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Mentors of the Month

February 2026: ACP congratulates Teri Graves and Paul Gallagher

February 1, 2026

“I am sincerely honored to nominate Teri Graves as ACP Mentor of the Month. Teri has been pivotal to me as I’ve been navigating uncertain times as a federal employee. Her willingness to provide resources and sound advice to me while I try to develop a roadmap of potential career pathways and outcomes has been unwavering.

Working for the federal government can have its ups and downs, just like the private sector. Facing many months of uncertainty whether my position would remain in my agency, and potential job cuts through a reorganization, has been nothing less than stressful. Teri’s calm demeanor and positive attitude has genuinely been one of the most meaningful parts of my mentoring journey. Each meeting I’ve felt like a broken record feeling unsure of what to do next as I did not know what career pathway to take. Her encouragement and guidance regarding alternative options and professional development opportunities has driven me to take the leap to move forward in a more focused and decisive manner.
Over our time together I have continued to explore options to make decisions on next steps, wherever the road may lead me. In January 2026 I signed up to FINALLY take the Project Management Professional certification course after many months of feeling uncertain. I have a plan to drive my future career decisions regarding professional development and job exploration/application. These add tools to my toolbox to become more marketable in the private sector should the opportunity arise, as I continue to navigate the road ahead with my federal position.

Because of Teri’s guidance, I feel more prepared, empowered, and motivated to excel in my career. I am grateful for her real-world insights, and helping me navigate challenges with confidence. She continues to help transform my professional growth offering a safe and supportive environment where I feel comfortable asking questions and exploring new ideas. I wholeheartedly nominate Teri for ACP Mentor of the Month!”

 

– Christine T., Federal Employee, Military Spouse

“I am thrilled to nominate my mentor, Paul, for Mentor of the Month. As a Talent Acquisition professional at Lockheed Martin and a retired military recruiter, Paul brings an incredible depth of experience that has been transformative for me in my career.

When I joined ACP, I was seeking guidance because my company lacked senior leadership in talent acquisition. I needed coaching to grow in my role, particularly in areas like leveraging data-driven recruitment (understanding key metrics such as time-to-hire, cost-per-hire, and candidate conversion rates) and strengthening employer branding and candidate experience (crafting compelling employer value propositions and streamlining interview processes to boost offer acceptance rates).

ACP matched me with Paul in May 2025, and our mentorship has been nothing short of exceptional. We’ve connected regularly over the past eight months, and Paul has gone above and beyond to support my development. He consistently shares valuable resources, offers thoughtful advice, and (most impactfully) introduces me to other amazing talent acquisition professionals in his extensive network. These connections have opened doors I wouldn’t have accessed otherwise and have given me practical insights to apply directly in my work.

What makes Paul’s mentorship style so powerful is his genuine generosity and willingness to invest in my success. He always makes time to listen, provides balanced perspectives drawn from his military and corporate background, and cheers me on as I take next steps in my career. Knowing he’s in my corner has made me feel far more confident and prepared.

Paul exemplifies the very best of ACP’s mentoring program, and I’m grateful every day for this match. He truly deserves recognition as Mentor of the Month!”

– Tarina P., US Army Veteran

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