Director, Career Services of Marshall University – Founder, Executive Training Centers, Inc.
by Kensie Hamilton
After bowling on the Ladies Professional Bowler’s Tour for a couple years, Valerie Bernard, born and raised in Point Pleasant, always wanted be a professional bowler, if that did not work out she had a back-up plan. “I wanted to be a professional bowler,” says Bernard. “If that did not work out for a full-time career, I wanted to be a teacher. I always wanted to help people realize their dreams and fullest potential.”
Bernard made a move to Marshall University in 2004 to follow her dream. “I started working there in December as a part-time career coach,” she says. “Three weeks later I was promoted to the director of Career Services.”
Bernard loves her job and is passionate about having the opportunity to help change West Virginia for the better. “Now I get to do that everyday,” says Bernard. “It is fun to get to work with great employers and great students. I get to help students find opportunities in West Virginia, and I get to help companies both in-state and out-of-state meet their recruitment goals with great students.”
Bernard has had a lot of positive influences in her life that have helped her along the way. One of her most influential mentors is Ralph May. Coach May, as she calls him, was the Marshall University quarterback in 1961. Coach May is a certified Og Mandino Independent Facilitator and helped train Bernard to be the same.
The Og Mandino principles he taught have also been transferred to Bernard’s own company, Executive Training Centers, Inc., founded in 2002. Again following her passion of wanting to influence West Virginia for the better, she teaches these principles not only across the U.S. but in 13 counties in West Virginia.
Bernard is excited to jump again into the world of book publishing. She has co-authored two books: “Work Smarter Not Harder,” published in 2004 and “Transformational Leadership,” published in 2005. Bernard and Coach May are preparing to work on another book. “It is so exciting to get to work with him and learn from him,” she says.
Bernard knows that aside from surrounding herself with successful people, a positive attitude is key. “Working on having a positive attitude,” says Bernard. “That will determine whether I am successful or not.”
Bernard’s attitude is working and she has experienced great success at Marshall. In a 12 month period she created a new marketing campaign targeted toward students, increased registration from 900 to 5,880 students and developed an employer relation growth from 63 companies to over 120 companies. With a 93 percent placement rate in the spring of 2006, the companies have been very pleased with the caliber of students they are meeting at Marshall, says Bernard. “I am always looking to make the university better and to find opportunities for our students,” says Bernard.
Bernard has a favorite song, “A Light for Future Generations,” by 4HIM, the lyrics which she lives by, “We won’t bend and we won’t break, we won’t water down our faith.”
Bernard sees a bright future for the university. “My goal is for the Career Services Center to be the center for career and professional development with an emphasis on career development and student placement, as well as leadership training,” she says.
Bernard also plans to write her own book entitled, “Lessons on Leadership I learned from my Friends,” with each chapter focusing on a different lesson and a different friend.
She is also involved with the Huntington Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Committee. “We go out into the local high schools once a week,” says Bernard. “We want to help students make good career decisions. One hour a week volunteering can change lives. These students are the future of West Virginia.”
Bernard is also actively involved in bettering Mason County as a lecturer/consultant for the Mason County Board of Education and a business and technology consultant for the Mason County Chamber of Commerce.
Photography by Rick Lee
