Meet Rod Luck of Pechanga Resort and Casino
Tell us about yourself and your organization.
I am the Vice President of Information Technologies for Pechanga Resort and Casino. I have been at Pechanga for six years and have recently given up the position of Vice President of Human Resources which I ran for the last 18 months. Pechanga Resort and Casino is the largest and first AAA Four Diamond resort in California and is located in Temecula, California.
How did you and your organization get introduced to Rapport Leadership International?
Our General Manager had attended Rapport through his prior employment, and recommended that leadership and management attend Rapport to further our education and our team building skills.
How many Rapport graduates does your organization have?
We currently have 68 graduates of Leadership Breakthrough One, 10 graduates of Leadership Breakthrough Two, eight graduates of Power Communication and four Master Graduates. The program at Pechanga started in August of 2005. We continue to be active in Rapport and will be developing additional Master Graduates in the near future.
Tell us about your Rapport experience?
For me, it was a very challenging experience which forced me to go beyond anything I have done in my lifetime. It has stretched me mentally and physically and made me realize that there were opportunities to grow to an even higher level in life. I brought experiences back which allowed me to grow and not be afraid to move forward.
How has Rapport impacted you personally?
I have taken a more active role in my activties both personally and professionally. I have spent more time with my family and friends communicating my experiences since attending Rapport. I have been more active in the community and especially with non-profit organizations such as the Lion's Club and the VFW. I am the advocate of Rapport here at Pechanga and organize the process for those attending in the future.
How has Rapport impacted your business?
Rapport has strengthened our business. By having all of our leadership and management go through the process, better decisions are made quickly. By going through Rapport, our management can share and communicate openly without any hesitation. This has definitely helped to improve our bottom-line profitability.
What is the most surprising benefit you or your organization received from Rapport Training?
The most surprising benefit for our organization is the renewed energy this has brought to our organization. Everyone that has gone to Rapport had brought new ideas and enthusiasm which has spread to everyone - not just those that have been to Rapport.
How do you keep Rapport alive in your organization?
We have a display case in the executive area which displays all the "Creative Marketing Award" swords and other items such as the desk stones and the Master Graduate plaques. Of course, everyone that has attended Rapport comes back and shares their experiences of what Rapport has meant to them.
What class had the greatest impact on you and why?
Power Communication has had the greatest impact on me. That class allowed me to see how I can communicate with different types of people. Knowing how to spot the differences between people, and knowing how to communicate with them has been very valuable in my everyday dealings.
When you face a challenge in your organization, what tools from the training do you call on first?
When challenged, I use all the techniques I learned at Rapport. Finding out about myself, how I react to others and how others see me is very important. Also, addressing the challenge directly, without fear, shows that challenges are "opportunities" and that I can use all the tools at my disposal to solve problems effectively. I use all the tools with Enthusiasm and Projection!
