Military Service
U.S. Army Major
Experience
20 years served
Future
Seeking a career in human resources
Location
Piermont, NY
About Curtis
Expertise: Leadership, Culture Awareness, Teambuilding, and Conflict Resolution
I’m seeking a Diversity and Inclusion or Leadership Development/Talent Development opportunity in a dynamic people focused organization. I love building relationships with people and providing guidance to assist them in achieving their goals. Inspired team members enjoy their work and are more apt to believe in the organization’s mission and vision. I'll be relocating to Piermont, NY in Rockland county about 20 minutes north of NYC at the end of April.
My desire to work in the Diversity and Inclusion or Leadership Development/Talent Development field has been shaped by a few unique roles I was fortunate enough to experience during my Army career. The first experience came during a brief period in Cuba. I volunteered to work with the Navy to build migrant camps for Cubans returning from Panama. This exposure to the Hispanic culture helped shape my entire life. I chose to major in the Portuguese Language during college to continue to learn and discover other cultures. Part of my learning the language included spending a brief period in Brazil immersed in its culture. I ended up marrying a beautiful Latina. The next culturally diverse experience was during a stint in Kosovo. During this time, I collaborated with multiple ethnic communities, non-governmental organizations, schools, and radio and television stations to improve community relations among different ethnic groups in a town of approximately 90,000 people. Then there were deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan that afforded me the opportunity to broaden my perspective and increase my understanding and appreciation of the Iraq and Afghan cultures. Each unique in its own way. I was able to appreciate and effectively communicate and work with people of many different cultures to achieve a common goal during my army career.
The Army prepared me to work in challenging situations and to understand that during times of change and uncertainty leaders need to remain calm and focus on the problem. This ensures leaders maintain flexibility and can effectively communicate the organization’s intent and way forward. I look forward to continuing to help others develop their talents and appreciate the need for diversity and inclusion in the workforce. A diverse organization brings new ideas and ways of solving problems that might not otherwise have been considered.
Education:
MA, Management and Leadership, Webster University-2018
BS, Portuguese Language, United States Military Academy at West Point-2000.