Every day in the Division of Business at Mitchell College, faculty deliver unique experiences designed to build the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors students need to create a pathway to a rewarding professional career. One way is by bringing in experts and influencers to share their knowledge, experiences, and life lessons.

In doing so, the Division of Business welcomed Dan Holdridge back to campus after he served as Commencement speaker in May 2024. President and Chief Executive Officer of Eagle Industries Incorporated, Holdridge conducted inspirational workshops for students taking business courses at Mitchell College, including intro to business, project management, and Mitchell’s unique, experiential Mlab program. The workshops focused on teamwork, leadership, and the ethics of professional work, drawing not only from Holdridge’s professional work but also from a life-altering personal experience.

Workshops Inspire, Draw from Life Experience
Holdridge was one of the youngest program directors at General Dynamics Corporation in Needham, Mass., where he oversaw computer engineering operations. On September 11, 2001, he was at the Pentagon supporting the construction of a newly renovated section when the terrorist attack occurred. His life almost ended that day when he was injured, but he has since recovered from his physical wounds. He now dedicates his time speaking to people across the country about his experience that day, what helped him heal, and how he became a stronger person.

James Patsalides, chair of the business division, said, “Dan conducted three inspirational workshops, each tailored to the needs of a class. He captured our students’ attention and was able to inspire them with his message of appreciation and mutual support, positioned as part of a professional toolkit that includes things like ‘pulling your weight’ for your team and focusing on taking action rather than sitting back and watching your life go by. I am so grateful for his contribution to our students and to our program overall. His story is so powerful. “

Students agreed.

“It’s all about teamwork, and one person can really derail a project. That’s why it is important to always know your ‘why’.” —Michael Ficocelli

 

“Whether you think so or not, everyone matters, and everyone has an impact in the world.” —TJ Wolfe

 

“It’s important to turn negatives into positives, and the greatest trait of a leader is kindness.” —Ethan Chavez

 

“Everyone needs to work together for a company to succeed.” —Walker Baillargeon

Bringing Real World into Classrooms
“As we continue to build our Division of Business programs with the ambitious goal of becoming the best business teaching institution in Connecticut,” said Patsalides, “inspirational speakers like Dan Holdridge enable us to bring the real world into our classrooms, moving beyond learning complicated academic content, into application of new ideas to our personal and professional lives. We must learn to appreciate every moment, every experience, and every human who crosses our path.”

“In the Division of Business, we have taken this message to heart. Our flexible modern curriculum and our learning-by-doing teaching approach embody an ethic of learning and care that is unique and grounded in our requirement that all our instructors are experienced pros first and academics second. This philosophy sets the tone for everything we do in the division. For our students, experiences like this are not only exciting and inspirational, but are a systematic foundation for their success in life.”