Eric FLECKTEN

Project Manager

O'BRIEN & GERE

* Age: 36

* Do you have ideas to attract and keep youth in the Syracuse area? Opportunity is the only way to keep our future leaders from leaving permanently and to bring those back who have already left. Syracuse needs to redefine its identity, accept the loss of traditional manufacturing as the economic driver, and find a place at the forefront of the new global Project Manager economy.

* Where do you see the community and yourself in the next 10 years? I see Syracuse riding the wave of new ideas and redirecting where required.

* Who has been the most influential person in your career? My first Commanding Officer in the Navy, Captain Jim Corbett. He has taught me through his actions that it is possible to follow your dreams, be true to your family and community, and still be successful professionally.

* What are your guiding principles in life? Always maintain my priority of doing what's best for my family.

* What has been your best career decision? Taking the risk to put my civilian career on hold in order to re-enter the military to fly the F-16.

* How has your life turned out differently than imagined? I never imagined I would be splitting my time between two careers.

* What is one of your quirks? Lots of nervous energy that finds an outlet through restless legs or drumming my fingers.

* What are the core values that have been essential to your success? Maintain integrity in everything I do. Without that, every-thing else falls apart.

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