All eyes were glued to MTSU alumnus Jason Kuhn sharing war stories as a Navy SEAL.

“As leaders, holding teammates accountable is a part of the job and one of the more difficult parts about the job,” said Kuhn, who also played for a time on the Blue Raider baseball team. “Attack problems, not people.”

Kuhn, now a leadership consultant for Stonewall Solutions, shared his “fundamentals of winning” at the fifth annual True Blue Leadership Day Friday, April 6, in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Buildingfor students, faculty and staff.

From left, MTSU alumnus Jason Kuhn, a leadership consultant Stonewall Solutions as well as a former Navy SEAL and MTSU baseball player, speaks with Philip Phillips, associate dean of the MTSU University Honors College, and Susan Lyons, Honors College coordinator and Omicron Delta Kappa campus coordinator, during the April 6 ODK True Blue Leadership Day at the Honors College. Kuhn was a guest speaker. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Sponsored by the MTSU Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society, and the University Honors College, the daylong event shared viewpoints of leadership from leaders in business, law, military and academia.

Other speakers included:

— Colby B. Jubenville, special assistant to the dean, College of Behavioral and Health Sciences

— Lindy Boots, human resources manager, Becton, Dickinson and Co.

— Elliott Ozment, attorney, Ozment Law

— Steve Tybor, president and executive director, Eight Days of Hope (nonprofit organization)

The conference gave the MTSU community an opportunity to gain insight on how leadership mentalities differentiate from one another.

Kuhn attributes his time at MTSU with helping him gain some leadership skills.

“While I was a student here I learned how to lead by example on the baseball field and through work ethic … self-awareness helped me transition into the grown man I am today,” he said.

MTSU junior Aaron Kelly, left, talks with Steve Tybor, president and executive director of the nonprofit Eight Days of Hope, during the April 6 Omicron Delta Kappa True Blue Leadership Day at the Honors College. Tybor was among several guest speakers for the event. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

During each address, MTSU ODK member Hannah Berthelson appreciated listening to the different leadership styles and picking out which ones to apply to her own life.

“As I go into my career in the future I want to apply servant-leadership and many other leadership components from these leaders,” said Berthelson, a speech/language pathology major.

She appreciated ODK organizing the event and noted that it improved her networking skills.

“Something I can now work on is being bolder and reaching out to other people,” she said.

Susan Lyons, event coordinator for the Honors College, encourages students to find something they like to do to initiate the process of becoming incredible leaders.

“Start small, get involved in something and commit to it … when you do that you’ve bought into the university and will have a different experience from someone who isn’t as involved in the university,” she said.

The MTSU Circle of ODK inducted Kuhn as an alumni member of the organization at the end of his address and presented him with a certificate at the end of his discussion.

The ODK True Blue Leadership Day highlights the core values of the “True Blue Pledge” by educating participants about multiple aspects of leadership. For more information about the True Blue Leadership day and other Honors College events, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/honors/.

— Jayla Jackson (news@mtsu.edu)