For Exchange managers Dan Owens, Jose Torres, Keigan Wilburn and Sean Childers, no matter where the mission takes them, they’ll always have each other to count on.
The four met in 2014 as part of the Exchange’s final college training program. And, though they have never worked together since, Owens, Torres, Wilburn and Childers share an unbreakable bond, with their friendship representing the best of the Exchange’s core value of family serving family. The training the Exchange invested in them paid off as well—each has grown his career and come into his own as a leader.
The foursome learned the ins and outs of management during several months together at Joint Base San Antonio in spring 2014. They bonded over everything from examining financial statements to running registers to executing merchandising strategies. When the training program ended, they went their separate ways. Owens, Torres, Wilburn and Childers caught up once again in person at the Exchange Managers Conference in Frisco, Texas, this spring.
“They’re my brothers,” said Childers, the main store manager at the Fort Irwin PX. “And what I mean by that is, I don’t talk to my brothers every day. But, when we do talk, it’s like we never missed a day. When we’re together, it’s as if I saw them yesterday.”
Owens, now the Fort Polk general manager, appreciates knowing that he has three colleagues who will support him, no matter what his career brings.
“We do keep in touch,” Owens said. “Definitely not quite as much as … maybe we’d all like to. Sometimes we get caught up in the everyday. But every time somebody gets a promotion, I think we’re usually always the first one to say, ‘Hey, congratulations.’ ”
For Wilburn, developing a close rapport with Owens, Torres and Childers helped him throughout his management training.
“But the guys really took me under their wings because they had more experience,” said Wilburn, now the services business manager at Fort Leonard Wood. “They taught me about financials—aspects I really needed to know.”
For Torres, store manager at the Panzer Exchange in Germany, his experience in the college training program showed him that the Exchange was willing to empower him—and leaders continue to invest in him.
“People are willing to share their knowledge—they’re not afraid to show you what they know,” Torres said. “They want you to grow. They want you to learn, and they want to help you. They want to make sure that you’re successful.”
The Exchange offers programs—including a management acclimation program—to help associates forge a leadership path.
“The program ensures new Exchange managers hit the ground running while aligning with corporate goals,” said Jessica Provan, chief, HR learning. “Every participant is paired with a dedicated coach, and there is ongoing support through training, mentorship and continuous feedback.”
Associates like Owens, Torres, Wilburn and Childers remain strong ambassadors for the Exchange.
“I’ve never come across somebody who is not willing to help and support me,” Owens said. “Leaders here want us to be successful. Don’t be afraid to ever walk up and say hi, introduce yourself, meet them, ask questions, get advice.”
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