James Raymond Bailey, Account Executive with Brown & Brown Insurance shares his experience from the 2015 EPIC Toledo Leadership Summit |
James Raymond Bailey (JRB): 2015
EPIC: What was the biggest take away from that event?
JRB: Honestly, the first thing I thought when I turned up was “Wow, I had no clue that there were this many young professionals in Toledo”. On a more serious note, the biggest takeaway was that Toledo is full of talented and vibrant young professionals, who are all in different stages of their careers. It excited me that there is an organization like EPIC that is dedicated to bringing us all together and enhancing us all.
EPIC: What has your involvement been with EPIC since then?
JRB: Ever since last year’s Summit I have been actively involved in EPIC. I joined numerous committees and attended the majority of the events. Not only was this great for meeting new people, but it also enabled me to be hands on with the direction of some of the organizations programming.
EPIC: What new opportunities have you been able to take advantage of because of your involvement in EPIC/Has EPIC Opened any personal or professional “doors” for you?
JRB: After attending the Summit last year, it opened up a number of great opportunities to get involved in EPIC itself. I am not from the country, let alone the area, so being involved in EPIC and a number of committees enabled me to be part of the rejuvenation of Toledo and its young business environment.
EPIC: What is your advice to young professionals that will be attending the 2016 EPIC Toledo Leadership Summit?
JRB: Listen, learn, and get involved. You have already made the first step by attending. Try talking to as many people as possible. For some of you, that is terrifying. However, trust me, you will be surprised where those conversations can lead. I have gained friends, clients, and mentors from getting submersed in the EPIC community, which all started at last year’s Summit.