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that has changed. I know it’ s a high priority with Alcoa, with our industry.
I want to leave the environment sustainable for my grandchildren and their offspring. I believe humans are very resilient. brian forth: Maybe the whole concept of“ excess” in the‘ 80s generation. And, while I think that that could be true in some sense, for the most part I look at our generation as the one that was brought up on Live Aid and the compassionate side of the‘ 80s that would help people and think globally. We were the first group that ever recycled and things like that. I don’ t like the stereotype and I don’ t think it fits.
Jack Lamb, CEO of Aslan Brewing Company, speaks at the 2016 AWB Institute Manufacturing Summit in Everett.
jack lamb: You know, it was only about a year ago, that I truly realized that I am a millennial. The perception that millennials have a disconnect to the past is what makes me mad the most, it just really grinds my gears. My whole music selection is my dad’ s music. The thought that millennials don’ t have hard work ethic also irritates me. It’ s just kind of assumed that millennials don’ t want to get down and dirty and put on a dirt mask, goggles and grab a sledgehammer and start knocking down walls. That stereotype makes me mad because that’ s how we built this place. wayne j. martin: Loyalty to a company … The misconception is that somehow you did not make gains in your life by being loyal. I used to belong to a program called the Black Executive Exchange Program. It was run by the national Urban League. What they did was they found black professionals of all business types and all ages and they sent them out to historically black colleges. You interacted with the students, presented what you did at work. The whole purpose was to expose them to black individuals in the workforce doing things that the students never really knew about. I went to a lot of schools over 10-odd years.
There was a theme from these youngsters:‘ You’ ve been with this company that long? That’ s not what I’ m going to do. Wouldn’ t you have gotten ahead if you’ d gone another place?’
They didn’ t perceive it as being a positive thing, whereas I looked at it as being very positive. cynthia leon: I don’ t know. I don’ t think I fit the Gen X mold. I don’ t even know what the stereotypes are, but, in general, if you’ re comparing both Gen X and millennials to the baby boomer generation, I think the biggest misconception is that we’ re not hardworking and that we get things easier and faster. Maybe that’ s also a generational thing because I’ m the first born of an immigrant family, so I have a very different work ethic— a good work ethic is important in any career you choose. If anything, it’ s definitely true that we’ re hardworking and willing to be patient to succeed. virginia valdez: I think the entitlement is the most common thing that I hear. That millennials feel entitled. I think certain people are entitled. But, I think the root of that, and why it bothers me, is because we want to feel like we are contributing more to the workplace. We want to be involved and to feel included so, when we are wanting more opportunity, or asking for that promotion, it is because we care and we want to be able to give back and be involved. But, what’ s interesting is that some companies who are trying to attract millennials and be more competitive in the workplace are trying new things: providing flexible work schedules, providing more opportunity and taking on more philanthropical causes.
how do you use technology in your job and how has technology changed your job over the years? how do you see it affecting your performance / workplace in the future?
rosemary brester: When I went to college and took courses in office administration, I learned to code. That was in the late 80’ s.
I use technology every single day in my work life. The problem I have is it’ s moving so quickly. It’ s driving our lifestyle to be faster and faster. There’ s not enough down time to really enjoy your life even though technology is supposed to make it better. If I’ m up in the middle of the night, I’ m checking that stupid phone. Now technology is with me all the time. shiloh schauer: I think there have been some positive contributions of technology in the sense that it allows you to communicate in real time, which is valuable. But, I think that it has also had a negative impact in the sense that there’ s now an expectation that you’ re always available for your job, not allowing for proper work-life balance and creating burnout quicker. For what I am doing now, technology allows me to take work with me and I have more opportunities to participate in more things and still stay on track and remain responsive to our membership, which is great. At the same time, if you’ re not careful, all the gadgets and technology can intrude on family life. So, I love that it can make you more
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