September 25, 3:00-4:30PM ET, Virtual
At any stage of your textile career journey, finding the right guidance can accelerate your growth and open new doors. This session will help you identify potential mentors—both inside and outside your current circle—while offering practical tips on how to approach and connect with them authentically. Learn how to get the most out of mentor relationships and why having a mix of mentors with different perspectives is key to navigating your career with confidence. By the end of this presentation, you’ll gain practical tools to navigate mentoring relationships effectively. You’ll be equipped to immediately apply best practices for engaging with mentors and maximizing the benefits of these connections!
About the Speaker:
Matt Dickerson believes that real success happens when we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. His purpose is simple: to help leaders contribute at their highest level, with clarity and confidence. Over his 20 years in sales and management – mostly in pharmaceuticals and vaccines – he’s seen one truth again and again: complexity holds people back. That’s why he focuses on making growth simple and practical. Whether he’s coaching one-on-one or speaking to a room full of leaders, he creates a safe space where you can be yourself, think clearly, and move forward faster. He has spent much of his career not just leading teams but developing people. He coached coaches on how to build trust and get the best from their teams. He designed tools and training to make performance coaching straightforward and effective. Because to Matt, leadership isn’t about having all the answers – it’s about creating an environment where others can thrive. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of Indianapolis. He is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), and he has served as Board President for Family Promise of Greater Indy and as President of the ICF Indiana Chapter. Outside of work, he can be found with his wife and two daughters, reading a great book, listening to music, or working in my shop. He also plays tennis and runs – though not as often as he probably should.
About the Moderators:
Jessica Brooks, RISE Interest Group Chair, is an accomplished colorist with over 15 years in the textile industry, currently working at W. L. Gore & Associates since 2021. Her prior roles at Darlington Fabrics & Brookwood Companies further enriched her expertise in color science and textile applications. In addition to her professional role, Jessica serves as the chair of the AATCC RISE Interest Group, president of the Delaware Valley section, and a member of the AATCC board of directors. She also shares her knowledge as adjunct faculty at Thomas Jefferson University, teaching the color, dyeing and finishing course.
Monét Freeman, RISE Interest Group Vice-Chair, serves as a Physical Testing Specialist at the Textile Technology Center at Gaston College, with six years of professional experience steering all facets of manufacturing, quality and testing, operations management, and coordinating industry training. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Freeman completed her studies in Textile Technology at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles. Freeman is a strong believer that, no matter what, there is always room for improvement and perfecting your craft. Her interest in the Rising Professionals Interest Group stems from her own personal experience of not feeling fully equipped with the tools for career development or networking right out of school. This is open to all AATCC members! Contact Shanya Scotton at [email protected] for any questions.