They say a mentoring relationship is a professional or personal connection where a more experienced, knowledgeable person (the mentor) provides guidance, support, and advice to a less experienced person (the mentee) to help them grow, develop skills, and reach their goals.
A great mentoring relationship is built on trust, respect, and open communication — and it can take place anywhere: in the workplace, at school, or through community organizations.
I wanted to talk about this topic now because I’m heading to the REC Net (Recreation Experience Community Network) Annual Conference, which this year is being held at the beautiful Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina. I’ve been attending this conference for over 30 years, missing only a few—it truly means that much to me. Not only because I’ve served as Executive Director, Board Member, and two-time President (and continue to serve on a committee) or because every year it’s in a different location, but because this conference has always been a source of inspiration. Every year, I meet incredible, creative, and talented professionals who motivate me to do more—and to give back.
Twenty-nine years ago, I attended my third (then RCRA) conference—also at Kiawah Island. I had just decided to leave my life working on cruise ships, and my boss at sea, Sally Evans (one of my early mentors), invited me to stay in one of the homes with a few other professionals, including Jean Baer, my boss at South Seas Resort—who had become another mentor of mine.
I didn’t know too many people back then, but Sally had introduced me to several folks at a previous conference Eagle Ridge Resort, in Galena, Illinois, and reminded me of who I might see again this time.
Driving into Kiawah Island for the first time, I was awestruck—the golf courses, marshes, villas, and homes were all stunning. When I arrived at the house, I ran into Jean, who greeted me with, “Grab a beer and come sit in the living room.” Now, if you know Jean, you know her mind never stops turning. I could already tell she had ideas for me.
As we sat down, Jean immediately started asking questions:
“What age group do you want to work with?”
“Where in the U.S. would you like to live?”
“What type of property do you see yourself at?”
She was on a mission—to get to know my goals so she could figure out who to introduce me to during the conference.
That first night, she took me around the social, introducing me to everyone, sharing insights about each property—the pros, the cons, and the possibilities. At the same time all of that was going on, I was rooming with Debbie Regnone, another amazing woman who became a mentor of mine, who filled me in on Resort Sports and even offered me an opportunity in Fort Myers, Florida.
By the end of that conference, I’d had a couple of interviews—Eventually, I accepted a position in Orlando, Florida, joining Memories Unlimited, a special events and team-building company. I know I’m jumping ahead a bit, but I have to mention that on my last morning, I had another interview—with Meg McLeroy—while sitting on a bench outside the check-out area. (At these conferences, interviews can happen just about anywhere around the resort!) Meg would later become another wonderful mentor in my journey—someone I’ll be sharing more about in a future blog.
Throughout my career in the recreation industry, I’ve met so many wonderful people and mentors. Early on, I used to wonder: How many mentors can one person have? Who do you call first? Does it even matter? I’ve since learned that each mentor brings something different to your journey—and that’s the beauty of it.
A mentor helps a mentee navigate challenges, build confidence, and find direction. They share insights and lessons learned, helping set goals, offering feedback, and holding you accountable. Most importantly, both mentor and mentee must respect each other’s time and perspectives.
For those seeking a mentor, know this: mentors can help you develop leadership skills, strengthen your confidence, and open doors to new opportunities. They can guide you through successes and mistakes—theirs and yours.
One of my favorite things to do at these conferences is to meet students and young professionals, ask about their goals, and help connect them with the right people—just like Jean did for me 29 years ago. That experience changed my life, and many of those mentors are still some of my closest friends.
It’s incredibly fulfilling to help others grow and succeed. Every mentee I meet teaches me something new, reminding me that mentorship is a two-way street. It strengthens my leadership, deepens my perspective, and allows me to play a small part in shaping the next generation of professionals.
Knowing I can give back to others—just as my mentors did for me—is one of the greatest rewards of my career. It’s what makes this journey so meaningful, and why I’ll always continue to pay it forward.
If you haven’t figured it out…I’m truly looking forward to this conference! The sessions this year sound fantastic, the socials are always a blast, and as a member of the Awards Committee, I love celebrating our talented members and their amazing properties. But as I’ve said before, the networking is absolutely priceless—and the chance to make new connections is always the real highlight.
Favorite Quote: “While I made my living as a coach, I have lived my life to be a mentor-and to be mentored!-constantly. Everything in the world has been passed down. Every piece of knowledge is something that has been shared by someone else. If you understand as I do, mentoring becomes your true legacy. It is the greatest inheritance you can give to others. It is why you get up every day-to teach and be taught.” -John Wooden
Next Up: After the Conference – I’m not entirely sure what my next topic will be just yet, but to keep things fresh, I plan to share some of the key takeaways from this year’s conference—along with a few REC Net highlights! And if you’d like to learn a little more about REC Net, just go to www.recnet.org