Q+A: AMY HUNTER:

‘Simply being available’ is a mentor’s first priority

Amy Hunter, a partner at the Simmons Group, spends 12 to 16 hours a month with her mentee, in addition to informally mentoring a group of students with her husband.

Amy Hunter is a partner at the Simmons Group, a human resources and talent management firm. She moved to Las Vegas from Ohio, where she was an active participant in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. In Southern Nevada, she has maintained her passion for mentoring young people by working with the nonprofit Core Academy.

How did you become involved with mentoring children?

I became a mentor in Ohio and had a wonderful experience. When I moved to Las Vegas, I met Lindsay Harper, chief inspiration officer at Core Academy, an after-school program that works to educate, enrich and empower young people, and I fell in love with the model and the students. I wanted to continue to inspire youths in my new community.

How much time do you devote to mentoring?

I have been formally mentoring my current mentee for three years, and I spend about 12 to 16 hours a month with her. My husband and I also informally mentor a small group of students, and we do something with them almost every month, whether that is having them over to the house for dinner or a pool party, or taking them somewhere fun.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of mentoring?

Having the opportunity to see young people grow and learn; it gives me hope for future generations. Spending time simply being available, being another set of ears to listen, another set of arms to hug and a voice to be held accountable to is reward enough for me.

If you could change one thing about Southern Nevada, what would it be?

The preconceived notion that Las Vegas is just about flashy lights, partying hard from dusk to dawn and a being place where it’s OK to put the rest of the world on pause when you step off that plane for an unconventional and over-the-top weekend.

I often find myself politely explaining to people I meet — on an airplane, at a conference or presenting at a speaking engagement — what it’s really like to live in Las Vegas. The flashy lights, the showgirls, the hottest DJs and dance clubs certainly add to the excitement around us. However, they represent only a small sliver of what makes this community remarkable.

What’s the biggest issue facing Southern Nevada?

The economy is rebounding. The market is getting more competitive, and great talent is no longer as readily available to employers.

The candidate pool is shifting from an employer-hiring market to an employee-focused market. In the down years, the candidate pool and number of highly-qualified people may have meant 10 final candidates interviewed and tough employer decisions because there were so many great options. Now, candidates have more options.

What qualities are most essential in a good employee?

What makes a good employee is a good fit — culture, skill, personality and team dynamics. People work for people, not companies.

What makes a team-building exercise successful?

It’s most important to identify where the team is and what it is struggling with, to break that barrier. Trust, vulnerability and suspending judgments are essential foundational characteristics of teams that work well together. A successful team-building process is inclusive of everyone, is fun, reaches team members at their level while stretching them outside of their comfort zone, and most importantly, includes a discussion at the end about what people have learned and how they will use the information to improve.

What advice do you have for someone who wants to advance in an organization?

Be certain you understand your “why” and the organization’s “why.” If you haven’t seen Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why” TedTalk, check it out. Be open to learning about yourself, then doing something about what you learn.

What do you do after work?

Spend time with my husband and close friends. We love supporting local programs in the community. We also never fall short in supporting UNLV athletics. We’ve been season ticket holders for the eight years we’ve lived here, and my guess is we’ll be that cute old couple in our 80s on the kiss cam.

Describe your management style.

Management style is always an interesting topic of discussion in my line of business. I do my best to approach each person with a win-win outcome. My intent in managing people is to get the job done, learn and have fun. This approach has guided me in helping people succeed with us and in their personal lives. It’s important to engage people from their comfort zones and know what their preferences are and how best they receive information. Once trust is built, you can help guide them to step out of their comfort zone to see other possibilities.

If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be?

Santorini, Greece. It is the most beautiful place I have seen. My husband and our best friends spent time there in 2010. The sunrises, the sunsets, the crystal clear water and the relaxed way of living are refreshing and freeing.

Whom do you admire?

Ellen DeGeneres, because she is courageous and bold. She has such a powerful message and has fun while delivering it. She has a way of getting people not just to hear her message — “be kind to one another” — but also to feel it. She’s proud to be herself and share that in the hopes that others will step outside their comfort zones.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Being late. Over the years, I’ve had to curb my annoyance when I am late or someone I’m meeting is late. I’ve always believed if you’re early, you’re on time, and if you’re on time, you’re late. I have found ways to be productive and see those gaps as an opportunity to get little things done on my “to do” list.

Where do you like to go for business lunches?

Food is certainly my favorite four-letter f-word, so that’s a tricky question. My top five “lunch-type” places are Carson Kitchen, Heidi’s Deli, Panevino, Grimaldi’s and Parsley Modern Mediterranean Grill. Get me talking about food, and I just might talk your ear to the next meal.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

My strong introverted preferences. In a social group setting, I rarely jump in on conversation without first gauging my surroundings. The consequence of this is that I’m sure people whom I could have learned from have walked in and right back out of my life.

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