Dave Weiman
by Dave Weiman
A good graduation commencement speech can serve as a reminder to graduates and those of us in the audience, as to what we need to do in life to succeed, and to live happy and prosperous lives.
Peggy and I recently attended our daughters’ commencement ceremonies, and we both came away from the programs thinking that the commencement address speeches had substance.
One of the speakers, David Wittwer, President and Chief Executive Office for TDS Telecommunications Corp (TDS®), the seventh largest telecom provider in the U.S., worked his way up the ladder, beginning with the company in 1983. He started as an internal auditor, then division accounting manager, controller, executive vice president of staff operations, chief financial officer, and then chief operating officer, before being named president and chief executive officer in 2006. He actually reminded me of Mark Van Tine, President and CEO of Jeppesen. Like Mark, David worked in a number of departments before reaching the top spot, and they both come across as genuine good people. This is the kind of leadership any business or organization needs, and it is this kind of leadership that can relate with one’s employees and earn their respect.
David stated that he has many goals for his company: providing great service to his customers, delivering quality products and services, promoting a positive work environment that employees can be proud of, and giving shareholders a good return on their investment. You don’t have to be the “top dog” in a company or organization to have these goals. In fact, David would like everyone who works with him to share these same goals, and commends those who do.
David concluded his speech by telling us that regardless of what we do in life, to be caring people, authentic, consistent, a role model, to maintain integrity, learn as a student, stay current, teach someone something that will help them or others, and find people with special skills or knowledge to “network” with.
As you will read in this issue, “networking” with others within and outside our industry is very important for us as individuals, and as an industry. Something else in this issue we feel is very important is a story about the Commemorative Air Force “Red Tail Squadron” of the Tuskegee Airmen. The six guiding principles of the squadron’s educational mission are to Aim High, Believe In Yourself, Use Your Brain, Never Quit, Be Ready To Go, and Expect To Win. These principles would also make for an excellent conclusion to a commencement speech.
