Guadalupe Center students receive career advice on Leadership Day

Truly caring and treating people well are important traits for career success, Naples-based Barron Collier Companies CEO Blake Gable told Guadalupe Center students this week during their annual Leadership Day. 

“In my opinion, 80% of success that people have in their careers comes from caring. They care,” Gable told students Oct. 12 during his post-lunch keynote speech at Great Wolf Lodge South Florida. “They go above and beyond what is just required. If you want to do a job that you work from 9 to 5 and you don’t think about it, that’s great, and there are plenty of places in the world for that. I didn’t get to where I am by doing that.” 

About 60 Tutor Corps juniors and seniors from Guadalupe Center in Immokalee, most of them on track to be the first in their families to go to college and comprise the future workforce, received valuable career advice directly from business leaders attending the event. 

Just as she had the opportunity to work with and learn from many great leaders in different industries throughout her career as a nonprofit leader, Guadalupe Center President and CEO Dawn Montecalvo said there’s much information students can learn from a variety of local leaders. 

“I think it’s really important for young people to be exposed to different types of leaders so that they know what type of leader they want to be, the type of leader they can be and the type of leader they don’t want to be,” Montecalvo said. “So, I think it’s really important for them to be exposed to those different types of leaders and learn from them, what worked for them and what didn’t work for them. It’s really important for our kids to know that they are a leader and this is what they can do.” 

A Naples native, Gable attended Collier County public schools and is a graduate of Naples High School, Tulane University and Florida Gulf Coast University. He worked his way up to lead Barron Collier Companies, a fourth-generation family business involved in land development, agriculture and private investment. The company that created local destinations, such as Ave Maria and Mercato donated the land for Guadalupe Center’s Van Otterloo Family Campus for Learning in Immokalee. 

Gable’s first major job out of college was on Capitol Hill working as the legislative director for U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor of Arizona. Working for the influential congressman taught Gable the importance of a couple of things about leadership. 

“I learned early on that you had to have people that you trusted. You just had to have that team of people that allowed you to be successful because there was too much to process for any one person,” he said. 

Gable also learned the importance of treating people well. “It sounds really, really simple, but it’s amazing how profound that is,” he said. 

“If you are planning on being in any business, in any organization for any period of time, you just have to learn how to navigate and deal with all sorts of people. If you treat people well, and do what you say you’re going to do, it’s amazing how simple this stuff can be.” 

Gable told students to keep their options open and not feel obligated to take one particular path. “My path included going to college. A lot of people I know who are exceptionally talented have not gone to college, but they work their tail off,” he said. 

Gable puts the time in and works most days because his company has become his passion. 

“That’s what’s important to me because this has now become my passion. You have to care,” he said. 

Gable shared the advice he recently gave his son, a new college graduate who was nervous about starting a job out of state. 

“I promise you if you show up early, you stay late, you ask questions and care, you’re going to have a great career,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that. You’ve got to do the work. You have to be prepared. This is all about putting in the effort and doing the right thing.” 

An employee of Barron Collier Companies for 27 years, Gable sees himself and his team as caretakers of the company’s 115-year stellar reputation. 

“So, what I tell my new hires is we hired you because we know you’re smart. We know you’re talented and we know you’re going to work hard. Those are givens. But, most importantly, don’t ever cross the line. Don’t ever take a shortcut. Don’t ever do anything that you think would do any sort of harm. Always take the path that you know is the right path.” 

Gable told the students that caring is an important attribute no matter what they are doing. 

“Caring is more than just ‘I’m going to show up on time or show up early.’ Have you prepared yourself for what it is you’re about to accomplish or try to accomplish?” he asked. “Today, for you guys, it’s schoolwork. Do you care enough to make sure you have the grades to allow you the option to do what you want to do with your life?” 

Gable told the students that it is integral to make personal connections and network with people. 

“It’s really important because what happens is those people are your advocates,” he said. “They are the ones who will help you get a job. They are the ones who will speak on your behalf. They are the ones who will tell you if you’re going in the right direction or not going in the right direction. That’s why you never burn a bridge. You meet as many people as you can and you treat them well and you act with integrity and it really is amazing how quickly the world opens up.”