Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 5-6-16 Online Edition

Features
Tampa Bay Lightning V. P. Knew Nothing
Cross Country Motorcycle
About The Sport Before Taking The Job
Trip Brings Diabetes
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Staff Writer
When Keith Harris got a call seven years ago from a re- cruiter to interview for a front office position with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he didn’t know anything about hockey.
Now, he’s not only a fan of the sport, but serves a key role in the franchise as the team’s Vice President of Human Resources.
Mr. Harris said his job sim- ply is to “maximize the team’s return on human capital.”
He also oversees the usual HR responsibilities such as en- suring everyone’s well-trained, recognized for their achieve- ments, and paid on time.
Mr. Harris said the part of his job he most enjoys is pro- moting the franchise’s commit- ment and dedication to community service.
It’s a directive that comes from the top: in 2011, Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and his wife, Penny started the Lightning Community Hero program, a $10 million, five season pro- gram which honors persons who have made a difference in the Tampa Bay area.
Mr. Harris said volun- teerism is a big part of fran- chise’s culture and employees can use company time to help organizations and groups that are special to them.
“We’re encouraged to get in- volved in things we love,” he said.
Mr. Harris said causes fo- cused on wellness and youth are important to him. He sits on a few boards related to those areas, including the Sickle Cell Association of Hillsborough County and the Boys and Girls
ficult at all to attract good tal- ent,” he said.
Tampa, especially, is an ideal location for young professionals looking to make their mark, he said.
“You can jump in,” he said. “You don’t have to wait for per- mission.”
Born in Lakeland and raised in Thonotosassa, Mr. Harris graduated from King High School and obtained a political science degree from Florida A&M University.
After college, he took a job in Eerie, Penn., but returned shortly thereafter when he was hired to take a job with Lykes Bros.
He stayed for three years be- fore leaving again, this time for Baltimore.
But that stint lasted just a few months before he returned to Tampa, this time for good.
While many of his profes- sional peers were flocking to busier and flashier cities like At- lanta, Mr. Harris said he stayed because he saw “a lot of opportunity” in his hometown.
“It’s an easy place to live,” he said.
Married to Atty. Monica Williams Harris, and the fa- ther of four – three daughters ages 22, 19, and 17 and a six- month-old son – Mr. Harris said he sees himself as the bridge connecting “old Tampa” (seasoned professionals) and “new Tampa” (young profes- sionals) together.
It’s crucial that young people not only come to Tampa, but stay and become active in com- munity projects and initiatives, he said.
“Now it’s time for a change of the guard if you will,” he said.
Awareness To Thousands
Keith Harris, V. P. of Human Resources for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Clubs of Tampa Bay. He also contributes to the com- munity through various service projects with his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., including its Men of Tomorrow mentoring program.
Mr. Harris’ involvement in the community is another way to promote hockey, a sport that traditionally hasn’t had a large African American following. A dearth of Black players on the ice likely has contributed to that, Mr. Harris said.
But getting more African Americans into the sport – whether in the stands, in the rink, or in the front office – is doable, he said.
Increasing the number of Black players in the game means introducing more African Amer- ican youngsters to the game through youth leagues, he said.
“It’s going to be a matter of getting the game to the kids,” he said. “It’s going to take us get- ting our youth on the ice at four or five years old.”
Sports teams that have a great brand, a good work envi- ronment, and an owner who in- vests in the team should have no trouble attracting a diverse pool of employees, he said.
“I don’t think it would be dif-
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
When you’ve raised thou- sands of dollars and driven alone across the country on your motorcycle all in the name of bringing diabetes awareness to hundreds of thousands of people, what more can you do?
If you’re Neville Lee, founder of 2 Wheels 1 Cause: A Ride for Diabetes Awareness, you raise more money and take your mission international so that you can reach more peo- ple.
For the third year in a row, Mr. Lee – himself a diabetic – is gearing up for another solo venture that will take him from Florida to Vancouver, B. C., to Phoenix, Ariz., and back to Florida.
Mr. Lee’s drive timetable reads like a rap star’s tour schedule with stops every other day or so in the cities of Kansas City, Los Angeles, Shreveport, La., Austin, TX, and others. This year’s trip will take a full month, instead of the usual two weeks, and he’ll drive a total of 10,000 miles instead of 7,000.
While on the road, he’ll face some perils that will test his own health and safety.
Diabetics are sensitive to extreme changes in tempera- ture, so the cold of the moun- tains and the heat in the desert will affect his stamina, he said.
He’ll also face some chal- lenges driving in all types of weather, including rain, hail, and wind.
“Last year, I had to dodge a tornado in Texas,” he said.
Additionally, there’s the possibility of his motorcycle breaking down or getting into an accident in a remote loca- tion where cell phone service can be spotty or nonexistent.
The long drive also can be a lonely experience, he said. “It’s just you and the road,” he said.
Despite the dangers, Mr. Lee said he’s excited to make another trip. “It’s gonna kick my butt, but I’m looking for- ward to it,” he said.
Mr. Lee started 2 Wheels 1 Cause in 2014 in an effort to stop the deadly disease which is the seventh leading cause of death for Americans.
According the American Di- abetes Association, African Americans are disproportion- ately affected by the disease.
Neville Lee is the founder of 2 Wheels 1 Cause.
They are 1.7 times more likely to develop diabetes than non- Hispanic whites and 13.2 per- cent of all African Americans age 20 years or older have di- agnosed diabetes.
Last year, Mr. Lee raised $13,000 and estimates his campaign reached about 250,000 people.
It’s a personal mission for Mr. Lee, who was diagnosed as a diabetic in 2006 after mov- ing from Los Angeles to Shreveport.
Mr. Lee’s active and fit lifestyle changed into a seden- tary one after the move. A busy work schedule left him with lit- tle time to eat well or exercise regularly. He gained 60 pounds.
Mr. Lee said his diagnosis and the death of a close friend from diabetes forced him to take control of his health. He shed the extra weight and today manages his diabetes well.
But the disease continues to afflict those close to him. Ear- lier this year, an uncle died from diabetes and his mother was recently diagnosed. His grandmother is a diabetic as well.
Mr. Lee said the personal connection to the disease keeps him committed to doing every- thing he can to help bring about a cure.
That includes driving thou- sands of miles by himself.
“I don’t concern myself with personal danger,” he said. “I overlook that for a major cause.”
Learn more about Neville Lee and his cross-country trip for diabetes awareness at www.2wheels1cause.com or Facebook:www.facebook.com/ 2wheels1cause
Twitter: @2wheels1cause.
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2016