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January – Starting the Year with “Perspective”
I once heard that Ecclesiastes is the best book to study in mid-life. When I found the 2005 study entitled A Life Well Lived by Pastor Tommy Nelson (of my brother and sister-in-law’s church—Denton Bible Church), I knew that needed to be my spiritual growth focus for 2024.
As I considered the themes of mid-life and Ecclesiastes, the word “Perspective” fit. The dictionary defines perspective as “a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.” Perspective and point of view provided helpful context, as we faced a divisive election season this year. It was also helpful, as Jennifer and I considered our upcoming life transition to an empty nest.
HR Team in January
At work, we started the year with a team retreat, facilitated by Sheila Feldman, who served as my Executive Coach at NASA. We focused on our plans for 2024 in the Gilruth’s Discovery Room which was dedicated to former JSC Center Director Mike Coats.
Mike talked with us during lunch about his experience with HR at JSC and the importance of the HR Business Partner (HRBP) model and role. That was an important start to our year, as we piloted the HRBP approach with much success at Space Center Houston.
International Speaker…Again…
In 2019, I gave a keynote presentation at the Talent Development Summit in Vancouver. Then, the pandemic hit; and I hadn’t been out of the country since then. It had been five years since I presented at an international conference!
When I was contacted by Corporate World Intelligence to speak at conferences in both Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, I jumped at the opportunity!
I loved returning to Dubai—the site of my first International HR Conference in 2016.
Our CEO, William Harris, connected me with the Museum of the Future’s CEO, Lāth Carlson. I met with Lāth, and we discussed some of his talent challenges and strategies. He then graciously offered me a tour of the museum—which is generally sold out 4-6 weeks ahead of time!
Following the Dubai Conference, I flew to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. I had some extra time, so I booked a personalized tour through Trip Advisor.
These are handprints of employees. Those with 50 years of service get the gold hand! I appreciated how they recognized the importance of recognizing employees, who are key to handcrafting excellence.
In April, I was invited to speak at Lone Star College’s Culture & Engagement Conference. Dr. Shameka Jean-Garner organized to conference, and I stayed in touch with her throughout the year, as we prepared to add the inclusion function to our HR Department.
By the end of the year, we extended her an offer to serve as our Manager of Crew Engagement and Inclusion. Shameka will join our HR team in January!
In June, I presented a keynote at HRO Today’s Conference in Chicago on “Investigating Strategies for Culture Measurement.”
In October, I provided the keynote for another conference in Houston.
I was surprised to be honored with the 2024 HRO Today Talent Acquisition Leader of the Year | Lifetime Achievement Award!
They actually convened an awards and recognition event during the evening of October 28th. But true to my introverted self, I headed home that afternoon and returned to the conference the next morning, when they put together a make-shift recognition…which is why I was more casually dressed!
What an honor…still hard to believe I’m eligible for a “Lifetime Achievement Award”!
Women’s History Month in March
In one of my favorite posts of the year, I offered reflections on twelve women who have shaped me personally & professionally. Check it out at https://www.outofthisworldleadership.com/2024/03/24/celebrating-twelve-extraordinary-women-who-shaped-me/
Celebrating Easter
It was great to have the family home for Easter this year.
Then, for the first time ever, I was able to accept jury duty pay. With my $20, I made an exciting addition to my truck!
Summer Trip
Jennifer and I were excited to go to the Olympics in Paris!
First stop was in London.
We Made it to Paris!
We also watched Handball—but we didn’t always know what was going on!
I liked the official mascot of the 2024 Summer Olympics, the Phryges—designed for Phrygian caps, a French symbol of liberty.
We also had time to do some sightseeing around Paris.
The Sainte-Chapelle in Paris was magnificent! Each stained glass tells a story from the Bible, so the whole Bible is represented here.
Our last evening in Paris was a lot of fun. We saw the Eiffel Tower at night and went to the Olympic party. I even caught a shirt they threw into the crowd!
55th Anniversary of the Moon Landing
On the eve of the 55th anniversary of Apollo 11 in July, NASA leadership celebrated Dorothy Vaughan at a special ribbon-cutting ceremony! In honor of the contributions Vaughan made to this historic program, NASA Johnson Space Center renamed “Building 12” the “Dorothy Vaughan Center in Honor of the Women of Apollo.” That was special to me since I spent a lot of my HR career working in Building 12.
The First-Ever Space City Job Fair
When I joined Space Center Houston, I talked with our CEO William Harris about helping the JSC team. For years, I heard how the contractor companies simply traded talent from one to another, so the small companies were left with vacancies.
I designed a workforce strategy, comprised of job fairs to help these companies pull together.
The first of those was scheduled in July, largely led by our fantastic intern from the National Diversity Council’s Emerging Leaders Program, Shanel Rhodes.
We exceeded expectations with 500+ attendees and 22 employers. We’re already thinking about how to make it bigger and better for the Summer of 2025!
Space Center Houston Board of Directors Retreat at Salamander Resort in Virginia
First-Ever Space Center Houston Crew Awards & Recognition Event
In September 2023, Space Center Houston conducted a comprehensive employee engagement survey for the Crew at Space Center Houston. The lowest rated item was “excellent work is not similarly recognized for all crew members.” Drawing from the lessons that have made NASA the Best Place to Work in Government for 12 consecutive years, we put a team of volunteers together to develop solutions.
Thanks to the work of that team, in less than six months, we convened our first-ever Crew Awards & Recognition Event on August 15. Nearly one-third of Crew Members received some sort of recognition (for leadership, accomplishments, and service) at the event.
Summer with the Boys
Cody, Tanner, and I completed a Bible Study this summer, addressing the question, “Who Are You, Really?” We went through the Defined Bible Study (by the Kendrick Brothers). It was a great time of focus for all of us, as Tanner is deciding his college major and Cody is determining his future career…but neither of those should define us—our identity should be as disciples of Jesus Christ!
College Visits with Tanner
Tanner took his first visit to University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton. He knows some students there, and his Student Minister is an alumnus. After the visit, he felt like the school was “too small.”
While Texas A&M seems “too big”, Tanner and I paid a visit to Baylor. The size of the school seems “just right”, but he’s still weighing his options.
Watching the Baylor Band at halftime of the Baylor-BYU Game and thinking of cousin Mikaela (who shares Tanner’s birthday and is a Baylor Band alum).
The visit reminded me that I once wanted to be a Baylor bear. Check out this picture from 1983!
At the end of the year, we took Connie by the campus (when Tanner had a high school basketball tournament in Waco). She loved the campus and kept saying how much it’s changed!
Strategic Planning for Me
For many years now, I’ve encouraged leaders to take the strategic planning process and principles and apply them to their own lives. I did that in August of this year—taking a day of personal retreat with an extended walk in the Houston Botanic Garden.
I was inspired to consider a five-year plan, or Vision 2030.
During that time of reflection, I considered my legacy as a husband, father, and even grandfather. I was impressed by this verse –
That hastened me to work on publishing my first book—one that shares the stories of family and friends who have inspired me, and their stories will remain for generations to come…
Halloween Fun
When your CEO (pictured below) names you the Chief HR & Inclusion Officer (pronounced “Cheerio”) and your HR team has the “perfect” Halloween costume idea for you…
International STEM Day (November 8)
A Year of New Logos
Our Space Center Houston’s graphics designer beautifully captured the essence of our HR Department’s mission: “HeRo for the C.R.E.W., serving as Culture Champions, who get Results and build Relationships with Every Employee to build a World-Class Workforce.”
Then, I engaged with Christian Internet Design to update and refresh my ten year-old web site.
They needed to update the logo, and came up with this design –
Tanner’s Senior Basketball Season
It’s been fun watching Tanner play this basketball season and have more opportunities to contribute. He’s had a few games, where he had a particularly hot shooting hand.
On November 27, he had his best game of the young season with his sister, brother, and grandparents in the stands. How fun is that!
Then, he had his highest-scoring game of the season when I was celebrating our Holiday Party in Galveston –
A Family Christmas
It was fun having everyone with us for Christmas this year!
Finishing a Strong Year at Space Center Houston
Looking official for the President’s Luncheon at the Petroleum Club in downtown Houston with Jeff Wyatt (our Chief Experience Officer) –
In December, we hosted our one-millionth tram rider of 2024! That was a first in the history of Space Center Houston. While we’re on track to host 1.3 Million guests again this year (matching our record-breaking year last year), it was great to get 1 Million guests on a tram—the only way to officially set foot on NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Our tram tours are a key part of our mission to bring people and space closer together, as we help tell the incredible history and future of human spaceflight at NASA Johnson Space Center.
Partly because of these significant milestones, we also celebrated 10,000 followers on LinkedIn for Space Center Houston (as a side note, I’m personally at 9,500 followers and counting…)
Look for the next post to learn about what’s ahead in 2025, including a revamped web site and my first published book!