Black
corporate speakers discuss importance
of work ethic
By
Kimberlee Morrison and Tanya Payne
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writers
In order to move forward we must look back. That is the essence of Sankofa,
an annual student, alumni and corporate mixer hosted by the Black Business
Student Association and the National Society of Black Engineers.
The word Sankofa comes from the West African Akon language. Four keynote speakers
shared their keys to success with an audience of approximately 90 students,
faculty and alumni at the Soroptomist house last Thursday.
Omone Oshiomegie, project engineer for Turner Construction and the first corporate
speaker of the evening, offered what she considered essential tools for academic
success. Her first piece of advice was to apply for internships.
“
This will give you an idea as to whether you will enjoy working in your chosen
profession,” she said. “People graduate; they start working in
the field and they don’t enjoy what they got their degree in.”
Oshiomegie also recommended taking advantage of scholarships, getting good
grades and planning for graduation.
She shared her own experience.
“
I knew as a freshman what I needed to take up until my senior year and I went
for it,” she said.
Rhonda Hayes, space/airborne and information technology Web services engineer,
attributed her success to persistence and a strong work ethic.
The
architectural depression of the 1990s left
Hayes unemployed. Lacking the computer
skills necessary for her field, Hayes returned
to college at the same time as her daughter.
Upon her return she noticed a lack of preparation
among many college students.
If a person does not attend classes regularly and fails to turn in assignments,
but says they want to be an engineer, their behavior does not match their goals,
she said.
The last two speakers of the evening, Beverly King, director of community affairs
for Turner Construction and Carl Kemp, director of community affairs and government
relations for the Port of Long Beach, both discussed the importance of networking
in order to advance beyond the “glass-ceiling” they said most minorities
face.
Both King and Kemp discussed what it is like to be the first black person in
a position of power in a given industry.
King was the first black hire in the Texas Education Agency and Kemp was the
first black director for the Port of Long Beach.
“
If you’re first it sets the standard by which others behind you will
be judged,” King said. “If you do a good job you open the door
for others.”
Kemp stressed the importance of helping other minorities. He shared a story
of how he helped the only Latino male in the office while he worked for Long
Beach City Hall.
Kemp urged the audience to never underestimate the power of “the hook-up,” saying, “It’s
not about race, it is about representation.”
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