Nearly 80 University of Minnesota Duluth student-athletes attended the third annual John Goldfine Leadership Institute, which was held Oct. 23 at the Inn of Lake Superior in Duluth. The intense, five-hour program strives to build the leadership toolbox of UMD student-athletes in the classroom, community and competition. This year's event included a Leadership Forum, a Q&A session with a Captains Leadership Panel of Bulldog alumni, a Wells Fargo Financial Literacy presentation and a substance use education session. All participants, who also learned about leadership from Jamar Companies president and CEO Craig Fellman (a Duluth native and former men's hockey lettermen at West Point), as well as earned a certificate from the Northwestern Mutual and NCAA partnership for Life After Athletics.
The John Goldfine Leadership Institute was piloted in 2014 following discussions on how to help student-athletes better develop their leadership skills for their time at UMD and beyond.
"This intensive program is designed to help our student-athletes build on the skills and life lessons they learn through a lifetime of athletics participation," said UMD athletic director Josh Berlo. "By combining their personal experiences with those of our impressive presenters, we are working to further Bulldog student-athletes as leaders. We appreciate the generosity of the sponsors, panelists, presenters and our benefactor, John Goldfine, in helping make this fast-paced program an annual benefit to the Bulldog student-athletes."
Anyone interested in sponsoring or volunteering to help future John Goldfine Leadership Institute sessions, are encouraged to contact Josh Berlo at [email protected].
Leadership Forum
Meagan Avery (Northwestern Mutual)
Kristi Schmidt (Chief Marketing Officer, Essentia Health)
Pat Mullen (Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Minnesota Power Allete)
Josh Hamilton (Dean of Swenson College of Science & Engineering, UMD)
Anna Tanski (President & CEO, Visit Duluth)
Kevin Breen (Head of School, Marshall School)
Pat Francisco (Pat Francisco & Associates)
Laura Sieger (Associate VP, Communications & Engagement maurices)
(Moderated by: Dr. Lisa Erwin - UMD Vice Chancellor for Student Life & Dean of Students)
Captains Leadership Panel
Julie Rainey (UMD volleyball alumna)
Jen Reierson (UMD women's soccer alumna)
Judd Medak (UMD men's hockey alumnus)
Sara Mathias (UMD softball alumnus)
Annual event is a hit with UMD athletes