Leadership in the Next Generation

Erich Dylus, Frederick High School graduate and member of the National Honor Society

by Linda Alexander
Photography by Erick Gibson

Erich Dylus considers himself a go-to guy. “Someone who works hard; can handle it,” said the Frederick High School graduate who will be attending Harvard in the fall. Although his accomplishments easily brand him an up-and-coming leader of his generation, he is modest.

A leader is “a role model … someone who sets a good example,” he said. “People are more prone to follow you on their own rather than by force. Be someone with whom others can identify. It’s important to have a passion. Otherwise, those you want to lead won’t follow.”

Named a Frederick High School 2010 Scholar Athlete, Dylus was one of two overall winners at the 33rd Annual Frederick County Coaches’ Association’s Scholar-Athlete Banquet, receiving a monetary scholarship to be put toward his college tuition. He also ranked second out of 306 students in his graduating class and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Dylus is no stranger to the spotlight. As a member of Frederick High’s Academic Team, he helped to represent the school at a televised regional tournament. He was also nominated by Frederick High School for the Jefferson Scholar Award from the University of Virginia.

His leadership skills extend beyond the classroom and onto the field as a noted soccer and baseball player. Captain of his soccer team this year, and the starting shortstop for Frederick High’s baseball team the past few years, Dylus helped win the State title in 2009, earning his team All-Area honors. In the spring of 2010, he ranked among the county’s top hitters.

He seems to understand the issues our world faces now and what we might face in the future. “The most important things to me are unemployment, the recession and what led up to them,” he said. And even though he anticipates having a Harvard degree, he still considers what obstacles he may face in the future, and is concerned about what jobs will be available.

As a future leader, Dylus remains realistic yet hopeful.

by Linda Alexander
Photography by Erick Gibson

HOW HAS THE ISSUE OF DIVERSITY CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFETIME?

“My kids say I’m a racist because I still see color,” Earl Robbins said. “But they don’t understand what I faced.” Robbins recalled the blatant discrimination he dealt with years ago. “I was denied an apartment because I was black—after calling and seeing vacancies advertised. I showed up and was denied. I’ve lived in a neighborhood where a church sent out invitations. But when they learned my wife and I were black, they told us not to come.”

What he’s gone through as an African American of the previous generation has defined his journey and subsequent success. He’s worked hard as a company man, being rewarded with a 34-year, upward-moving career with Alcoa, a leader in aluminum production.  He’s traveled, raised his family in Frederick and seen business change. “I started out as a supervisor on the potline,” he said.

Robbins felt the plant tried to do right by its employees. “The company wouldn’t tolerate racial discrimination, or other discrimination,” Robbins said. “I won’t say it wasn’t happening. But if it got reported, it was dealt with.” Other forms of diversity also were apparent at the plant. “We had women driving forklifts, and being cast house operators,” he said. “I remember one young lady who drove a forklift had never known an African American until she started working with one.” Years later, the woman told Robbins that initially she was afraid to work with an African American man, fearing he’d rape her. But as time went on, she became friends with the man and learned her fears were unfounded. “I think work relationships create diversity,” Robbins said. His bottom line: “Is there a diverse population in key supervisory positions?”

Robbins sees diversity as “being open to accept everybody’s views. To stay competitive we must think globally. Minds and the markets have to be open.”

But things have changed; diversity now has a place in the daily national culture. Robbins said, “The world’s not there yet. It’s true my kids have more opportunities, but I’ve had to learn how to play the game.”

He hopes one day diversity and inclusion will mean that no one must “learn how to play the game.”

Andrea Jolly – Executive Director – Rockville Chamber of Commerce

by Linda Alexander

WHAT MAKES A GREAT NETWORKER?

“If you’re a networker, you’re always working,” Andrea Jolly says, laughing. “I was at the grocery and ran into a woman I’ve known for 15 years but haven’t seen in quite awhile. We had a meeting right there in the grocery.” And so begins a potential business relationship for the Executive Director of the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, who considers herself lucky because she combines her passion with her work. “Not many people get to do that,” she says.

Formerly the director of the Montgomery Volunteer Center, Jolly says her experience in both the non-profit and government arenas prepared her well to lead the Chamber. “I don’t start conversations by telling people they must join the Chamber,” she says. “I learned from my past life that you have to give people something. I show them what we can do for them, even if they’re not members. It’s a different approach; one that says we are interested in helping you and seeing what we have that meets your needs.”

And it’s working—Chamber membership has increased since Jolly took the top post just over a year ago.

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Interview by Jason Kane

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

The ability to make a difference in someone’s life. One of my favorite stories is about a starfish. One day, an old man and his grandson were walking along a beach littered with starfish when the boy picked up one of the starfish and threw it back in the ocean. The grandfather asked why. After all, he said, one boy can’t save all the starfish on a beach. “You’re right,” said the boy. “But I just saved that one.”

My starfish look more like doctors, dentists, and small business owners, men and women whose personal and professional finances are closely linked. My goal is to assist these people to align their finances with their dreams and aspirations.

The last few years have been a challenging economic environment for planning and securing for our financial future. I encourage my clients and colleagues to maintain a balanced, long-term outlook while emphasizing true asset allocation and diversification.

In the midst of all of the discussions about financial strategies, it’s also important to maintain a positive life attitude, to take vacations and entertain on a budget-conscious level. In the spring we send a packet of flowers for each of our clients to plant, in the fall we send a selection of our favorite recipes for entertaining at home. Why wait to live life? Money’s not the end result – it’s what you do with it that matters. Save, but enjoy some of it now.

Frank J. Priznar, President – PRIZIM Inc., Gaithersburg

Is it easy being green?

Today, people want to make the right choice for the environment, and unlike the attitude of only just a few years ago, most business leaders now want their organizations to be green. They feel pressure from employees, customers, shareholders, suppliers, and the community in which they operate to do something, but aren’t certain exactly what they can and should be doing.

In today’s challenging economy being green is viable only if it can be proven that it is also good for business. That means greening must add measurable value, differentiate your brand, increase your competitive edge, or account for the financial impact of an increasingly complex set of environmental regulations.

The problem is that there is too much information and none of the sources are truly trusted. We do not trust the government or big business and we are skeptical of green marketing claims. Because they don’t feel they have the reliable information needed to make a wise decision, businesses either do nothing or even worse, practice “random acts of greenness,” which have little or no real benefit to the Earth or to a company’s bottom line.

Despite an unclear path, I remain confident that businesses can overcome these challenges. History tells us that the dedicated, innovative and determined do not shy away from a challenge. Those who step up are most likely to be richly rewarded. Will it be difficult? Yes. Will it require lots of time, hard work and some sacrifice? Yes. But will it be worth it to preserve our natural resources, our quality of life, and the spiritual beauty of nature for future generations? Absolutely.

Frank Priznar wants us to go green and he’s here to help make that happen. His energy management services company, PRIZIM Inc., was founded to offer companies and organizations advice on how to meet their business goals and be good stewards of the environment. Whether you’re manufacturing widgets, a research organization, a government agency, or a professional services provider, PRIZIM finds an environmentally friendly approach to help organizations become more effective and sustainable.