Drew Bartkiewicz

Drumroll, please... I am excited to announce that the host of our 4th annual #BeCOMM Talk Show at #Rutgers scheduled for Wednesday, October 21 at The Yard will be Maya Lynn Jacobs, Rutgers University communication major class of 2021. Maya is leading the way as an Associate Manager, Global Influencer Strategy at r.e.m. beauty by Ariana Grande. An outstanding former student of mine, Maya had an ardent passion for social media, content creation, and influencer marketing as a student. Maya was also the captain of the Rutgers women's tennis team. The #BeCOMM talk show is part of our year-long #BeCOMM campaign, which launched in the spring 2022 semester and celebrates the communication major at Rutgers University School of Communication and Information. In the fall and spring semesters of each academic year, 50 students, all communication majors, lead the campaign and event planning and activation as part our innovative 400-level experiential integrated marketing communication course which culminates each April with our #COMMchella Music Festival. Part of our #BeCOMM campaign's success is a result of incredibly valuable donor support from transformative companies, brands and agencies including our most recent partners #HBOMax, RWJBarnabas Health, Conagra Brands, Bayer, Manasquan Bank, ESW Beauty, dblspc, Gray Wolf, Advanced Creative Media and the American Marketing Association New Jersey chapter. If you and your organization are looking to engage Rutgers students on campus and support the next generation of communication and marketing leaders, please message me. #Rutgers #BeCOMM https://lnkd.in/edyRFM8Y   

Operations Epic Fury highlights the steadfast dedication of the US Navy & United States Marine Corps in tackling ambiguous and complex challenges to achieve mission success. Corporate leaders are paying close attention to these American heroes in the #BESTCLASSEVER, as they will soon transition to the private sector, bringing their skills and expertise to achieve organizational excellence. Big Thank You to the HigherEchelon, Inc. team: Burt Thompson, Malcolm Frost, Kevin McCoy, Jim Carman, Andia Dinesen, AFC®, Paul Frost, AFC®, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Michael Meese, AAFMAA Wealth Management & Trust LLC, Corliss Jackson, Wendy Thompson, Erin E. Cardinal, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Leslie Coffey, MBA, American Corporate Partners (ACP), Beth Mulloy, Martha Merz, Lisa Richard, Sandra Yuen, Bronwyn Fillion, JP Sniffen, Mark Towne, Ed.D., Robert Ruark, Jesse Wilson Jr., Frank Pandolfe, Barb Sweredoski, Rear Admiral, USN (retired), Michael Quinn, and Tenova LLC (HireMilitary).

Just over a year ago, I raised my right hand and commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. Looking back, it is hard to believe how much can happen in just 12 months. Since graduating BOLC, I have had the opportunity to attend Airborne School and earn my wings, purchase my first home, in-process into the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, and begin my career leading Soldiers. After a short stint in the Battalion S3, I received orders to Echo Company, the Divison Aerial Delivery Company, where I currently serve as the Heavy Pack Platoon Leader. Coming up on three months in the position, I can confidently say that this has been the most rewarding experience of my career so far. I’ve completed my first jump in division, watched Soldiers graduate from professional development schools, tackled difficult missions alongside an incredible team, and learned that there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing your people succeed. As I reflect on my first year as an officer, three lessons stand out: 1. Leadership requires sacrifice. Leadership is not convenient. It means staying late to learn who your people are. It means spending extra hours planning so your team can execute at the highest level. It means showing up when you’re tired, frustrated, or would rather be somewhere else. The best leaders I have worked with consistently put their Soldiers before themselves, and I have learned that effective leadership requires a willingness to sacrifice time, comfort, and personal convenience for the good of the team. 2. Expectations will not always meet reality. No assignment, mission, or organization will ever perfectly match the picture you had in your head. As leaders, our responsibility is not to complain about the reality we’ve been handed. Our responsibility is to shape it. We owe it to our Soldiers to improve the environment around us, solve problems, and build teams that exceed expectations regardless of the circumstances. The challenge is not finding ideal conditions; it is creating them. 3. The Army can begin quickly, and it can end just as quickly. Over the past year, I have seen classmates medically retire, Soldiers separated from service, and lives unexpectedly changed. The Army provides incredible opportunities, but none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. We owe it to ourselves and our Soldiers to have a plan beyond the uniform. Whether that’s education, certifications, financial stability, homeownership, or personal development, the Army should be a vehicle that propels us forward in life. As leaders, we must not only prepare our Soldiers for success in the Army, but also for success beyond it. I am grateful for the mentors, leaders, peers, and Soldiers who have helped shape me during this first year. I still have a tremendous amount to learn, but I am excited for the journey ahead. Always Rigging Steady. DROPPING HEAVY. 🪂 #82ndAirborneDivision #LeaderDevelopment #FortBragg #AirborneAllTheWay