Bill Reagan was a great board member and an even better colleague. Here's a guy who was (and still is) five years my junior, yet one of my greatest mentors. What makes Bill so great in my eyes is his brutal honesty. While the truth may hurt, it also helps if you let it.

During my tenure as president/CEO of the Coeur d'Alene Chamber I stood before a breakfast audience of 300+ members making announcements and asking for volunteers to help the Commodores (Ambassadors) finish the new parade float. I added that I'd also help get it done.

Bill was my board chairman that year and asked me to meet him in his office after the breakfast. We sat down and he asked, "Pat, how many rooms do we have at this hotel?" It was a factoid I knew and proudly said, "338!" Then he asked, "How many beds do we have?" Uh.. some rooms had a King and others two Queens so I guessed, "400?"

"Close enough, now let me ask you how many of those beds do you think I run up and make each morning?" I looked at him and guessed again, "None?" Exactly, and he told me why by asking, "What would my Director of Housekeeping think if I did that, much less our great housekeepers who do all the hard work? What would they think?"

"That you don't trust them?" I guessed again and again he said, "Exactly, and if I do their job, I'm not doing my job. Furthermore, what would our owner say if he heard I was up making beds?" I didn't need to guess because I also knew the owner.

That's when Bill told me, "Pat, we didn't hire you to build floats, we hired you to lead, train and inspire others to do that." Like everyone reading this, Bill understood my reasoning for wanting to jump in and help, but instead he showed me how to multiply my value as a leader by and trainingtrusting others to get the job done, but not by doing it for them. Bill Reagan left his mark on my career and on those I have served.