Two giants in Savannah’s business community -- EnviroVac President and Founder Kevin Jackson and Seacrest Partners Inc. President David Paddison -- will address Georgia Tech-Savannah’s “Learners and Leaders” series on Thursday, September 15, at 7:30 a.m. Together they will examine the power of mentoring and how to effectively coach team members with different skills, experiences, motivations, and professional and organizational circumstances.

“Effective coaching and mentoring doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all strategy, and Kevin and David will both bring their knowledge and life experiences to the table as we discuss issues of importance to area businesses,” said Diane Lee, director of Georgia Tech-Savannah. “This session promises to be educational, eye-opening and have you thinking differently by the time you head to the office.”

Jackson, a graduate of the University of Georgia and member of the 1980 National Championship football team, will share coaching stories and tips he’s learned on the field and in the business world. In 1998, he founded Envirovac with one vacuum truck, one hydro blaster, three employees and two clients: Union Camp (now International Paper) and Kemira (now Tronox). Today, Envirovac is the largest provider of industrial cleaning and environmental services in the Southeast.

Paddison, who earned an undergraduate degree in economics from Drew University in Madison, N.J., will discuss the power of mentoring, noting even CEOs benefit from having one. He began his career in the insurance industry in 1984 when he joined the commercial insurance division of Palmer & Cay, Inc. in Savannah and has more than 29 years in the insurance brokerage business. In 2006, Paddison and six former Palmer & Cay executives established a new insurance brokerage and benefits consulting firm, Seacrest Partners, Inc., that now employs 55 insurance professionals in Savannah and Atlanta with industry specialists in healthcare, construction, financial institutions, education, retail, manufacturing and property management.

The talk, which will include remarks followed by an interactive discussion, will take place on the Georgia Tech-Savannah campus at 210 Technology Circle. Breakfast and networking will begin at 7:30 a.m.; the program will run 8-9:30 a.m. Cost, including breakfast, is $15.

Georgia Tech-Savannah’s Learners and Leaders series is an effort launched in 2014 to help companies in the coastal region stay current. To date, members of the coastal community have heard speakers on topics of relevance to the business community, including mobile apps and malware. The October 13 event will focus on innovation in Savannah. To register or learn more about upcoming programs, go to pe.gatech.edu/Sav-Learners or email [email protected] for details.