by Rodolfo Kim E. Hapa Jr.
BOOT CAMP
NOT YOUR USUAL DRILL
During the last day of the Boot Camp, John and Jessica gave us a final application test, military term for final test. The test was a knowledge check for us. Pizza was served after the test and Certification of completion were given to the participants. We had a group picture together with John, Jessica, and our Vice President Jenny Constantino.
Most of us imagine a military setting when we hear “Boot Camp”, things were different with the Boot Camp that I attended.
Let me start by talking about the facilitators or, in an actual military Boot Camp, they call it drill sergeant. John Yager and Jessica Hodnick were the drill sergeants for four days. John Yager is the Senior Vice President of Sales, I pictured him as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley (played by Louis Gosset Jr from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman, not the yelling and mean character but just the thought of a boot camp scenario) , and Jessica Hodnick is the Vice President of Sales Operation I pictured her as Charlotte Blackwood (played by Kelly McGillis from the movie Top Gun), with them facilitating the session, you could tell that they’ve worked with each other for a couple of years now. As a trainer myself, one thing to have when facilitating a session is to be able to educate and be a comic at the same time, and they were exactly like that.
The Boot Camp was both entertaining and informative. Clear and concise, that was the message that John and Jessica informed us. They said that everything we do should be clear and concise. So, just like good cadets, every presentations that we did were short and clear.
The session gave us the opportunity to be creative, it started with the team names. The platoon was divided into four squads, the first team was named “Winn” it was named after Realpage’s CEO Steve Winn and it embodies the essence of being a winner. Second team was Team Hello, and just like the name itself, it shows a welcoming environment to everyone, which from my personal experience with Realpage it truly represents that word. Team Carpe Diem was the 3rd team, to tell you honestly, that was the first time I heard that phrase or saying. At first I can’t even spell it. Carpe Diem means “Seize the Day”, common knowledge, it means overcome and achieve. The fourth team was named, “WIFI”, the way they explained it is, they connect to everyone.
1st up to the 3rd day of the Boot camp was more on presentations and homework, it felt like school all over again. Good thing about it though, if your report is good, you get a prize, and I’m not talking about just some prize, $100 to be exact. Compare it to a real boot camp, they get medals, but for us it was all about the Benjamins.
Each squad were very competitive during presentations, getting a prize for the presentation or not, we all did our best not just to present but to educate everyone in the Boot Camp.
Overall, the experience was something new to me, being able to understand a little something about Realpage for four days is a good session for myself, especially that I am just new with the company. Drill sergeants John and Jessica did a great job educating us about what Realpage is, from its history, function, and future plans. I truly recommend this Boot Camp to every employee of Realpage, this session will further enhance the knowledge of an employee, and who else can tell us about Realpage as a whole, John Yager has been with the company for almost 30 some years, so might as well be him.
So, on behalf of Realpage Philippines, I would like to thank John Yager and Jessica Hodnick for facilitating a very successful, informative, and fun Boot Camp.
