Page 9 - The MILConnection: Summer2021

employee stories

John Roland goes back to school

On June 3rd, MIL SVP John Roland served as guest speaker at John F. Kennedy High School’s 2021
commencement ceremony. As a proud alumnus and lifelong “Fighting Eagle,” John was honored to
receive the request from principal Dr. Terrance Menefee on behalf of the Cleveland Metropolitan
Schools District after being nominated by an Alumni Association board member. John has worked
closely with the school’s alumni association for a number of years, and in particular this year,
supporting a student scholarship program. John generously provides his financial management
expertise to the association, helping them to secure the critical funding needed.
Four decades after his own graduation day, John spoke to the Class of 2021 on what life after high
school could look like for the newly minted graduates if they worked hard and remembered the most
important lessons from their high school years. In his keynote address, John spoke to students on
the history and proud legacy of JFK High School and how they could draw on its heritage and great
reputation as they pursued future endeavors. John also encouraged the graduates to be SMART— Strategic, Motivated, Accountable,
Resilient and Tactical—regarding their future professional and personal lives.
When asked what he learned in high school that helped in his career at MIL, John pointed to high school years full of leadership
experiences, achievements through hard work, a focus on excellence, and giving back. John believes these lessons helped him to
establish a foundation of accountability and what it means to be part of a successful team; how to establish goals and objectives and
how to accomplish the right things in the right way. And, importantly, how to care and support others while you identify and pursue
your own purpose and passion in life.
John likewise encourages his team members at MIL to remember where they come from and to reach back to help others when they
can—to give generously of their time, encouragement, and resources. He believes that the best encouragement is by example, and he
demonstrated that belief by lifting up his Fighting Eagles family on graduation day.

employees of the month
May 2021: Emily Lotridge

As the MIL Program Manager of the International Trade Administration (ITA) contract at the U.S.
Department of Commerce for the last five years, Emily Lotridge has overseen the strategic growth of the
account, from 50 to over 100 consultants, across a portfolio of Salesforce, Azure, and Digital projects. As
Program Manager, Emily is responsible for organizing and monitoring multiple development portfolios
and activities in accordance with the mission and goals of the organization, while also managing contract
financial deliverables including analysis and forecasting requirements. Additionally, she is looked to by
ITA and MIL leadership for her strategic thinking, organizational skills, and strong ability to identify
both risk and opportunities, and is frequently consulted by ITA's CIO and directors. Emily was given the
TSI "People" award in November 2019 and has been nominated by her peers for multiple other awards
over the last two years.

announcements

Tatum Jewel Marie Dixon

Born 06/10/2021 |19.5 in.
Please join us in congratulating Jerome Dixon and his wife Janelle on the birth of Tatum Jewel Marie. Jerome
is a member of Corporate Accounting team in Bowie.

spring 2021 | The MIL Connection | 9