Elon University Board of Trustees Chair Dave Porter P’11 P’19 featured on new podcast episode

In the latest episode of Elon Beyond the Bricks, President Connie Ledoux Book sits down with Dave Porter, chair of Elon’s Board of Trustees and managing partner of Baystate Financial, for a conversation about leadership, career growth,\ and the importance of giving back. Together, they explore the challenges and rewards of leadership, the lessons learned through career transitions and the lasting impact of mentorship within the Elon community.

“I use the phrase often, ‘emotional reciprocity,’” said Porter during the episode. “When I enter into a relationship, enter into a conversation or enter into a business agreement, I always do it with the idea that I know that person extremely well. I always try to prioritize the relationship before I worry what the outcome is going to be, and that often leads to steps along the way and momentum towards whatever we’re trying to achieve together.”

The episode also includes Porter’s take on giving back—a principle that he and wife, Jen, have embraced through their longstanding support of Elon. In 2011, the couple made a leadership gift to establish the Porter Family Professional Development Center in the Love School of Business, which provides resources to assist students in preparing for and acquiring internships, full-time employment or graduate school placement after graduation. Since then, they’ve made additional major gifts to support the construction of The Inn at Elon and Numen Lumen Pavilion, in addition to supporting scholarships, the Phoenix Club and the School of Law.

The new episode, “Leadership and Other Life Lessons,” is now available on the Elon Beyond the Bricks podcast. Watch it on the Elon University YouTube account or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

About the podcast

Produced by the Office of University Advancement, in partnership with the Office of the President and University Communications, Elon Beyond the Bricks offers thought-provoking conversations with alumni, parents, faculty and staff, providing a unique way for the university community to stay engaged, no matter where they are.

This season, Elon Beyond the Bricks continues to feature a dynamic lineup of guests. The following episodes will be released during spring/summer 2025:

Barrett Wilbert Weed ’11, Actor and singer
Topic: Stages and Screens: Barrett Wilbert Weed ’11 on Broadway and Beyond

Alexis Franzese, Associate professor of sociology and chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Topic: Disney and the Science of Happiness