The month of January is National Mentoring Month.  Today, January 25th, is National Thank Your Mentor Day.

We asked our staff who their mentors were and were moved by the memories they shared about their mentors.

Kellie Bentz, Director, Disaster Services

Leslie took me under her wing as one of her mentees in her mentee group made up of other young professional women leaders in New Orleans. She has consistently supported me since that point by talking  me through personal struggles, work struggles and has gone out of her way to ensure she makes time for me even when she has prior commitments. I feel truly blessed to have someone as committed to my personal and professional growth as she has been.

PJ is a very memorable mentor. He is the reason I landed in New Orleans. He saw something inside of me I could not and kept on believing in me. PJ has consistently challenged me in ways that have frustrated me and other ways that have helped create more joy in my life. While we aren’t as in frequent communication as we once were, he is always there when I need to pick up the phone and ask advice.

My father is one of the most instrumental mentors in my life. I can consistently count on him to answer his phone and give me the advice or words I need to hear at that moment. Everything from gender differences in the work place to developing business plans he has been there to talk me through and give advice. I continue to be amazed by his general grounding nature and ability to look at everything in a positive light…he never lets me dwell in negativity…one of my favorite sayings of his is “smile and the world will smile with you” …I am blessed to have my father in my life to help me continue grow personally and professionally. I realize now how unique it is to have my father as one of my greatest mentors and for that I am blessed.

Megan Motlagh, Office Volunteer

I don’t remember exactly how I felt on my first day of kindergarten—excitement or anxiety, bravery or fear of the great academic unknown—but I do know one thing now, very well. I know that I cannot thank my kindergarten teacher enough for the wonderful foundation she built for the rest of my academic career. Ms. Toni McCray was knowledgeable and nurturing, and beyond her position as a kindergarten teacher, a wonderful and valuable mentor. She encouraged an environment steeped in appreciation and understanding of the value of learning and of my fellow classmates, a classroom where even the softest six-year-old voice (I admit, this was me) was heard and respected.

I will never forget the impact she had on my education and on me as a person; I visited her classroom every year (give or take a year or two) afterward for twenty years, up until her retirement last year. While the chairs I sat in those twenty years ago got smaller every year, my gratitude for all that my kindergarten teacher had instilled in me in that very first year of school has grown exponentially. Thank you for being one of the most valuable mentors I’ve ever had, Ms. McCray.

Meridith Rentz, Chief Operating Officer

My mentor, Rick Smith, “adopted me” as a mentee over 15 years ago, and even though we no longer work directly together, he’s always one of the first people I talk to when I need advice or grounding or even just a good “talking to”.  There are three main things Rick taught me that I use pretty much every single day:  1) how to take a super-duper complex problem that seems impossible and break it down into “doable pieces”; 2) how to challenge, support, push and develop the people on your team; and 3) family and friends always, always come first….no matter how important your job is.  He also taught me how to sail – but I don’t get to do that every day!  When I mentor others, my personal goal is simple – “be like Rick Smith”.

Who is your mentor?

How have they influenced your life?

Write a tribute to your mentor at the Thank Your Mentor Day website.

You can find opportunities to be a mentor and have an impact on someone’s life at your local HandsOn Action Center.

Read more from Kellie Bentz:

• What Katrina Relief Gave Back

Read more from Meridith Rentz:

• My Resolution for 2011: Party Like A Rock Star At Work

• 20 Reasons Why Volunteering Is Like Beer