First and Last Name: Bradley Leonhard “Skippy”
Hometown: Fond du Lac What Brought you to Fond du Lac: Parents moving in 1985
Place of Employment and Position: NAMI Fond du Lac County Executive Director
What do you enjoy the most about your career? Being able to help educate people to be better advocates for themselves as they navigate the mental health system. Also helping erase stigma and other false misconceptions surrounding mental health conditions, treatment, and life after diagnosis.
What words of wisdom would you share with other YP’s in relation to career building? Take yourself out of your comfort zone as often as possible. You never know who you may meet that can change your career trajectory, or what new personal and professional relationships you can develop.
Who or what inspires and motivates you to be your best? I have and have had many mentors in different areas surrounding my career, and it would be a disservice to name anyone and not all of them. That being said, my parents are my earliest influence on my commitment to service. My mother, Judy, was always a person who believed that if you see an opportunity to make an organization better, step up and do it, or if you have a skill that your organization needs, be the difference. She helped with Personal Finance in our scouting organizations, was a fundraiser coordinator with the Evans PTO, and was Treasurer for the Fond du Lac Wrestling Club. My father, John, served in Vietnam and then continued for another 21 years in the National Guard retiring as a Major. He traded one uniform for another, becoming a Scout Leader at every level earning the highest honor a volunteer leader can earn in scouting, the Silver Beaver. He was always conscious of showing no favoritism to his own children, making every child feel equally important and involved. He continues his service to youth by serving in Optimist International with the Noon Fond du Lac and North Fond du Lac clubs, and again serving as Governor of the Wisconsin Northern and Upper Michigan District. Clearly, we have always had a difficult time saying “no” to service. My motivation is reenergized every time I help someone or help a family. When I know I have got them going on a good path, I try to see if there is anyway that person or family might be able to be peer leaders for others in their shoes. I hope to drive stigma about talking about mental health out of Fond du Lac County and making mental health training as normal as physical health training. “One hand washes the other.”
What are 3 Characteristics and/or Strengths that make you who you are? Empathy, Loyalty, and Integrity
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time/a hobby you enjoy? I enjoy biking, kayaking, and hiking with my partner and her family.
What is your favorite part about being in YPF and how has it benefited you? Personally, this may sound corny, but it is the people I have met. I met my partner through a YPF event, and our first date was a Monday Mixer. Professionally, it is the way I have been able to make unconventional connections for our organizations to collaborate.
What does community engagement look like for you? For me it is diving in and immersing myself in projects, organizations, and causes. But that is my style, I understand that community engagement can be as easy as learning what is going on in and voicing feedback. Our community will be more successful with every type of engagement.
Share a lesson you have learned or a nugget of advice with other YP’s: Don’t let perfect get in the way of better.
What do you love about the Fond du Lac area today and what is your hope for it’s tomorrow? I love the growth of our community, the changing demographics and all the new ideas and events taking place in our community. I believe we will be able to take what is already great in our community and enhance it or repurpose it to give a fresh feel and emboldened pride amongst the people who choose Fond du Lac County to call home.
