Generation Why?

Ready or not world, here comes Generation Why. And they’re not politely knocking - they’re breaking down the door. Don’t confuse them with the much-discussed Generation X. Gen Whys (those born after 1980) are entering the workforce - and society - with a whole new set of attitudes, values and beliefs. Clearly, America is baffled.

Eric Chester is the premier expert on Generation Why; in fact, he coined the term. Since 1986, Eric Chester has been speaking to, and working with Generation Why youth. He has personally addressed more than two million teenagers and is dialed-in to the mindset of this burgeoning generation.

Eric Chester frequently appears on national media (Good Morning America, MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, Canada AM, etc.) to provide insight and perspective to concerned adults.

Eric Chester is also in high demand as a keynote speaker and consultant by companies and organizations that employ and market to Generation Why and by America’s leading educational and parent associations. He presents programs that enable adults to more effectively manage, motivate, and understand the youth of America. A sampling of his clients include Toys R Us, International Dairy Queen, Six Flags Amusement Parks, Arby's, The Society for Human Resource Managers, and Discover Card Financial Services. His latest book “Employing Generation Why - Understanding, Managing, and Motivating Your New Workforce ” is a must read for business owners, managers, and executives everywhere.

Eric Chester's greatest depth of experience with Generation Why, though, comes from his critical role as father/stepfather to four Gen Why youth. He lives “in the trenches” each day, offering assistance to prepare his two sons and two daughters for the changing world they will help to mold.

Eric Chester has earned a Masters degree in education from Northern Arizona University and holds the prestigious CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) credential awarded by the National Speakers Association, its highest earned designation. Married and living in Lakewood, Colorado, Eric serves as the president of Generation Why.

Eric Chester will show your franchisees, managers and executives how to Recruit, Train, Manage, Motivate, and Retain the very best of this new generation! It used to be that businesses who relied on employees ages 16-24 needed only to be concerned with skills training. Today, employers of this age group also need to be experts in recruiting, motivating and retaining employees who believe that any job is expendable.

Given these realities, Eric Chester’s program offers managers and employers of youth the strategies to break through to Generation Why, leading them to perform at their peak while reducing turnover, enhancing customer service and increasing bottom-line profits.

Education Programs

Eric Chester is a former teacher and a coach. He has spoken on the campuses of more than 1,500 schools of every conceivable size, kind, and make-up across North America. He not only knows how to teach this generation - he knows what it takes to reach this generation!

Whether Eric Chester is addressing a group of K-12 teachers at a district-wide staff development program or sharing his ideas on what it takes to "make a successful school - and make a school successful" with School Board leaders at a statewide convention, Eric realizes that it takes a team of dedicated, skilled and creative professionals to educate Generation Why.

Eric Chester's “Whys Learning” presentations provide both the ‘want to’ and the ‘how to’ to renew and empower educators. His programs are fun, fast-paced, and chock-full of usable ideas and strategies.

Traditional education philosophies, practices, and methodologies were effective with traditional students. Trouble is, when you look in today’s classrooms, what you see is anything but traditional.

Your students are post-generation Xers; Americans who were born after the disco era and who have no idea what life was like before the Clinton years. They don’t share our attitudes, values or beliefs – yet they are holding the keys to our future. They’ll care for us in our old age and they’ll make the critical decisions which shape the destiny of our planet, but they don’t automatically accept our authority or way of doing things. Sure, they appear to catch on quickly, are highly creative, and are whiz-bang on all forms of techno-gadgetry, but don’t be fooled. If you’re teaching them like you were taught, it doesn’t matter what your test scores say – they’re not learning. Quite obviously, they aren’t buying into the traditional standards and the rites of passage, and they’re not at all shy about their intent.

What people Are Saying:

"Our new insight will help us maximize the talents of our young, in-store workforce."
-- International Dairy Queen

"Eric’s information is key to enabling us to work with and market to Gen Why."
-- American Express

"Eric Chester’s ability to present Generation Why information with humor and wit is exemplary!"
-- Blue Cross Blue Shield

"Eric has a message that everyone who hires, manages, and motivates teenagers needs to experience."
-- Hy-Vee Supermarkets

"Eric Chester’s strategies are so necessary for our managers who are dealing with our current and future workforce."
-- Discover Financial Services

"Excellent! Our management team has already implemented many ideas generated from the Generation Why presentation."
-- Muvico Theatres