BATTLE CREEK, Mich –
Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon opened the final day of his command’s annual Senior Leadership Summit with a simple question: “Was it worth it?”
“Yes,” was the response he got back from the leadership team that had gathered in Battle Creek, Michigan, for a five-day reflection on the previous business year and a chance to map the way forward.
As part of his closing address, Cannon took time to recognize longtime employees Shery Underwood and Mark Aicher, who are both retiring from senior leadership positions soon. While he lamented on the loss of their experience and leadership, he praised them for their service to DLA and to the country.
“Two outstanding leaders in this organization – they will be missed,” Cannon said.
One quirk to the summit was a shuffling of daily seating assignments each day.
“That was planned,” Cannon said. “When we mixed it up a little bit, who met someone they didn’t know before?” Most attendees in the room raised a hand. “That’s why we do that. Now your phone-a-friend list just got longer.”
He encouraged attendees to use the connections they made during the summit. He explained that when they face a challenge, reach out and ask someone for advice, others have faced the same or similar issues and will have guidance.
Cannon said he had a call the day before from the Army G4 Director of Logistics. He then related what the G4 had said. “We never have an issue where you guys don’t step up and support us,” Cannon quoted. “We never have a problem.”
“So, thank you on behalf of the United States Army for supporting our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, but especially directly from the Army, on our responsiveness, and our resiliency, and our creativity,” Cannon said. “But just our desire to always help and always be part of the solution, and never part of the problem.”
Terri Rutland, lead resource analyst for the Mid-America region attended the summit and said that she and other RAs have committed to meeting regularly on Microsoft Teams.
“It’s been very beneficial, just speaking for this short week, we can clearly take this to another level if we get together more often,” Rutland said.