The Kenan Fellow/Mentor partnership is the foundation of our program. What does this partnership mean to you? This was an amazing experience to work in a place that I knew very little about.  My mentor was great.  He allowed me to work at my own pace and to have a chance to talk with many of the workers.  I realized that this company was more than just a job, it was a family.  At the very end of my internship, I created a presentation to present at the final meeting and I entitled it “We Are Family”.  This company is just that.

• Did you work with a single mentor or multiple professionals? Both. My mentor was Chris Jarman, but I also worked with the trainee of the company. I also was allowed to visit Mega Force weekly to look at potential workers for the company and James Sprunt Community College to meet with workers who had to complete a HRD course before working at National Spinning.
• Describe a time when your mentor helped you understand something or helped you have an “ah-ha” moment.  My ah-ha moment came when my mentor and I were touring the plant looking for some new hires to check on them and to see how they were progressing. As we were walking, some of the employees stopped my mentor and discussed some issues. Many people would have pushed the employees issues to the side but my mentor didn’t.  As soon as we got back to the office he talked to the supervisors about these issues and some of the problems were handled within the week.  He showed me that no matter how busy you may be, always take time for your workers.  I made sure I do that every day.  I make it a priority of mine to talk to every single student of mine on a daily basis.
• Discuss the working relationship between you and your mentor. Did you work side-by-side? Did he/she allow you to work on your own? After the first week I was able to work alone.  I reported to him on a daily basis.
• What do you consider to be the lasting impact of this relationship? The passion we have for seeing all be successful.
• Do you plan to work together after the fellowship ends? My mentor is no longer with National Spinning.  He is now self employed.  I actually incorporated his new business in my project that my students did for Kenan Fellows.