PEOPLE YOU NEED TO KNOW 10 Questions with Dave Lovelace

A fourth generation Dallasite, Dave Lovelace began his sales career at John Harland Company in Georgia and later served as an executive with American Bank Stationery and national account representative with Diebold Incorporated. He has two children and four grandchildren from his marriage to his late wife, Susan. Currently residing in Sun City, Dave and his wife Georgia have been married 27 years and enjoy acting, ballroom dancing, and cruising. Both are active in the community – Dave serves as a trustee on the Jarrell ISD School Board and Georgia is on the Georgetown ISD Education Foundation board.

1. The Best Leaders Support Their Teams By

being an effective listener. I have learned over the years the hard way that you can hear words, but they mean little or nothing if you don’t truly listen to what they are saying. It’s amazing to me how many times that another person is not in agreement with me, or so I thought. They may have used word choices and expressions that caused me to hear one thing while they meant something else. In my career and in my volunteer work, I always try to practice sincere, open-minded listening.

2. I Define A Great Organizational Culture As One That

meets the five functions of management laid out by Peter Drucker: a. Set objectives. b. Organize your group. c. Motivate and communicate. d. Measure performance. e. Develop people.

3. One Thing I Try To Do Every Day

is to be positive. I enjoy greeting people with a smile on my face, making eye contact, and exchanging a sincere verbal pleasantry.

4. I Feel Most Alive When

I am on stage acting or working with children. I took up acting 17 years ago when we moved to Sun City. I was cast in a play and I was hooked. I am on the Jarrell ISD School Board and enjoy the responsibilities of the board, especially the growth challenges we face and the long-term planning involved.

5. To Avoid Distractions

I develop a written list of what I need to address on a weekly basis. If I have a check list to work off of, it helps me to stay focused and utilize my time.

6. I Handle Negativity By

falling back on my years in sales. I try not to take things personally. I try to understand where they are coming from and address the root of the problem. I learned a method my wife was coached on in her 30+ years in education. Ask questions and listen (there’s that word again), then repeat back their response using their words as much as possible and frame the issue back to them as you see it. The fact that you are doing your best to truly understand them and when they hear themselves through your inquiry, it is amazing how often that takes the negative edge off, and the path to agreement or solution becomes available.

7. One Thing That Is Difficult For Me But I Enjoy

is trying to keep up with the responsibilities of holding the office of trustee for the Jarrell Independent School District. That district is growing so fast and the board is responsible for calling the bond elections. Among other responsibilities are establishing goals and evaluation of outcomes, approving curriculum, communicating with the community, and hiring and evaluating the superintendent.

My business background has proven beneficial to my involvement with the development committee for building planning needs and my marketing experience has been beneficial in helping to see the 2023 bond pass with a record 72 percent acceptance rate.

8. My Best Advice For Handling Change Is

being patient and adapting in segments by listening. Change is inevitable in just about all we do. My father-in-law from my first marriage started working as a telegraph operator sending out the daily Chicago Exchange information on a telegraph line. He ended his career with AT&T working out of Houston setting up the communications for the Apollo Space Program. I learned so much from his attitude that change is necessary and welcome.

9. IN TEN YEARS I HOPE TO

still be here and in relatively good health. I hope to still be ballroom dancing with my wife and performing on stage.

10. I Define Success As

waking up and having a busy day to occupy myself and give back to others.