IMLPs Getting Involved

© www.jamemphis.orgOne of the great things about working at GE is the number of opportunities you have to serve your community. As IMLPs, we are particularly encouraged to get involved and give back! Since I arrived in Atlanta, GA for my first rotation as an IMLP, I had been hearing about all the volunteer opportunities in the area through GE. I started to participate in various community service events throughout my first months at GE and was shocked and impressed to see how many employees and leaders at GE were so involved! These experiences made me want to look into giving more of my time to the company’s ongoing volunteer efforts. One opportunity in particular struck a chord with me.

The GE Energy IMLP Program Manager, Ben Phillips, sent an email out to the Atlanta IMLPs about an opportunity to get involved with Junior Achievement. Junior Achievement, or JA, is a nonprofit organization financed by business, foundations, governments, and individuals. The organization is dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. In partnership with businesses and educators, JA brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential. The event that I had the opportunity to participate in on October 12 was called “JA in a Day,” where volunteers spend half a day in a class room, teaching a course to the students. I had the pleasure of working with Ms. Johnson’s ninth grade class at Campbell High School and teaching the JA course called “Careers with a Purpose.”

I walked into the school the morning of the 12^th, armed with a large bag of candy for “positive reinforcement” in an effort to help capture the attention of a room of 25 14 year-olds.  Long story short, the day went pretty much as I expected: some students actively participating, others more interested in talking to their neighbors; some students actually interested in the lesson, others more interested in the candy, and so on. However there were a few shining moments in the class when the students would ask questions that both showed they were really curious about their futures, and also really made me think about my own.  As an IMLP, I am doing something that I am interested in and investing in a career that I am truly passionate about. I am so lucky.

At the end of the day, I asked all of the students to say something they learned from the course or that they would take away from our time together. Many students listed some of the terminology we went over or named the different career paths we discussed, enough effort to earn a piece of candy. However, one student (one who originally seemed more interested in talking to his friends than paying any attention to the course materials) gave a response that was so simple, but at the same time made me realize that if, at the end of the course, one young person gets it, the day has been a success. His comment reinforced why I wanted to volunteer with JA in in the first place and why I want to continue volunteering with Junior Achievement, sharing my “real-world” experiences  so far as an IMLP.

He said: “Today, I learned that no matter what you want to do, it’s important to start thinking about your future early. Find something you’re passionate about and find a way to make a career out of it. Think about your goals and what you need to do to achieve those goals. And don’t let anything or anyone get in your way.”

Schenectady or Bust!

A major aspect of the  Information Management Leadership Program (IMLP) is relocating - different places, roles, projects, assignment leaders, teams and... climates.

It's what makes those who graduate from the program balanced leaders, as they have seen and worked directly in multiple business areas.

Last Monday, both the moving company and car relocation specialist came to Atlanta to  pack up and move everything across the country for me, as I had finished my first rotation.

It was a day filled with bittersweet moments-- watching my room transition from full to empty, handing over the keys of my car to the man with the flatbed truck, turning in my keys and signed paperwork to the apartment community... but also exciting, because I knew that there was a new life waiting for me in Upstate New York.

So, I'm back in Upstate NY- home of my Alma Mater (Syracuse) and snow (I didn't see any snow in Atlanta!).

More to come on this new rotation soon!

IMLP End of Rotation & Graduation Dinner

Energy IMLPs Dine with Leadership in AtlantaOn February 10th, 2009 the achievements and hard work of Energy IMLPs were acknowledged at a dinner event in Midtown Atlanta.

Held at Nan Thai Fine Dining, IMLPs dined with GE Leadership as well as Assignment Leaders.

Graduating IMLPs Andrey M. and Joyce Z. were recognized for their achievements over the past two years in the program and were wished the best on their off-program roles.

Those finishing their first rotation in Atlanta also attended the dinner, along with their assignment leaders who have been working alongside the IMLPs for the past six months.

Events like the End of Rotation & Graduation Dinner are typically organized by IMLPs who are given "focal point" roles and are responsible for planning and executing on certain aspects of the program.

Where in the US are 2nd Rotation Energy IMLPs?

It's about that time.

As IMLPs, we rotate every 6 months- a new location, new assignment leader, project team and job description. Where you can go and what projects you work on vary depending on what GE business you work for.
Energy IMLPs in the United StatesThe current group of 1st rotation Energy IMLPs in Atlanta (there are 6 of us here right now) are getting ready to split up over the course of the next two weeks.

As you can see by the map, we're moving all across the coast- from Atlanta, GA to Greenville, SC to Wilmington, NC and Schenectady, NY.

GE Energy has locations worldwide, and IMLPs have a chance to work at some of the largest locations, including headquarters in Atlanta, GA.

Personally, I'm the one headed the most far north, to Schenectady, NY (the #1 on the map, yes I did that on purpose), so expect some news from the north over the next six months.

IMLP Crowd Attends Annual IMpact Eve

Every January, the CIO of Energy Infrastructure hosts an event for the employees of IMpact. This year, the event was held at Atlanta's Fernbank Museum of Natural History, a beautiful and historic building that features an IMAX theater.

Energy IMLPs Network at Event (L:R- Clay Youngs, Joe Cockriel, Guest, IM Leader, Chris Lyons, Alana Edmunds & Tawny Barin)

Soon after socializing with coworkers near the entrance, we were ushered into the IMAX theater, where the group watched "The Greatest Places," an IMAX movie that featured Greenland, Madagascar, the Namib Desert, the Okavango Delta, Tibet, Iguazu Falls and the Amazon River.

After the movie (my first IMAX experience!), we descended a spiral staircase into the "great room," which featured assembled, full-size dinosaur fossil replicas.

It was in this main room where all the food stations (including chocolate covered marshmallows!) were set up.

As one of the last events the 1st rotation Energy IMLP crew will attend together, the annual IMpact event was more than a chance to get dressed up :)