Ryan Zieno, Program Manager for Strategic Engagement at Optum Insight (Submitted Photo)

In celebration of Mentorship Month throughout November, The Evening Sun will host a series of mentoring success stories twice each week from the Regional Mentoring Program at DCMO BOCES.

The program was funded by a federal Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant for 12th-grade students to partner with business volunteers and complete a work-based learning experience that included resume preparation and mentoring sessions.

The pilot program began in November of 2022, administered by the Southern Tier 8 regional board. With help from Commerce Chenango and the Delaware and Otsego Chambers, the program connected 62 high school seniors, from 16 area school districts, with local mentors in the private and public sectors. Here are their experiences:

For Ryan Zieno, Program Manager, Strategic Engagement at Optum Insight, a diversified health services company, mentoring was a three-way win: not only did his mentees benefit, he and his company benefitted as well.

“My organization really promotes mentorships, and recently gave a presentation about them to their human resources employees from all over the world.” After he attended an informational session about the DCMO BOCES Regional Mentoring Program, he knew it was something he wanted to be a part of, and that his company would be supportive.

Optum Insight is part of UnitedHealth Group, and Zieno is one of their 300,000 employees worldwide. He is a graduate of Norwich High School who began his career in healthcare when he joined the Navy. After leaving the military, he continued working in healthcare in Houston, Texas before moving back to the area in 2022.

“I moved around a lot, I got a lot of experience from that, and it’s good to be able to share it with someone who might benefit,” he said. That experience was a key to how he approached mentoring. “What do I know now that I wish I knew when I was in their shoes?”

Zieno mentored two young people, meeting with each virtually several times through a digital platform. He enjoyed the exchanges with his mentees, and thought of them as opportunities to identify areas of potential. “I’m not telling you what you should do but what you could do – let’s explore that question together.”

He enjoyed the experience, and found he gained some understandings of his own. “As career professionals, we have an opportunity to provide insight into our fields. It’s also a reflective opportunity for yourself. Personally, there was a point of realization of the experience I had acquired over the years– ‘wow, I can actually answer that question, and have an impact.”

His enthusiasm for the mentorship did not go unnoticed. “It is remarkable to have mentors like Ryan Zieno who believe in the program, and who see how it can be a tool for entering the healthcare field,” said Martha Ryan, Public & School Liason at DCMO BOCES and coordinator of the Regional Mentoring Program. As for Zieno, he sees the mentoring program as a valuable asset. “The community needs this,” he said.

The mentoring program will now be coordinated by Commerce Chenango, Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and Otsego Chamber of Commerce. For more information on how to become a mentor, visit the chamber organizations’ website. For students’ access to mentoring services or to learn more about mentoring support, visit www.dcmoboces.com.