Eagle’s Nest
Leaders from across the region recently gathered at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center to explore themes of leadership such as influence, self-worth, and diversity.
These leaders came together for the Eagle’s Nest Leadership Summit and were treated to a heavy dose of inspiration. Boo Hagerty of Hamot Health Foundation and Jim Donnelly of UPMC Hamot were among the speakers who regaled the room with tales of leadership in their own lives and within their organizations. They were accompanied by a discussion panel of distinguished dignitaries, including Erie Insurance CEO Tim NeCastro and Mayor Joe Schember. The keynote address was provided by former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge who spoke elegantly of the perfect lens of a child. He noted how children give and receive love without regard to skin color or any element of appearance.
This successful event was a function of Eagle’s Nest Leadership Corporation (ENLC) and was organized by Executive Director Onjanette Jackson, PhD. ENLC is a nonprofit organization based in Erie and founded by Bishop Dwayne Brock to help at-risk youth by aligning them with hope and opportunity. Bishop Brock has been lauded by local and state agencies for his persistent community focus and unwillingness to accept an unhealthy status quo.
As a proud sponsor of ENLC, Hamot Health Foundation demonstrates a commitment to being part of the solution. In 2016, UPMC Hamot collaborated with ENLC to establish an employment initiative in which individuals receive career-track training with an emphasis on soft skills. More than 100 graduates of the program are now enabled to build a resume and write their own success stories. Many have chosen to accept full-time employment opportunities at UPMC Hamot, where diversity is embraced and inclusion is a mutual point of pride.