Elder O. Vincent Haleck Encourages Youth to Plan for the Future

Elder O. Vincent Haleck, a member of the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, urged Auckland youth attending a careers expo this month to acquire as much education as possible.

You are a privileged generation and you need to be self-reliant,” he told the youth. “Catch a vision of who you are.  See yourself as God sees you.  He has great faith in you.”

“If you want to succeed, you can succeed.  Set high goals and build a strong foundation.”

Elder Haleck is highly qualified to offer education and career advice to young people. 

He graduated with a bachelor degree in advertising and marketing from Brigham Young University in 1973. 

He owns a number of businesses in his native Samoa and served as president of Tuna Ventures, Inc., and Tropical Beverage Distributors, Inc.  Elder Haleck has also been involved in philanthropy work for the Haleck Foundation.

Over the last five years Elder Haleck has been a full-time ecclesiastical leader for the Church. First, as president of the Samoa Apia Mission; and since April 2011 as a General Authority.  He recently returned to the Pacific Area after living in Utah for the last two years.

Over 1,400 young people from across Auckland attended the careers expo at Vodafone Arena in Manukau on Wednesday evening, 17 July.  Many of the youth were accompanied by their parents and church youth group leaders.

The expo was organized into 32 display areas with 90 guest consultants representing local education providers and businesses available to answer questions about education and career pathways.    

The event was sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under the direction of President Dean Westerlund, the Church’s agent stake president for employment, and the Church’s Pacific Area employment manager, Jay Seymour.

Piri Ikurere, the Church’s Pacific Area assistant employment manager, felt the expo was “extremely successful.”