Reconnecting with a college hero

“I have always held J.J. in the highest regard as a shining example of someone who took the core tenets of a liberal arts education and, with hard work and an infallible sense of purpose, used his skillset to change the world – something I think about every day in my small role.”
Jonathan Hodge, Advantage President & CEO

Most of us can recall someone we went to college with or knew in our youth who reached great heights. It isn’t every day you get the chance to reconnect and team up with that person.

Our President and CEO Jonathan Hodge recently had that opportunity when he reconnected with a college hero of his, an upperclassman named J.J. Cummings, who went on to accomplish some incredible things after his graduation from Bates, a small liberal arts college in Maine. Here’s what Jon shared with us today:

“He was four years ahead of me so we weren’t close friends but shared a network at school, one that still serves us well today. Bates is a college that typically sends educators, academics, and public servants into the world, roles that don’t garner much press and global recognition because our efforts are more focused at the local change and impact level. So you can imagine the attention and admiration from all of us following J.J.’s career for the last 30 years.

“Ever since college, J.J. has been a hero to me on two different levels. First, he has served our country initially as a Navy pilot who graduated from Top Gun school and went on to fly hundreds of missions in real conflicts, then as a leader of the most technologically advanced ships in our armed forces protecting our troops and defending the word’s inalienable right to individual freedom. Second, I have always held J.J. in the highest regard … (see the rest of this quote at the top).

“When recently I had the opportunity to reconnect with him, it was amazing to even consider that he would be willing to share his experiences with us and our clients … I hope in some small way you understand/share the importance of this as an event for me as a leader to be able to share the stage with him after all he has done for the world around us…”

Capt. J.J. “Yank” Cummings will share insights from a lifetime of incredible military leadership at our give-back event on Thursday, December 1, from 3-4pm Eastern. You’ll have an opportunity to ask him a leadership question in advance and also send your personal greeting and well wishes to the men and women serving on the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier, to whom we will be sending a holiday care package.

Please join us for this special event! Even if you can’t make it, please consider registering (we’ll share the replay!) and contributing your own holiday greetings to those in service.

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