Students attending the new CDG Leadership Academy, a six-week, diverse interactive venture beginning Nov. 4, may find help in figuring out what to do after graduation.
At least that’s the goal of Dave Gray, founder and owner of CDG Sports, a youth sports and recreation company, and program partner Wendy Joyce, an active North Allegheny parent and volunteer.
“Our goal is to inspire students who are wondering what they might like to be when they grow up, by giving them a glimpse into the world of possibilities that exist and giving them the opportunity to meet and be inspired by some of the impactful leaders in our community,” said Joyce, who has 26 years’ experience as a business consultant, including at Procter & Gamble and HJ Heinz.
The program, for students in sixth through 10th grades, will offer a “real-world” look at a variety of jobs at a new site each week. The course is open to any student in the Pittsburgh area, but the site visits are mainly in the North Hills.
“I’ve been in the youth coaching business for 28 years now, and I recognized the need to educate and assist athletes with the life skills and personal development tools needed to be successful outside of the sports field or court of play,” said Gray, a 1988 North Allegheny graduate. “Leadership, positive mindset and goal setting are skills that will last our kids a lifetime.”
The sessions will be held Mondays from Nov. 4 to Dec. 9, from 5:30 p.m. to roughly 7:30. The cost is $299 per student.
Joyce said the students will travel each week to a new site and meet leaders with different life stories and careers.
“Quickly upon entering high school, students are faced with a myriad of choices and begin planning their future, but many don’t know yet what they’d like to do after high school or college,” Joyce said. “And let’s face it: It’s hard to know when you are 14 or 15 years old what you’d like to do for the rest of your life, especially if you’ve only been exposed to a few things,”
Joyce, mother of teenagers Kayla and Noah in North Allegheny, said this idea has been 28 years in the making for Gray, citing his positive “can-do” attitude in everyone he meets.
“CDG Sports Events was founded in 1996 and has continued to evolve throughout the years as many parents in the community, like myself, have seen the power of his positive influence on the lives of our children,” said Joyce, who is active in youth sports, leader of NA booster organizations and prior coach of the Girls on the Run running club.
Kickoff night on Nov. 4 will be held at the Pure Athletex facility in Marshall, featuring MarketSpace Agency’s Trish Parkhill, social media strategist Nikki Cappelloni and WTAE meterologist Jeff Verszyla.
The following weeks will include professionals from the Allegheny Health Network pediatric orthopedic institute, Cleveland Brothers Caterpillar, Piatt Sotheby’s real estate and Zang Taekwon-Do, among others.
Kelly O’Connor of Kelly O’s Diner and state Rep Rob Mercuri, R-Pine, will headline the closing ceremony on Dec. 9.
This is Gray’s first program focused “100%” on leadership, career exploration and personal growth development, he said.
“Simply put, we hope to ignite curiosity, interest and passion for a potential career or profession by having our students meet and engage with our team of business leaders, professionals and mentors,” Gray said.
For more information, visit www.cdgsportsevents.com.