Page 43 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2015

he said.
Cuccias continues to drive himself
and others around him to a standard
of excellence by leading by example. “Shipbuilders appreciate it when you just tell it like it is; to be transparent and treat everyone equally,” he said.
Alfonso hires people who share the same core values as she, and she has learned how to delegate. “I am thankful that I wake up to a great village of outstanding people who help me take care of the business at hand. We bring a variety of skills to the table, but they respect my decisions at the end and we complement each other,” she said.
All four leaders have a hard work ethic
as part of their professional fabric. Chinn sums it up best: “Perseverance, hard work, humility — these are the characteristics that I believe have been essential to my success as a leader. It’s about making yourself available to challenge and change. It’s about excellence, not mediocrity. Excellence opens doors.”
Anyone can make the right decisions when everything is easy and the path is clear, but I also believe great leaders make the right decisions when things are hard, even when no one else is looking.
Brian Cuccias, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding
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August 2015 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 43