Seward High graduate of 1999, Justin Pekarek, now of rural Garland, was the featured speaker at the recent Seward Rotary Club’s weekly meeting, held on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at noon at the Jones Bank Auditorium in Seward. The meeting featured fellowship, a luncheon, short business meeting and the luncheon program, introduced by Rotarian of the Month-Andy Hartmann. Justin is a former Business Administration graduate of the University of Nebraska, playing baseball for UNL for five years and then was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 8 th round. He is currently serving as a Senior Marketing Representative for Federated Insurance. He is married to wife Megan and has three children. Justin spoke on his transition from baseball to the business world, tracing his career with Federated Insurance and his success and promotions with the company. He started with Federated Insurance in Donophin, Nebraska was transferred many times, each time a promotion and added responsibilities. He has traveled the world, as a result of Federated Insurance and grateful for the opportunity to work for a very successful company.
Seward High graduate of 1999, Justin Pekarek, now of rural Garland, was the featured speaker at the recent Seward Rotary Club’s weekly meeting, held on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at noon at the Jones Bank Auditorium in Seward. The meeting featured fellowship, a luncheon, short business meeting and the luncheon program, introduced by Rotarian of the Month-Andy Hartmann. Justin is a former Business Administration graduate of the University of Nebraska, playing baseball for UNL for five years and then was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 8 th round. He is currently serving as a Senior Marketing Representative for Federated Insurance. He is married to wife Megan and has three children. Justin spoke on his transition from baseball to the business world, tracing his career with Federated Insurance and his success and promotions with the company. He started with Federated Insurance in Donophin, Nebraska was transferred many times, each time a promotion and added responsibilities. He has traveled the world, as a result of Federated Insurance and grateful for the opportunity to work for a very successful company.
He presented a leadership program to the Rotary Club, showing how he promotes “Team Building Blocks” and elevates the audience into leader opportunities. He stated that in leadership you must “Build it” and then “Live it” and then he went on to speak on the power of the team concept. He stressed he is always “recruiting”-looking for individuals that would be successful leaders. Leaders of the team “Teach, Inspire, Influence, Touch, Are Deep and Promote Winning.” People he looks for in a “hire” are Talented, Use Resources, Are in Control, Grow and Willing to Invest.” His goal is, of course, “Perfection,” achieved through “Work, Wins, Money, and Branding.” “Meetings, Caring, Life and Support” are all factors that also are building blocks in striving for “Perfection” in seeking leadership success. His leadership program has been presented nationally for many large audiences, and he presented a printed visual for the program as well to the membership- as he expanded on each point with specific examples.
Justin and his family have now relocated to Garland, Nebraska and is looking forward to being part of the greater Seward County community.
He commented on his humble beginning with baseball, first playing on the local, Staplehurst home team and the local American Legion baseball program. He made his own VHS tape recruiting tape for UNL, promoting his expert hunting skills, along with his success in baseball and felt it was a factor in his invitation to be a walk on at UNL in Baseball. He had only played 18 games the summer before he entered UNL and was excited to be part of the UNL team.
He felt his success was based on determination, long hours, strong work ethic and a focus of baseball in both “Head and Heart!” He pointed out that players need to care and want to win! After his first fall at UNL, he was told to become “Bigger and Faster!” During the off season he grew 2 ½ inches and gained thirty pounds. He was invited to play that summer with the UNL team at the summer College World Series in Wichita, Kansas and was very successful, returning to UNL, only to be injured during working out. He spent two years in “Rehab” and then, his senior year-5 th year “turned it on” and broke a series of records. One of his major turning points was a lecture from his father and it motivated him to success. He played for Nebraska UNL Baseball from 1999 to 2004 and was part of the first NE Baseball team in the College World Series. He enjoyed 33 1/3 innings with unearned runs. Justin was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 8 th Round and after a baseball career with a professional team, found a calling in the business world, teaching and creating leaders in his business
community.
community.
Questions and answers followed.
For more information, contact Justin Pekarek at 402-708-7771 and email him at jrpekarek@fedins.com.