L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program

To achieve career success in today’s constantly changing, complex work environment, professionals in the communications industry are often challenged to explore avenues other than traditional organizational programs (e.g., company-sponsored training and development initiatives, workshops, and seminars, etc.) for the kind of information, insight, and understanding they need to take charge of their own careers. The L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program was created to fill this gap for NAMIC members.

NAMIC initially established the mentorship program in 1993, and in 1997 renamed it in honor of the late L. Patrick Mellon, an executive with ESPN, Inc, one of NAMIC’s founding members, and a respected mentor in the cable industry. The goal of the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program is to aid in the achievement of diversity in the communications industry by matching NAMIC members with mentors who can assist them with their career advancement strategies.

Committed top level industry executives are recruited to serve as mentors to NAMIC members for a nine-month period. In these one-on-one relationships, mentors provide support, guidance, and career advice. Mentors are asked to make a minimum commitment of two hours per month to the mentoring process.

Any NAMIC member may apply to participate as a mentee in the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program by completing an application and screening process administered by the NAMIC education manager. The goal is to clarify the interest, expectations, and needs of the prospective mentee so that he/she may be matched with the appropriate mentor. Once paired, mentor and mentee enter into a mentoring “contract” to ensure that both understand the expectations that each has of the relationship and of each other. Those interested in becoming mentors may also register online.

Once they are paired, the mentor and mentee will enter into a mentorship "contract" to assure that all expectations and accountabilities have been discussed and agreed upon by both parties. Each mentor and mentee will have an account to help manage and track the progress of their relationship.

The mentoring process is one in which a mentor and a mentee embark upon a journey of reflection, discovery, sharing of ideas, and skills development in support of the mentee’s professional growth. The mentoring relationship involves free, earnest, and frank collaboration in an atmosphere of confidentiality and mutual respect. Mentoring is a way of turning dedicated professionals into leaders!

Participants in the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program feel that it is one of the greatest benefits of their NAMIC membership. They have directly attributed the program to:

• Expanding their vision
• Seeing new possibilities
• Polishing their skills
• Providing greater exposure
• Broadening their networks
• Professional and personal achievement

L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program Brochure

Please apply today to begin your L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program experience. Contact Jim Jones, director of education programs, at Jim.Jones@Namic.com or (212) 594-5985 if you have any questions about the program. You must be a NAMIC member to be mentored through the L. Patrick Mellon Program. In order to participate in the program, you must first create an online profile. If you already have a profile, please sign in here.

Mentor Program Update

The program is rolled out in three nine-month cycles, beginning in January, June and September of each year. Participants should submit their applications at least two months prior to the beginning of each mentoring cycle.

This format allows us to effectively track participants in the program and assist with career advancement strategies, professional development workshops and networking opportunities. The cycles begin in January, June and September of each year.

Participants, both mentors and mentees, should submit their applications according to the following schedule:

Cycle	Applications Due
January 2008 Cycle	December 3, 2007
June 2008 Cycle	April 1, 2008
September 2008 Cycle	July 2, 2008
September 2008 Cycle	August 1, 2008

Web Application Developed By: Sandy Pond Consulting