NEWARK, DE - Mentors and mentees who participate in Center for Growing Talent’s (CGT) Mentoring Initiative will meet up at Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit later this month, taking advantage of North America’s largest gathering of the global fresh produce and floral supply chain for a rare opportunity to get
together face to face.
“Long-distance mentoring is great, and sometimes it’s the only option in an industry where our connections are spread across the globe. That said, widely-attended industry events like Fresh Summit provide an opportunity to make those connections even stronger by meeting in real life,” said CGT Vice President Talent Portfolio Alicia Calhoun. “So we are encouraging our Mentoring Initiative participants to come together in Orlando!”
Center for Growing Talent has invited its Mentoring Initiative’s mentors and mentees who are already planning to attend Fresh Summit to connect over a Fresh Summit Forum for the Future on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 18-19, at the Global Street Festival Welcoming Reception Thursday evening, or at CGT’s Women’s Fresh Perspectives Leadership Breakfast on Saturday morning, Oct. 20. To view the Fresh Summit schedule for other meet-up opportunities, mentors and mentees can visit www.FreshSummit.com. Details about the breakfast featuring champion alpine skier Lindsey Vonn can be found at here.
Center for Growing Talent’s Mentoring Initiative, launched in 2017, is designed to help mentees broaden their industry networks, strengthen their competencies, and build confidence. For mentors, it offers the opportunity for experienced industry members to give back to their industry. CGT uses the online platform MentorCity to facilitate mentoring relationships. Participation in the initiative is free.
“The Mentoring Initiative gives our industry a shining opportunity to get involved with their extended
community, by both teaching and learning,” said mentor Jill Overdorf, Naturipe Farms Director of Business Development and a member of CGT’s Board of Directors. “This is an incredible opportunity to build meaningful and enriching relationships across industry sectors.”
The Mentoring Initiative falls under the “develop” component of Center for Growing Talent’s mission, which is to provide industry-specific solutions to attract, develop and retain talent. CGT also provides leadership development programming across the career continuum, from young professionals to senior executives and women; and hosts in-person receptions for young professionals at key industry events. To learn more about CGT’s programs and work, visit www.CenterforGrowingTalent.org.
Want to give back to your industry by becoming a mentor? Are you looking for a mentor to help guide your career development? “If you haven’t connected with someone yet, contact us—Center for Growing Talent can help,” said Calhoun.
To join CGT's free Mentoring Initiative, click here. To learn how you can support this nonprofit charitable organization’s vital work addressing the industry priority of talent—by contributing to CGT, by volunteering, or both—click here.
