Mike Petters, a former president and CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries, has had a long and distinguished career. He has a bachelor's degree in physics from the U.S. Naval Academy, and an MBA from the College of William & Mary. He also served in the Navy Reserve.
He was an obvious choice for Dr. Porter Brannon's "Tea with Dr. B" leadership forum at Virginia Peninsula Community College.
What he stressed to the 30 or so students, faculty and staff in attendance Nov. 30 at the Peninsula Workforce Development Center wasn't his professional success or academic achievements. It was service to country and others.
"You're not really in this life for yourself," he said. "You're really here for what you can do for other folks, in one form or fashion."
That might be financial wealth, or time, or a special skill.
"Being able to contribute that to someone else is really what makes the world go round," he said. "It's really what makes this country so much better than anywhere else. The vast majority of people in this country really want to do things for other people."
His parents, who ran a family farm in Florida, instilled that in him and his five siblings, all of whom earned bachelor's degrees from a service academy, at an early age. They realized how lucky they were to have been born in the United States, and while admitting it wasn't perfect, it was better than others. They wanted their kids to realize that, too.
"He told all six of us we need to serve the country," Petters said of his father. "The service of the country was kind of the first thing at the center of our family when we were growing up."
That leads to the service for others, he said. He's been involved there also, taking positions on volunteer boards for numerous organizations. One area he is most passionate about is early childhood education. He has family connections there, too. His wife, Nancy, is a longtime educator, and both his daughters are educators.
Through them, he has learned how important an early start is for kids. Reports show the human brain is 90 percent developed by about the age of 12. Another shows children who aren't reading at the appropriate grade level by the third grade risk falling behind even further. It's easier to work with students at the beginning of their educational journey than trying to make up for lost time later. Having a better educated society benefits everyone.
Assisting with programs and organizations that help others is another example of serving your fellow man and your country.
"You're being successful not for the sake of being successful," he said. "You're being successful so that you can then go do something for somebody else."
The next "Tea with Dr. B" event is scheduled for Jan. 18, and the guest is Tanyika Mobley. She is the diversity, equity and inclusion officer for the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
Entrepreneur and health advocate Whitteney Guyton is scheduled to speak Feb. 22. Tracy Ashley, the director of development, is hoping to have to close out the first year of the series March 29 with a panel discussion. However, that date is subject to change.
The first of the series was held Oct. 12. It was a discussion on critical race theory with Dr. Jamel K. Donnor of the College of William & Mary.