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Donald Wayne McLeod, author of , spoke in the С��Ƭ��Ƶ ballroom on Tuesday October 9, to a crowd of local high school students, С��Ƭ��Ƶ students, staff, faculty, and community business members from all over Northeast Ohio. The event was a collaboration between LaunchNET С��Ƭ��Ƶ; , Kent; and the , , , and Chambers of Commerce.

Julie Messing, executive director of entrepreneurial initiatives with LaunchNET С��Ƭ��Ƶ and one of the key organizers of the event, observed the full room and expressed thanks to those who “worked together to bring this amazing speaker to Kent for the benefit of the entire community after Lori [Wemhoff] and I realized we were both fans of Donald Wayne’s message and impact.”

Donald Wayne, as he is known to audiences around the country, inspired students, staff,  and business people alike with his informative message of understanding how we are perceived by others. Demonstrating through intense audience interaction that “people make value judgments in 5 seconds,” he drove home the idea that everyone is “on camera” every moment that they are in public, being seen and making impressions on the people around them, whether they realize it or not. Using stories and examples from his many talks with companies around the world and his own varied experiences, Donald Wayne brought the crowd together through his message of “how your world reacts to you is a reflection of you.”

Student Engagement

In addition to the keynote address by Donald Wayne, С��Ƭ��Ƶ sophomore and LaunchNET student fellow Javon Miller (sophomore, Psychology) led an interactive workshop revealing participants’ perceptions about themselves and one another.

Lori Wemhoff, executive director of the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, remarked that, “I couldn't have been more pleased with how the collaborative event featuring speakers Donald Wayne McLeod and Javon Miller was received from members of the business community, which was nothing but positive. I was very also impressed with how members of the audience, in particular the students, were engaged and participated in the discussions.”

DECA students from Theodore Roosevelt high school in Kent made up nearly half the audience and participated heartily throughout Donald Wayne’s two presentations. He spoke directly to the students often, reinforcing the importance of forming positive professional habits such as making eye contact, proper handshake form, and writing cover letters and thank you notes. The students were able to participate thanks to the leadership of Marketing Education Coordinator and DECA advisor Brent Pfeiffer, who commented, “Donald Wayne's ability to engage all audience members was fascinating. Regardless of age, Donald was able to make a connection and an impact. I am certain that everyone in attendance left the event with valuable and practical tools to use in everyday situations.”