A's welcome Girls Inc. for mentorship event

August 9th, 2019

As the July 31 Trade Deadline approached, and David Forst and Billy Beane were busy planning the A’s next big moves in their offices in the Oracle Arena, a new group of future industry disruptors were meeting just across the way in the Oakland Coliseum. Only this time, instead of stat heads in polos and khakis, it was a group of bright middle schoolers from West Contra Costa County. 

On Friday, July 12, the Oakland A’s and Chevron teamed up to host 30 middle school girls from Girls Inc. of West Contra Costa County, as part of an ongoing partnership with the organization. Girls Inc. is a nonprofit focused on supporting, mentoring and guiding girls through programming with professional women. 

“Partnering with the A’s amplifies our commitment to developing generations of female problem-solvers,” said Chevron vice president and chief human resources officer Rhonda Morris. “We’re grateful for this partnership and committed to making a difference in our communities.” 

The event opened with a panel featuring four accomplished women who have pushed boundaries in their careers with Chevron and the A’s. 

From the Athletics, VP of communications and community Catherine Aker and assistant general counsel D’Lonra Ellis discussed the challenges of coming up in the traditionally male-dominated world of baseball, while Chevron’s Morris and maintenance and reliability manager Naomi Woodard shared their career experiences and gave advice to the girls.

After the presentation, panelists and participants broke into small group discussions to provide more direct advice and mentorship. The girls shared their interests and goals with the mentors and asked the women about their individual stories.  

Throughout the program, the panelists reflected on the value of having role models and long-lasting mentorship connections, especially in the workplace. 

“Never be afraid to ask for help. You have mentors all around you -- your teachers, coaches, and leaders at Girls Inc. are there to advocate for you and help you progress in your career,” Aker said. “Finding a mentor is critical to your success, so it’s important for me to now mentor the men and women around me. I want to help them grow in their careers and ensure that they never have to deal with things I had to deal with in my career.” 

The panelists also emphasized the ongoing importance of confidence, discipline and forging one’s own path. Woodard in particular could attest to the importance of these skills. She is the first woman to fill her role in the history of the Richmond Refinery, and she is responsible for hundreds of employees and contractors at any given time. 

“If you don’t try and break away from the status quo, you’ll never make progress,” Woodard said. “Don’t be scared to ask. If you don’t ask, you’ll never be able to push yourself.”