Andy Lyon Email & Phone Number

Since 1972 I have worked for two organizations. Youth Incorporated and Tennessee State Parks. I have been successful in both organizations. Success came from experience. Experience working my way up starting with entry level positions in both organizations. I could list 15 or 20 business management skills like everyone else but none of these would be more important than the ON THE JOB TRAINING I got from actually working for these organizations. The entry level position gives you a unique perspective when one day you become the leader of that organization. Instead of thinking great management makes the organization successful you realize the employees make an organization successful. You find yourself involving employees in problem solving and decision making processes, in marketing, in planning, and in the budget process. The employees, they make or break your organization. So why do the majority of our top management peers decide the employees are an expense and not an investment? Ego, self centered pride, and insecurity because they know the employees know more about the business than they do. Look at Undercover Boss, every episode reveals insights from employees that transform management. But i will say if you want a new Director/Manager to come into your organization and blend in, which is what most of them do. They continue what has happened in the past, any seemingly new idea comes from re gifting an existing idea, they have no constructive original thoughts, have no understanding of unintended consequences, afraid to communicate with employees, can't answer questions because they don't understand the organization, and usually try to reinvent the wheel. If you want that hire someone off the street with a great business skill resume. 8 years later as profits have flat lined and all your revenue operations have been leased out because management misunderstood the concept of your business maybe then you will remember the importance of EXPERIENCE.

Listed skills include Parks, Community Development, Community Outreach, Management, and 14 others.