinary 

summer made possible with the generous 

support of alumni, corporate and 

community partners. Below are highlights 

from our 2016 summer activities. Thank 

you to sponsors, donors and volunteers 

who contributed to a successful summer. 

New Intern Orientation | May 

New interns in each market received a warm 

welcome. They were introduced to what it means 

to be an INROADS Intern — as well as the high 

expectations placed upon them to begin their 

new internships as young professionals. 

Golf Clinics | July 

We all know much business is conducted on the 

golf course. We believe that providing 

instructional lessons on the fundamentals of golf 

— the full swing, chipping, putting, equipment 

needed and the rules of the game — will help 

make our interns well-rounded individuals. 

Intern Development Day | June 

In each market, interns attended this one-day summer 

intelligence, professional etiquette, personal 

markets, interns were paired with Alumni mentors who 

serve as an additional resource and support system 

on their career journey. 

Learning Summit Conference | June 

Interns in the Southeast region attended a three-day 

leadership conference held on the campus of Emory 

University in Atlanta, GA. Interns took part in 

professional development workshops, heard from 

corporate executive keynote speakers, panel 

discussions and participated in a business case 

competition. The conference concluded with an 

award ceremony recognizing the achievements of 

outstanding individuals. 

Head Shots & Handshakes | July 

We always enjoy our Alumni and intern 

networking events! From taking professional 

head shots to providing networking 

opportunities, interns had a chance to engage 

with alumni and other professionals to expand 

their network.

National Day of Service | July 

Our countrywide community service day, National 

Day of Service, was held in each market to honor 

the vision and legacy of our founder, Frank C. 

Carr. The event prepares our youth for corporate 

and community leadership. Local markets 

partnered with organizations to volunteer and 

give back to their communities. 

Dining Etiquette Class | July 

Our Dining Etiquette Classes prepare students with 

the essentials to maneuver around the dinner 

table. These skills prepare each student to attend 

or participate in business meetings, receptions and 

networking events with confidence and poise. 

End of Summer 

Presentations | August 

The conference concluded with an award 

ceremony recognizing the achievements of 

outstanding individuals. 

Visiones | September 

Visiones is an annual fundraising event in 

honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. This event 

celebrates the richness of the Hispanic 

community as well as highlighting partners 

and alumni testimonies on the impact 

INROADS has made in their lives as individuals. 

It is a night filled with beautiful Latin influences 

and live entertainment. Proceeds from this 

event help provide academic scholarships 

and support annual training programs such as 

the Learning Summits. 

Student Testimonial 

“A big thanks to the entire INROADS Staff for hosting a successful Learning Summit. 

It was a positive and uplifting experience and I can't thank you enough for your 

dedication to students through such an incredible program." 

- Gretchen Gutierrez 

INROADS Intern 

UTC 

Junior at University of Florida 

Again, thank you for being a part of an incredible summer. 

We look forward to your continued support in 2017. 

Upcoming Events 

www.INROADS.org/events/events 

Upcoming Events 

www.INROADS.org/alumni/alumni-giving 

Want to volunteer? Sign up at: 

www.INROADS.org/southeastvolunteersignup 

www.INROADS.org 

Stay Connected with us

INROADS WESTERN REGION 

Cultivate the Leader in You 

Celebrating your passion, generosity and leadership. 

INROADS is honored to celebrate YOU! 

SAVE THE DATE 

Wednesday 

December 7, 2016 

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. 

NOOR 

300 East Colorado Blvd 

Pasadena, CA 91101 

AGENDA 

REGISTRATION AND COCKTAIL HOUR 

Unwind and Indulge while building 

your Network. 

INROADS PROGRAM AND CELEBRATION 

Cultivating Leaders 2016. 

Celebration of INROADS Champions. 

LIMITED COMPLIMENTARY 

ALUMNI ENTRANCE 

WITH RSVP BY NOV. 18 

POWER NETWORKING AND RECEPTION 

Opportunity for Professional Partners, 

Alumni and Guests to connect.

SEE WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS SAYING 

Follow us 

on twitter: 

Dominique R. Jones 

@harlembgced 


Dr. Christine Grant 

@DrGrantEmpowers 

Call : 866-398-3608 

Mail : alumnirelations@INROADS.org 

This message is being sent to you because of your affiliation with the 

INROADS Alumni Online Community at www.INROADS.org/alumni.

SEE WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS SAYING 

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK 

INROADS, Inc.

I NROADS C OLLEG E L I N K S 

put y our fut ure 

i n focus today ! 

Application Requirements 

Be a High School Freshman for 

2016-2017 school year 

Attend a high school in Atlanta, 

GA or surrounding suburbs 

Have a 3.0 GPA or “B” average 

minimum 

Strong academic standing with 

solid extracurricular activities 

Intent to attend a four-year 

college or university 

Intent to pursue an academic 

major in the field of business or 

STEAM (Science, Technology, 

Education, Arts, Math) 

Commitment to full program 

participation from January-June 

2017 

A ppl y N ow for 

C o l lege Links A tla n t a 

- THE OPPORTUNITY - 

Since 1970, INROADS has provided students with leadership development 

and business soft skills through internship programs and development 

activities. The INROADS College Links Program for high school students 

will help participants build study, business and personal skills, and 

strengthen academic and career interests. 

- THE BENEFITS- 

• Career exploration and development 

• Networking skill development 

• College preparation activities 

• Monthly skills development workshops 

• Greater potential for an INROADS Internship opportunity and full time 

career after college graduation 

- TO APPLY - 

Servi ce. 

L eadersh ip. 

Sch ola rsh ip. 

• Must be a high school freshman 

• Must reside in Atlanta, GA or in surrounding suburbs 

• Visit CollegeLinks.INROADS.org to apply or scan QR code 

Scan for INROADS College Links application! 

Deadline: 

D ecember 9 , 201 6 

Questions? 

Contact: INROADS College Links 

CollegeLinks@INROADS.org CollegeLinks.INROADS.org

More than 200 Corporate Partners across the United States work with INROADS to secure summer internships for our 

students, which are critical to preparing for corporate leadership roles. Now, you can access job opportunities from those 

sponsors via INROADS PROS! 

And, as an INROADer, you have a competitive advantage. If you see a job opportunity you like, submit your application. 

Put “INROADS Alumni” on your résumé. Select “INROADS” if there’s an option to indicate where you heard about this 

job opportunity. 

If you don’t see any job opportunities that interest you, please share PROS with others in your network and encourage 

them to select “INROADS” on the application as well. Check back with us periodically because we receive new job 

opportunities regularly. 

Call: 866-398-3608 

GET IN TOUCH 

Email: alumnirelations@INROADS.org 

Website: INROADS.org/alumni 



@INROADSInc 

INROADS Inc.

INROADS 2016 November Magazine

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