I want to recognize Amy Hutchison for her remarkable clarity of self and purpose. She possesses a deep understanding of who she is and what she stands for, which is reflected in every decision she makes. With unwavering focus, she consistently aligns actions with values, inspiring those around her to live with intention and integrity. Her sense of direction is not just admirable but a true guiding force for others.

In addition to clarity of purpose, Amy has an extraordinary ability to connect with people from all walks of life, across professions and differences. Her open and caring interest in others and empathetic nature make her someone people are naturally drawn to. Whether in moments of success or challenge, she offers a listening ear and thoughtful insight, becoming a trusted confidant and source of support. Her capacity to relate to others, regardless of background, creates a sense of belonging and trust, and many rely on her for guidance, understanding, and encouragement.  For these and so many other reasons, Amy is a pure joy to work with and be inspired by!  

Mentor: Amy Parker, Haw River, NC, UNC-Chapel Hill, Kenan Flagler Business School

I would like to nominate Sarah as an inspiration to other protégés working within the ACP mentorship program.  Sarah is an excellent example of what can be accomplished with dedication and diligence.  I have had the pleasure of working with Sarah over the last several months.  In this time, Sarah has shown her drive and determination to make the most out of the program.  Her commitment to the program and perseverance is proof of what can be achieved. 

Sarah worked with me, meeting monthly, with the goal of changing occupations.  Sarah was in search of a role within a larger company where there would be more room for advancement in her career, with the caveat of working remotely.  As a military spouse, she has relocated eight previous times with another move scheduled for the near future.  The ability to work remotely was pertinent for Sarah so she could meet the needs of her family while also committing to a full-time career.  While finding a role that met this requirement proved to be a challenge, she did not give up on her goals. Throughout our meetings we discussed many topics such as: resumes, interviews, follow ups, networking, resigning from a current role, negotiating salary and benefits, and accepting an offer for employment.  She has always shown gratitude for any information or suggestions I could provide and has been a pleasure to work with.

Sarah’s perseverance and efforts landed her a new role rather quickly.  As proof of her integrity, she provided her current employer advanced notice of her resignation and is currently training her successor.  As she works towards her transition into her new role, I have all the confidence that she will be thoroughly successful.  Sarah has a great work ethic, the desire to learn, the commitment to follow through, and the intelligence to foster success.  I am so proud of what she has accomplished in such a short amount of time. 

Mentor: Julia C. Ewart, Pittsburgh, PA, Citizens Bank

The moment I spoke to Tricia it was obvious that she is intelligent, passionate, and driven.  Tricia has been married for 17 years to an active-duty Navy officer and has moved across the country and been overseas.  (She is resilient and adaptable too!) 

She spent 20 years in the healthcare industry before deciding to spend focused time on the hardest job there is, taking care of her family. Tricia knows that regardless of her next role, she wants to help people in healthcare.  She is very engaged during our mentorship and we enjoy talking, emailing, or texting several times a month.  During our time together, she has fine-tuned her "tell me about yourself" story, continued to build her network, and developed great questions for potential employers. 

She is currently in negotiations for a job offer and is taking the summer to enjoy time with her family. I am excited and fortunate to be part of her journey and look forward to a continued friendship with her! 

Mentor: See-wan Georgiev, San Diego, CA, Align Technology.

Nick and I began our mentorship in late November 2023. At that time, Nick was starting his transition journey and preparing to retire from the U.S. Air Force. Since our initial introduction call, Nick has been proactive in maintaining bi-weekly communication via calls, texts, and LinkedIn messages. Our conversations have expanded to cover pre-retirement requirements, post-military expectations, personal growth, and family interests.

Nick recently retired on May 3rd and relocated his family to Castle Rock, CO, where they plan to stay for the next few years. While he is still looking for a new opportunity in a Learning & Development (L&D) role, Nick has prioritized his family and is focused on ensuring a good work/life balance before returning to the workforce.

Nick’s dedication and commitment to ACP’s mentorship program have made this professional connection one that will exceed the one-year commitment. Thank you, Nick.

Mentor: Jay Villazon, Stafford, VA, Peraton

Stephen Billeter has approached the ACP mentorship with drive and enthusiasm as he transitions into the cybersecurity industry. Cybersecurity is an area Stephen has long been passionate about and is currently completing his degree in.

As part of the ACP mentorship, Stephen has had the opportunity to speak with panels of both defensive and offensive cybersecurity practitioners. These have been a mix of both veterans and non-veterans to enhance perspectives on transition and civilian work.

Another project Stephen has worked on to showcase his technical abilities is a writeup for a “capture-the-flag” style cybersecurity challenge based on packet analysis, an important skill for Security Operations Centers. Stephen’s first in-person meeting with his mentor was at a local Cybersecurity conference, where he attended talks and met future colleagues.

Through this mentorship, Stephen has shown his enormous potential within the cybersecurity industry, and it has been an absolute pleasure advising him.

Mentor: Chris Wheeler, Baltimore, MD, Morgan Stanley

I would like to nominate Aaron Lynch not only for his diligence and determination to land a great role after his service but also for his natural curiosity to explore many paths toward success. Since I have had the pleasure of working with Aaron, he has clearly articulated what he was seeking and actively pursued ideas and recommendations that we discussed. He has taken training, read books, and come prepared with topics where he needed guidance. 

Over the course of our biweekly sessions, we started with goals and aspirations around a range of topics such as career, family, finances, health, and well-being to name a few. The intent was to develop a well-balanced life. I offered my successes as well as my failures in the hope that he would learn from them. We discussed time-proven techniques and tools for continuous improvement and growth. Aaron accepted a great position fairly quickly and already had his sights set on career management and upward mobility.

Given Aaron’s extensive leadership experience in the Army, I quickly learned that there is a wealth of experiences and knowledge that our military veterans can provide us.  Any corporation would be EXTREMELY fortunate to have our veterans as part of its team, as leaders who will help our organizations achieve the next level of disciplined excellence. We continue to meet biweekly with any topic that comes up during the month such as effective team dynamics, fine-tuning leadership style, and personal finance. He is now pursuing his MBA while finishing up an ambitious academic capstone project. I look forward to our discussions, and building a lasting friendship, and wish him the very best! 

Mentor: Phil Kurumunda, New York, NY, Metlife