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Blazing Trails and Giving Back with Jenée Velasquez

Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors

Release Date: 06/13/2023

Life 2.0: Finding Purpose Beyond Retirement show art Life 2.0: Finding Purpose Beyond Retirement

Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors

In today's episode of Executive Decisions, host Sarah Delahanty speaks with Todd and Cindy Shinabarger about their inspiring journey of transitioning from demanding careers to what they call “Life 2.0”—a purposeful and fulfilling phase of life dedicated to service and impact. Todd and Cindy share their experiences of stepping into volunteer roles with Operation Mobilization, where their skills in IT and science transformed projects and systems, helping the organization achieve excellence. They reflect on the importance of being intentional, crafting a plan, and seeking purpose beyond...

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Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors

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Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors

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Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors

In this episode of Executive Decisions, guest hosted by Seth Whicker, guest Tim Early, CEO of DreamOn Group, shares his insightful journey from an early career decision to move from New York to Florida, leading to a pivotal role in the medical device industry with Cordis Corporation. Tim reflects on his educational transitions, notably from West Point to Rochester Institute of Technology, and his shift from accounting to packaging engineering, emphasizing the importance of aligning one's strengths with career choices. The episode delves into Tim's experiences with changing industry...

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Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors

Dionna has been with Whirlpool Corporation for 15 years and currently leads the Whirlpool Sales Enablement Team as well as being the Chief of Staff for the Sales SVP.  She is responsible for creating strategies and experiences to enable profitable sales growth for both Whirlpool and its Trade Customers. Dionna has held various positions with escalating responsibility within training, operations, sales and merchandising. As an accomplished sales leader she has been awarded National Sales Manager of the year and has delivered record breaking profitable growth in each of her respective role...

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Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors

Dennis McKeever has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh along with a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of California, Irvine. Dennis retired from Dow Chemical after a thirty year career where he primarily served as a senior manager in Research and Development.   However, he also had two business management experiences – first as the manager of the Chemicals business for Latin America and subsequently as the VP for the Polyolefins and Elastomers business unit for Dow North America.  After retiring from Dow, he served for six years as the...

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Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors

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Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors

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Executive Decisions by SYM Financial Advisors

Jenée Velasquez is the Executive Director of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, a prestigious organization dedicated to philanthropy and community development. Velasquez began her professional journey as the Chief Executive Officer of Midland County's Economic Development Corporation, Midland Tomorrow, where she played a pivotal role in driving economic growth and prosperity. Prior to that, she served as the Manager of Economic Development Services and the first Downtown Development Authority Coordinator in Midland. She also worked for the Manhattan, Kansas Convention, and Visitors...

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Jenée Velasquez is the Executive Director of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, a prestigious organization dedicated to philanthropy and community development. Velasquez began her professional journey as the Chief Executive Officer of Midland County's Economic Development Corporation, Midland Tomorrow, where she played a pivotal role in driving economic growth and prosperity. Prior to that, she served as the Manager of Economic Development Services and the first Downtown Development Authority Coordinator in Midland. She also worked for the Manhattan, Kansas Convention, and Visitors Bureau, gaining valuable experience in promoting tourism and enhancing the local economy. Jenée is active in her community and serves on the Huntington Bank Community Advisory Board, the MidMichigan Health Board, the Midland City and County Joint Building Authority, the Council of Michigan Foundations Board, the Michigan Municipal League Foundation Board, and the Greater Midland Community Center’s Trustees Board. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Kansas State University, a Master of Business Administration degree from Michigan State University, and completion of an executive education course at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

 

Today Jenée and I discuss her career and how she’s been able to give back to her community. She explains how she blazed trails and opened doors for other women to serve in leadership positions, and how it’s both a pressure and an honor to be the first. She recounts her experiences as a leader of Midland Tomorrow, the unique challenges in representing the opinions of the other women in the room, and how the relationships she formed supported her. She details her involvement in the Senior Olympics and her love for volleyball. Jenée also describes being the first in her family to go to college, reveals how her husband helped her achieve her educational goals, and highlights the importance of having a sense of humor. 

 

“Its looking for people that inspire you to be better and learn new things.” - Jenée Velasquez

 

 

This week on Executive Decisions:

 

  • The mission of the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation
  • Jenée’s accomplishments as a first-time leader 
  • How Jenée broke ground for women in leadership 
  • The challenges of being a first-generation college student 
  • Jenée’s journey to leadership
  • How networking paved the way for Jenée’s career path 
  • The importance of learning to accept help from others
  • How to balance work and life as a parent 
  • The importance of integrity, kindness, and humility in leadership
  • The necessity of taking risks in your personal and professional lives 
  • How philanthropy affects communities

 

Our Favorite Quotes:

 

  • “It’s about accepting help from others, learning from others, and reaching back to make sure that all the things that were given to you, you’re sharing with others too.” - Jenée Velasquez
  • “Be thankful for the little things. Sometimes, those other things, they can wait.” - Sarah Delahanty
  • “When you are in a leadership role, be easy to follow.” - Jenée Velasquez

 

Connect with Jenée Velasquez:

 

 

About SYM Financial and Executive Decisions Podcast

 

Executive Decisions is a show for business leaders. In each episode, host and financial advisor Sarah Delahanty sits down with executives and local experts who serve them. Together, they tackle some of the harder questions that business leaders face today. From inspiring creativity in the workplace, to managing company politics, to making the best choices with executive compensation, taxes, and lifestyle — our show delivers stories and lessons learned across many industries and lifetimes. 

 

Email Sarah at [email protected] with questions, comments, and to schedule a one-on-one conversation. 

 

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Disclosure: Certain links above are to third-party sites and are not affiliated with SYM Financial Corporation (“SYM”). SYM is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about SYM including our investment strategies, fees and objectives can be found in our ADV Part 2, which is available upon request.