Chapter presidency offers chances to lead and grow

To become president of the Omaha Chapter was a goal when we first joined Legatus in 2017. It is very humbling to be part of a dynamic group of business leaders and executives who put their Catholic faith into practice in their professional work and personal lives.
 
I’d like to share some best practices that I’ve tried to implement in my position as chapter president.

Consult and collaborate.

I encourage all Legatus chapter presidents to work closely with their chapter administrators, chaplains, and other officers. Presidents should invite all officers and members to offer assistance where needed and to share their thoughts and ideas in meetings. I also encourage presidents to participate in Legatus’ quarterly webinars and to communicate frequently with their regional vice presidents.
 
Get to know the members.

As president, I have enjoyed getting to know chapter members and interacting with them at our monthly meetings. The best part about the job, in fact, is that opportunity to lead the monthly meetings. I am humbled to know that I am interacting with some of the top business leaders in our community. It is quite a privilege to call meetings to order and know that I am in a safe community that shares the same Catholic values.
 
I believe it is important to recognize members’ birthdays and anniversaries and to share any prayer intentions concerning members. Through such interaction, I have learned so much about members’ businesses, family activities, and church events. I have found such communication to benefit my personal growth and relationships.
 
Apply what you learn to your own executive position.

This experience of leadership in a Legatus chapter has helped me in my current professional role as well. I believe serving as chapter president has empowered me to better lead and understand the needs of the employees I work with on a daily basis. There is great responsibility in leading a team of employees and their families, and I truly value the challenge to bring them on board, to help them provide for their families, and to achieve their personal dreams.
 
My employees know where my values are. This knowledge helps them realize that they can place their trust in me and our leaders and directors. It also assures them that we have their best interests at heart at all times.
 
Allow it to infuse your own faith and practice.

Being president of a Legatus chapter has helped me become aware that I need to be intentional about my own faith life, both in personal prayer and in sharing my faith. If you visit the front office of my firm, you will see a prayer wall to the left where employees, clients, and visitors can write and post their prayer petitions, knowing there is a group of us who will pray regularly for their concerns. Living our Catholic faith every day helps me stay focused on priorities, and ultimately forms me as a servant of the Jesus who first showed us how to love and care for our neighbors.
 
In addition, this position has helped me become a better father by listening more closely to my own grown children and their vocational experiences.

My mantra for facing each day:

Work hard, pray harder.

Have faith. Be strong.

Love and serve our great God.

Have an amazing day!