UWF Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Center for Leadership holds first Veterans in Leadership conference

The Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Center for Leadership in UWF’s Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business will hold its first annual UWF Veterans in Leadership Conference from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, at the UWF Conference Center. The conference aims to highlight the challenges of military transition through the lens of military to civilian leadership and mentorship. It will provide participants with the knowledge, tools and inspiration needed to navigate the many challenges, embrace new opportunities and foster resilience.

Keynote speaker Dr. Andrew Del Gaudio, a retired Marine Corps infantry officer with a distinguished 26-year career, will share lessons learned from his experience in combat and how he copes with its effects years later.

“I am still learning every day that it takes everyone to bring a veteran back into society,” said Del Gaudio, executive director of the AWKO Center for Leadership. “Each of our panelists has been deliberately selected because of their personal journey. They had to find their own deep sense of purpose to overcome challenges to determine what success looks like. These remarkable people will share their insights and how purpose-driven leadership can be the difference maker.”

There will be thought-provoking sessions and networking opportunities to provide participants with a chance to learn, grow and connect with like-minded people who care about veterans and their families. UWF’s Elizabeth Rasnick, University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity assistant professor, will present cybersecurity training and career opportunities to veterans to conclude the event.

Admission is free, but anyone interested in attending should RSVP by contacting Del Gaudio at adelgaudio@uwf.edu or 540.809.1329.

For more information about the AWKO Center for Leadership, visit uwf.edu/awko.