April 06, 2015
As an OtterCares Ambassador for the last two years, Eric has been an integral part of growing employee participation in volunteerism and philanthropy at Blue Ocean Enterprises. Read below about how and why he volunteers:
Why did you become an OtterCares Ambassador: Last year as an OtterCares Ambassador was so rewarding, so I really wanted to continue with it again this year to encourage our team to get engaged and volunteer in their community and passions outside of work.
Describe a volunteer activity you have been involved in that relates to the OtterCares purpose statement: Last year I had the privilege of volunteering with Junior Achievement as a judge in one of their programs that taught kids how to bring a product to market and listen to their target audience. The week-long program gave the high school students a look into the OtterBox product development cycle, and taught them how to create consumer product that met the need of their peers. After the competition I got the chance to give a team feedback, and hear about how they worked together as a team to create the end product. It was really inspiring to hear how many of them were excited to start their own business.
Describe your favorite volunteer activity (either one time or ongoing): At the end of last year one of our team member’s house burned to the ground, and our entire company rallied together to help clean up the pieces. It was amazing to see how everyone came together for a common purpose, and made a HUGE difference in the life of someone we work with every day.
Why do you think the OtterCares purpose is important?: Entrepreneurs and philanthropists are changing the world, so I think OtterCares mission and purpose of inspiring the next generation of these world-changers is critical to our community and region. If the next generation isn’t exposed to the ideas of entrepreneurship and philanthropy I believe we will miss out on a tremendous amount of creativity that they possess.