Career mentors are the most integral part of our work when connecting with high school and college students in our Workforce Prep and College Success Mentoring program. For new career mentors, the process of getting started can feel like they are embarking on the unknown. Some also feel nervous about how they will connect with students who are much younger and who may deal with issues that the mentor may not have encountered when they were in high school or college.
Knowing this is a concern, we provide training before the program begins and ongoing support before, during and after every session. This year, it all started with our ’23-24 career mentors participating in our training and orientation program in October at our office in Warren.
Jessica Hymon, who works as an auditor at Ally Financial, is a career mentor at Cass Technical High School. She shared with us how she was initially nervous about starting as a mentor and has now returned for a second year.
“The training and support we receive during each session is so helpful,” says Jessica.
She said the staff at her school always make sure to go over what will happen at each session. They also talk about any key points that the career mentor should keep in mind while interacting with their group of students.
While our focus is on empowering students to reach their educational and professional goals, they are not the only ones that feel the benefits. Our career mentors also enjoy learning from their students and the joy that comes with working with them.
Vanessa DeMenech recently retired as a Contract Manager at General Motors. She is a career mentor at Community High School and learned about us when she subbed for a friend at Community High School. She enjoyed it so much that she decided to apply as a career mentor in our school-based program this year.
“I love meeting students where they are, and seeing how I can help them,” says Vanessa.
Every career mentor who volunteers with us is essential to our program. They come to us from a variety of different career fields and diverse backgrounds. Some of our mentors work in industries like automotive engineering, banking, information technology, and some are business owners themselves. This is important for our students because we do our best to match students with mentors that have expertise in a career field that the students may be interested in.
90 percent of our students are people of color, and understanding that representation matters for everyone, it is imperative for us to find mentors that our students can see a bit of themselves in.
Tae’Vonne Taylor is an Investment Advisor at PNC Bank and is a mentor in our program at Pontiac Academy of Excellence. This is his third year as a career mentor, and he enjoys interacting with his student and understands how important it is for the student to have a male mentor that he can relate to.
“Kids sometimes need help to see what options are available to them as far as career and education. I want to be a positive influence in that way,” said Tae’Vonne.
If you are curious about becoming a career mentor, we welcome you to discover more about what we do. We provide training and in-class support to all our mentors, and there is always someone available if you have questions at any point during the process.
January is National Mentoring Month, and we want to thank and recognize every career mentor in our program this year.
2023-2024 Winning Futures Career Mentors
Sami Abu-Soud, Lead Wiring Design Release Engineer, Flex
Brian Agar, 2nd Shift Wing Engineer, Stellantis
Mahfuj Ahbab, Senior Data Analyst, Driven Brands
Zereen Ali, Sr. Communications and Marketing Specialist, Martinrea International Inc.
Rasha Al-Naji, Director, Program Management, Flex
Michael Anderson, Assistant Program Purchasing Manager, General Motors
Jessica Anderson, Sr. Analyst, Physical Security, Ally
Dena Austin, Director Population Health, Blue Cross Complete
James Austin, Underwriter, Ally
Juretta Bailey-Grajewski, Career Consultant, Oakland University
Gerard Baltrusaitis, Internship Employment Specialist, Gesher Human Services
James Bishop, System Test Engineer, HARMAN International
Nicholas Boguth, Portfolio Manager, Center for Financial Planning
Kelly Bolman, Talent Selection Specialist, Henry Ford Health System
Joshua Borden, Senior WFM Scheduling Analyst, Rocket Mortgage
Chanese Brown, Mortgage Underwriter, Park State Bank
Stefan Buerkle, SVP, Head of Sales – Cross Domain Computing, Robert Bosch LLC
Diane Burns, Supply Chain Consultant, Allegis Global Solutions
Robert Bush, Account Executive, Blue Cross Complete of Michigan
Chris Cahill, Director of Operations, Winning Futures
Candace Campbell, Corporate and Partnership Engagement Manager, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit
Taylor Carter-Willbanks, Grants and Major Gifts Development Manager, GreenPath Financial Wellness
Natalie Chipot, Validation Engineering Manager, Forvia
Thomas Clemons, VP, Principal Product Manager, Comerica Bank
Kelly Cobbin, Compliance Manager, Ally Financial
Maria Cook, Information Technology Project Manager, Comerica
LaShawn Cooks, Escrow Operations Analyst, Comerica Bank
Karla Cordova Azuara, Technical Project Lead, FORVIA (Faurecia)
Lacey Cornell, School & Community Relations Coordinator, Extra Credit Union
Tyler Cox
Earline Crawford, Audit Talent Management Analyst, Ally Financial
Mae Daniels, Public Relations and Events Coordinator, Extra Credit Union
Ellyn Davidson, CEO, Brogan & Partners
Melissa Davidson, Internal Medicine/ Pediatrics Physician, Bronson Medical Group
Brian Davis, Payment Assistance Worker, State of Michigan
Ruth Davis, Retired, General Motors
Scott Dawson, Investor, SMD Investments and Capital Partners
Vanera DeMenech, Contract Manager, General Motors
Brenda Dennis, Supplier Quality Engineer, Magna
Ashley DiFonzo, Product Trainer, Autobooks
Dane Dillon, Energy Engineer, DNV
Robert Doyle, President and CEO, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)
Charles Ellias, Owner / Designer & Gemologist Appraiser, Charles Michael Designs / North American Lapidary Laboratory
Eric Emmi, Assistant Plan Analyst Manager, Marsh McLennan Agency
Christopher Ethridge, Assistant Division Director, State of Michigan
Pamela Ferrara, Program Management Analyst, Ford Motor Company
Eric Fields, Desktop Administrator, Aptiv
Shawanna Fletcher, Key Account Manager, Nexteer Automotive
Ashley Fordyce, School and Community Relations Coordinator, Extra Credit Union
Colleen Fournier, Community Health Educator, Community Outreach, Blue Cross Complete of Michigan
Joshua Friday, Design Release Engineer, General Motors
Torri Garland, Engineer, General Motors
Anthony Garnett, Global Platform Manager – Ford C.B.U., Forvia Clean Mobility
Jennifer Gasiecki, General Counsel, Continental Service
Cassandra Gilliam, Head of Cost Management & Tool Engineering, Stellantis
Brigitte Gillis, Director of Product, White Glove
Martin Gojcaj, Sr. Buyer, General Motors
Elise Goulbourne, Vice President of Behavioral Health, Black Family Development
Todd Grafton, Global Lead Buyer, General Motors
Sarah Gregory, Director, Talent Solutions, Detroit Regional Partnership
Thomas Gregory, Senior Software Engineer, Amrock LLC
Lori Gulecki, Talent & Acquisition Coordinator, Kelly Services
Alexis Hammerle
Gavin Haque, Retired, Gavin Haque Enterprises
Brian Harris
Krystal Harrison, Account Manager – Labor Relations, Delta Dental of Michigan
Errol Hau, Senior Vice President Financial Advisor, Cap Trust
Colleen Hau, Consultant
Kaila Hobson, Staff Accountant, Dykema Gossett PLLC
William Holley, Pharma Program Manager, AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy
Bryan Howard, Director of Programs, Winning Futures
Irelle Hughes, Admission Representative, National Heritage Academies
Jason Hurley, Customer Account Specialist, McNaughton-McKay Electric Company
Kevin Hurley, Finance Manager, Lear Corporation
Carleen Huszti, Tax Accountant, Stellantis
Jessica Hymon, Senior Auditor, Ally Financial
Adam Izer, ER Veterinarian, The Izers LLC
LaKisha James, Director, Amrock
Jenifer Janhevich, Community Health Educator, Blue Cross Complete of Michigan
Charles Johnson, Director of Customer Success, Adecco
Ashley Johnson, Manager of Student Corp, Corporate Giving, General Motors
Ariana Johnson, Trainer, Rocket Central
Ashley Johnson-Varner, Program Officer, Kresge Foundation
Jennifer Jontz, Corporate Human Resources Director & In-House Employment Counsel, Shiloh Dura
Tina Joshua, Floater Pharmacist, Sam’s Club Pharmacy
Matthus Joshua, Owner, E-MAD LLC
Mary Beth Kaminski, Engineering Technical Lead, Interiors, General Motors
Charity Kemp, Accountant/Financial Literacy Advisor, Financial Abundance Services LLC
Kimberly Kersten, Senior V.P. & Director Business Banking – Michigan, Comerica Bank
Benjamin King, Director of Information Technology, Expeditus Transport
Tallette Kitchen, TeamLead, Leidos
Lida Kuehne, Supplier Quality Value Stream Engineer, General Motors
Matt Lambert, Director of Engineering, Veoneer
Chad Larsen, EDS Global FP&A Financial Analyst, Aptiv
Marina Lekocaj, Assistant Director of Employee Engagement, DirectRX
Robert Lenz, President, Peak Management
Brandon Leslie, Vice President – Strategic Development, Barton Malow Company
Brenda Lever, Director, Provider Network Management, Blue Cross Complete of Michigan
Ashley Mabbitt, Director, Provider Relations, McLaren Health Plan
Hunter Main, Systems Engineer, McNaughton-McKay Electric Company
Andrew Makar, Senior Manager – Consulting Services, Salesforce
Michael Malaga, Vice President, Comerica Bank
Kathryn Marquette, Graphic Designer, Bedrock Real Estate
Gregory Martin, Manager of Business Development, DTE Energy
Clarence Martin, President, Eypex
Kier Mathieson, Product Engineering Manager – Infotainment, General Motors
Michael McBride, Retired
Besima Mello, Treasury Manager, Ally Financial
Klara Michael, Practice Manager, KAREGO HOME CARE AGENCY
Matthew Michayluk, Director of Sales, Complete Prototype Services
Gail Miciuda, Automotive Product and Business Development Manager, Thermoflex Corporation
Valetha Mitchell, Marketing Product Manager, General Motors
Dorian Moore, Health, Life and Disability Agent, Aflac
Andrew Moore, Senior Quality Manager, Lear Corporation
Lydia Munn, Attorney, Dickinson Wright PLLC
Karim Murray, Financial Analyst, Lear Corporation
Allicia Najor-Malmgren, Business Planner / Financial Coordinator, General Motors
Peter Nguyen, Senior Principal Engineer & Security Architect, United Wholesale Mortgage
Kevin O’Connell, Advanced Energy Systems Manager, Michigan CAT – Power Systems Division
Ayesha Oglesby, Family Nurse Practitioner, CVS Health
Kevin O’Keefe, Regional President, Robert Bosch
Angela Oleksiak, Director of Workforce Integration and Talent Development, Samaritas
Uslind Palokaj, Finance Associate III, DTE Energy
Erynn Pannell, Manager, Talent & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Innovid
Michael Parent, Director, CX Research, StockX
Ashley Parker-Ozier, DEI Sr. Consultant, Plante Moran
Adam Petrovich, Senior Vice President – Group Manager, Comerica Bank
Mercy Pettes, Team Lead, HAP
Bruce Pierce, Retired, Ford Motor Company
Tony Popovski, Purchasing Manager, General Motors
Regina Porter, Mental Health Therapist, Crescent Academy Charter School
David Postwaite, Engineer, General Motors
Frederick Pruitt, Database Developer, United Wholesale Mortgage
Thomas Pullis, Commercial Banking Portfolio Manager, Comerica Bank
Rebecca Ramirez, R&D Controller, Harman International
Alva Randall, Retired, Detroit Public Schools Community District
Anna Reseigh, Quality, Ascension Macomb Oakland Hospital
Philip Reseigh, Retired, HP
Tamika Richardson-Carden, Manager, Payroll Tax and Accounting, Tenneco-Federal Mogul Powertrain
Anitra Riddle, Business Analyst, TD Bank
Melissa Roberts, Feature and Infotainment Planning, Stellantis
Lawrence Robinson, Jr., Project Coordinator, Wayne State University
Kenneth Rogers, General Motors
Reggie Roland, President, District by Design
Stephen Ross, Program Manager, Lear Corporation
Lindsay Russ
Amanda Rymiszewski, Marketing Manager, O’Keefe
Kashif Saleem, Director – US Tax, Martinrea International
Carlos Sanchez Osorio, Executive Director of Global Quality and Program Management, Shiloh Industries and Dura Automotive
Ana Sandoval, Accounts Receivable Accountant, KOSTAL Group
Prayush Saraswat, Sales Manager, Autodesk
Kelly Savela, Digital Content Strategist, Publicis Groupe
Stephen Sawyers, Owner, Blacklight
William Schrage, Senior Client Partner, Admazing Co.
Scott Seltzer, Owner, Chester Street Residence
Paloma Shah, Campus Recruiting Specialist, Deloitte
Laurelle Smith, Sr. Commodity Manager, Adient
Catherine Smith, Vice President Population Health, HAP
Tomika Snodgrass, CEO & Founder, Confident Heart Coach
Lawrence Sommers, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Comerica
Andrea Spade, Director, People Leader Journey, Kelly Services
Matt Spatafora, Account Executive, WDIV
Ashley Steele, Early on SLP, Washtenaw Intermediate School District
Kyle Suminski, Owner and Physical Therapist, Health Quest Physical Therapy
Christine Swart, Marketing Communications Manager, Celanese
Steven Swiftney, Senior Vice President & Group Manager, Comerica Bank
Tae’Vonne Taylor, Assistant Vice President, Investment Advisor I, PNC Bank
Warford Taylor, Business Development Manager, Walker-Miller Energy Services
Kimberly Taylor, Vice President – Employee Relations Consultant, Comerica Bank
Alexis Thomas, Environmental Engineer, DTE Energy
Gregory Thompson, Senior Manager Global Quality, Stellantis
Laura Tiesler, Product Marketer, Rocket Mortgage
Steffen Toennies, Digitalization Systems & Processes, Brose North America
Natalie Tolbert, Producer, Notes For Notes
Chad Toms, Vice President of Sales & Strategic Accounts, Reliance One
Benny Vann, Sr. Engineering Manager, BCS-Automotive Interface Solutions
Nidia Vargas, Senior Quality Engineer, Lear Corporation
Jorge Vasquez, Sales and Marketing Manager, OSRAM
Senthil Vivekanandan
Patrick Vondette, Director, Ally Financial
Jamie Walker White, Billing Manager, HAP
Tavon Watkins
Leavetta White, Trainer, Rocket Mortgage
Valencia White, Pacific Life Insurance
Kelsea Wilhelm, Product Marketer, Rocket Central
George Wooley, VP Business Development, Flex
Krista Wortman, Dentist/owner, Summit Family Dental
Samuel Young, Co-Founder, Smile Ventures Co., Ltd (Brand Name Catchfashion.Com)
Pablo Zambrano, Senior Sales Director, LG Electronics
Anthony Zamora, Sales Account Manager, Muller Textiles
Sarah Zigila, VP of Operations & Partnerships, Orbis Holding Group