USF offers "REAL Solutions" for business professionals & educators
University of St. Francis Athletic Chairman and Head Basketball Coach Pat Sullivan will facilitate "Coaching People," a workshop for business professionals and educators who have the desire to lead and inspire others.
From top to bottom:
Colleen Sullivan, Dan Sharp,
Gordie Gillespie, Katie Sullivan,
Pat Sullivan, Matt Senffner
"We hope to make this seminar insightful, pragmatic and fun," said Sullivan. "The guest speakers are superb and we will review video on some of the greatest coaches in American history. The primary goal will be that the participants take concepts from the seminar that they can use daily in their various professions. "
Workshop speakers include collegiate baseball's all time winningest coach, Gordie Gillespie; successful business professionals Colleen Sullivan and Katie Sullivan; and two of the most talented high school football coaches in the nation: Matt Senffner, head football coach at Providence Catholic High School; and Dan Sharp, athletic director and head football coach at Joliet Catholic Academy.
"Coaching People" is a result of USF’s partnership between two successful programs: Solutions: A Resource Center for Business and Community Partnerships and the Regional Education Academy for Leadership (REAL). The newly formed "REAL Solutions" will offer programming options that fit the needs of both the business and the education fields.
Sullivan will address, "Attitude and Leadership in Working with People," and, "Thoughts on Team Building." An internationally recognized speaker, he has received numerous awards and has been named coach of the year 13 times by multiple organizations during his 40-year career in athletics. He ranks 37th in wins in the history of Illinois basketball coaching. Sullivan was nominated into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995.
Gordie Gillespie captured nearly half of his 1,674 collegiate baseball coaching victories at USF during a 19 year span, from 1977 through 1995. In 2006, college baseball’s all-time ‘winningest’ coach will add to that 804-488 mark now that he has returned to USF. He has been selected "NAIA Coach of the Year" four times, led his teams to 16 national finals in the NAIA World Series, has been inducted into15 halls of fame and has been a three-time president of the NAIA Baseball Coaches Association.
Colleen Sullivan is the general counsel of iOptions Group LLC, a company she co-founded in 1998. Sullivan previously worked as an associate in the Investment Products and Derivatives Group at Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP in Chicago and as an attorney specializing in tax matters at Deloitte & Touche LLP in Chicago. A USF graduate, she received her JD from DePaul University School of Law.
Katie Sullivan is director of the financial services department at Global Hyatt Corp., where her responsibilities include directly managing a team of accountants in order to execute the monthly close and accounting for 200+ entities. Sullivan previously worked as the senior manager of financial reporting at Knowledge Universe, Inc. in Los Angeles and as manager in the audit and business advisory services group at Arthur Andersen in Los Angeles and Chicago. She is a USF graduate and a licensed certified public accountant.
Matt Senffner has worked for Providence Catholic High School for 39 years in many different roles, including as a biology teacher, assistant athletic director and athletic director. He holds the record for the career winning percentage, has made 25 playoff appearances and holds nine state championships. Since 1977, 24 athletic teams have won IHSA state championships while under his leadership as athletic director. Among many awards, Senffner was nominated in 2004 as the Region 4 National High School Athletic Coaches Association "Coach of the Year."
Dan Sharp is head football coach at Joliet Catholic Academy, where he has led the team to five state championships in the past eight years. He was named "Daily Southtown Coach of the Year" in 1999 and "Riddel Footwear Midwest Regional Coach of the Year" in 2005.He has previous experience as the offensive assistant at Joliet Catholic Academy, as the offensive coordinator for head coach Gordie Gillespie at the University of St. Francis, and as head football coach at Minooka High School.
"The workshop offers a unique arena for business managers to sharpen their leadership and mentoring abilities," said Bonnie Covelli, director of Solutions, who explains that it is also an opportunity for REAL Solutions to showcase the university’s desire to offer outreach and partnership programs to the community.
"This powerful workshop is a must for teachers, coaches and administrators seeking strategies to help them lead and motivate others," said Sharon Wysoglad, director of REAL. "Material presented can be applied across all educational settings while working with students, parents, colleagues and the community."
Workshop space is limited to 150 persons. Registration is $129, and the registration deadline is Sept. 23. Graduate credit is available. To register, call (815) 740-3699.