Mentor + Mentee Spotlight Series

Mentoring Stories: David Baas & Sophia Jones

Mentor, David Baas - Assistant Director of Planning & Development, City of Lakewood

Mentee, Sophia Jones- B.A. Baldwin Wallace University, & Current Master of Urban Planning & Development (MUPD) Student, Cleveland State University

Here is what David had to say about his experience as Sophia's mentor…

What adjectives would you use to describe Sophia?
Sophia is bright, sincere, polite, kind, and hardworking.

How have you seen your mentee grow as a result of the program? 
Sophia appears to have developed a greater interest in serving in the public sector than she had at the start of the program. We worked to align most of our meetings and discussions in/around different types of planning meetings or public events, which I believe helped put much of what we discussed into a more practical context.  During the program, Sophia volunteered to serve on her community's Sign Review Board (which should be a valuable experience for her), hopefully building from one of our earlier discussions on architectural and design review community processes.

What has been your favorite event so far? Why?
My favorite event was the Resume Workshop. It was great to meet so many participants in the program and provide some recommendations on communicating their skills and experience effectively to prospective employers.

What have you learned about yourself after being a mentor?
This being my first year as a mentor, it has really helped me take stock in my own experience in relation to the wide variety of practical aspects required of a multifaceted job such as a City Planner. There are aspects that I can effectively pass along and others where I need to seek out the help of co-workers to provide that perspective effectively to Sophia. Hopefully this helped her to pick up on the natural teamwork that is required within a department like ours each day – leveraging everyone's strengths to get the job done.

Why is a mentor/mentee relationship valuable to you?
These relationships are incredibly helpful in providing experiences to both the mentor and mentee that you would not have otherwise. It provides time to discuss career aspects that you may not have considered. The program events bring everyone in contact with people from different organizations and stages in their professional development, all working to better themselves and others.

What advice do you have for current mentees/mentors or folks who will be a part of the program in the future?
The benefits that you derive from the experience are too often directly proportional to the effort that you put into developing the relationship through meeting and adequately preparing to cover/discuss different topics of interest and the practical realities of different career fields. Put in the work and you'll be better off!

Here is what Sophia had to say about her experience as David's mentee…

What adjectives would you use to describe Mr. Baas? 
Dave is positive, supportive, patient, dedicated, and helpful.

What's one thing you learned about your mentor's role that you didn't know prior to the program? 
Dave manages many different responsibilities in his role as Assistant Planning Director, and it seems that every workday is different. He is very knowledgeable about several different aspects of planning because his work is so varied. Dave was always prepared to respond to my questions about his work with thoughtful, informative, and detailed answers. I learned so much from him!

There is also a lot of collaboration that happens in the department, and Dave's co-workers were gracious enough to spend time with me during some of our mentoring meetings to add their perspective. It was a great experience to see everyone working together, recognizing the value of what each person brings to the team. I appreciate how much respect they have for each other.

What has been your favorite event so far? Why?
Speed Networking was my favorite event. It was great to meet other mentors and hear about their work. There are so many different fields and positions represented in the mentoring program, and it's interesting to learn about the seemingly endless career possibilities connected to the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management.

What skills have you learned, sharpened, or improved upon while in the program?  
I'm more willing to participate in spaces that are new to me and say yes to opportunities. I went into this program wanting to make the most of it, so I planned to be as involved as possible even if it meant saying yes to things outside of my comfort zone. I met so many great people and learned so much from all of them. Dave and the rest of the department always made me feel welcome and comfortable.

What did you learn about yourself?
During the mentoring program, I was able to learn a lot about myself. One of the most significant things I discovered was that I have become more confident in my work. Through the guidance and support of my mentor, I was able to take on new challenges and push myself out of my comfort zone.

My mentor also showed me the value of the MUPD program and how it better prepared me for the "real world" of planning than I initially thought. Dave pointed out how the skills and knowledge I gained from the program were useful and applicable to the work I was doing during the mentoring program.

Overall, the mentoring program was a great opportunity for me to grow both personally and professionally. I am grateful for my mentor's guidance and the lessons I learned about myself and my capabilities.

How did you bridge your coursework with your experience in the mentoring program?
I started the mentoring program at the same time I was taking the Civic Engagement course. Dave invited me to attend different types of public meetings, and it was great to see what I was learning in the classroom applied in a real-life setting. Making these connections made the course material come to life and encouraged me to be more engaged in my own community - including becoming a member of my city's Sign Review Board!

What advice do you have for current mentees or students who will be a part of the program in the future? 
Don't be afraid to ask questions or step outside of your comfort zone. Every meeting with your mentor is an opportunity to learn something new. Challenge yourself and the growth will happen!

Anything else you want to include? 
My mentoring experience with Dave could not have been more positive. This is Dave's first year mentoring, but he is a pro! I am so thankful he agreed to participate. I sincerely appreciate the time and effort Dave has given to make this such a wonderful experience.

I would recommend the mentoring program to any student. It is truly an invaluable experience. I am so grateful to Rob Ziol, Alexandra Higl-Timms, Courtni Began, and everyone who works so hard to make this program possible.