‘Life is hard. Put a helmet on.’
But temper your drive with genuine concern for employees: That’s leadership, Ralph Engelstad Arena General Manager Jody Hodgson says
By Melanie Schindler
Jody Hodgson, longtime manager of the Ralph Engelstad Arena, visited campus last week to describe the journey that led him to the Ralph, some leaders who’ve influenced him and lessons on leadership learned along the way.
Hodgson spoke as part of the 18:83 Speaker Series, the weekly series that takes place on the Memorial Union’s Social Stairs. The series is designed to help listeners learn about leadership from campus and community leaders in a “TED Talk” format. The speakers time their weekly presentations to last around 18 minutes and 83 seconds, a number that coincides with UND’s founding year.
Second chance
Originally from Bowsman, Man., Hodgson has always been an avid hockey fan. He thought, “I might as well try and apply something to the passion I have for sports, and maybe more specifically, the game of hockey.”
He completed his undergraduate degree in business at Brandon University in Brandon, Man., and his master’s in sports management from the U.S. Sports Academy in Daphne, Ala. He credits much of his success to leaders who’ve helped him along the way.
He recalls the memory of a high school teacher who pulled him aside after Hodgson had scored low on an exam.
“I know you need this course to graduate,” the teacher said. “When are you going to start applying yourself? You’ve got more opportunity and potential than you’re showing.”
Hodgson hasn’t forgotten the impact that intervention had on the trajectory of his life.
He began his career working for a number of minor league hockey teams and franchises, eventually ending up at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash. After 7 years, he left that jack-of-all-trades position to begin managing the Ralph, a facility he considers one of the most special venues in America.
“I’ve been here at the Ralph since 2005,” he said during his talk. “I’ve worked for a great family, a great board of directors and really supportive and great teammates here on campus and everybody from UND. It’s a heck of a lot of fun.”
UND legends
Hodgson cited two UND legends in leadership in his presentation: Tom Clifford from Langdon, N.D., and Earl Strinden from Litcheville, N.D.. They were both on the board of directors for the Ralph when Hodgson began. “I didn’t know a soul. They took me under their wing,” he said.
Clifford was magical in his connection to people. His caring, supportive, and genuine personality drew people in. He was funny and personable with a magnetic personality. As a result, he was very, very effective in leadership.
Strinden was a great leader for very different reasons, Hodgson said. “He worked his tail off and had an absolute laser focus on what had to get done.” He was also a great communicator and took great care not to offend or push people away.
One day, Strinden pulled Hodgson aside in the middle of a tense meeting involving a disagreement, saying “As the other guy gets louder, you get quieter. You’ll drive him crazy, and you’ll win every time.”
Lessons learned
Hodgson says he learned some lessons by “the old School of Hard Knocks.”
His first job full-time job out of grad school, the owner called everybody into the office one Friday at 4 p.m., and announced, “I’m locking the doors at 5. We’re ceasing operations. Our team is folding.”
Hodgson remarks, “I was pretty low on the totem pole and wasn’t really given a heads up, and I walked out of there saying, ‘Holy smokes, that’s the real world.’”
In Tacoma, Hodgson made the switch from the team side to the venue side of things. “I thought it would be the best career opportunity and the best balance for me in my life.”
He joked, “In the minor league hockey world, when they came around and distributed a paper paycheck, we were pretty sure somebody’s check was going to bounce.” The venue side usually enjoyed a more reliable business model.
Traits of a leader
“I said I hate lists, so I made a list,” Hodgson joked. And according to his list:
The first quality of good leaders is that they’re genuine. “People see through you in two seconds. I think you’ve got to be genuine and be who you are.”
Leaders also encourage a group to accomplish a goal. “Are you pulling people with you to get them across the goal line?”
A good leader is flexible and adaptable. “You’ve got to be willing to listen and take feedback,” Hodgson said. “You’ve got to be able to change and adapt with the times to be effective.”
There’s also got to be a foundation of integrity and honesty. “You can build a great reputation over a number of years, and you can wreck it in eight minutes with a lack of honesty or a lack of integrity.”
Leaders embrace the grind. Hodgson said. “Stick with it. Never quit. Never give up, day after day after day. Just keep grinding. Keep going.” His daughter’s high school graduation quote wall displayed the following quote:
“ ‘Life is hard. Put a helmet on.’ — Dad”
Leaders must own and learn from their mistakes. “The only people that make mistakes are the people who do things,” Hodgson frequently shares with his staff. “If you don’t do anything, you won’t make a mistake.”
Leadership is also partnership. “The most effective way to motivate somebody is to encourage them,” Hodgson said. Leaders show those they lead that they care.
Advice for young leaders
Hodgson encourages young people with wisdom he’s learned over time:
“If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you,” he said.
When you find a good leader, “hitch your wagon to them.” See what you can learn from them, and steal the things they’re doing well.
“Be concerned with what you’re worth and not what you make. … If you get good enough at anything, the money will be there eventually. Focus on how you can grow.”
Be a great teammate; and if you do that, then people will want to help you succeed. They’ll push you up the ladder, and you will go further than you could have imagined.
Be you. “Find situations that are a good fit for your culture, upbringing, and value system,” he said. “Identify your values, and figure out a plan that gives you the best shot of achieving the life you want.”
Go get it. “For kids from UND, the world is your oyster. … Go get it. Go conquer it.”
About the author:
Melanie Schindler is a 2020 graduate of the University of North Dakota, where she earned degrees in Communication, International Studies, and Spanish. She currently serves within the Division of Academic Affairs as Academic Advisor in the University of North Dakota School of Law.
