Better each day.
That is Eric Walter’s goal for himself, the organization he works for, and the community in which he lives.
As a proud employee of Brock University, resident of St. Catharines, and Master’s Student in the Goodman School of Business, what excites him is the opportunity to better himself so that he can better what surrounds him.
Eric is a creative thinker who prioritizes mission- and vision-oriented action. As the Manager of Brock University’s expanding fitness centre, he is helping to build a better recreation experience for students and the community. More importantly, Eric is working with a team of thousands of others to help build a better future by giving students from across the world the best education experience they can offer.
Integrity – with integrity, comes most other things, and is a differentiating factor between effective and ineffective leaders. Respect and reputation of a leader are earned and built around doing what they say they will do. Regardless of all other factors, if someone lacks integrity, they are not someone who others will continue to follow.
Kouzes and Posner define leadership as the art of mobilizing others to want to struggle for shared aspirations. This, my favourite definition of leadership, applied in a way that emphasizes sustainable growth of both individuals and organizations within a community is how I view civic leadership.
I am motivated by progress that can be seen, regardless of its scale. At a local level (municipal and regional) this progress is felt by everyone via employment opportunities, social services, recreation and leisure, and through interactions with the various industries that make up the local economy. I want to position myself to become more of a catalyst for this progress and do contribute in meaningful ways to the region in which my family is growing.
I believe the most significant issues and opportunity facing Niagara is attracting and growing business within the region. Our population is older, average household income lower, and an unemployment rate higher than the provincial averages, and the region faces difficulties in attracting, developing, and retaining young talent. Solutions to these challenges all revolve around bringing more business into the region, resulting in greater retention of local talent, more employment opportunities, and a more productive local economy.