Profiles In Success: Steph Groce

Stephen "Steph" Groce is a double alumnus of Trident, earning a Master of Business Administration in 2013 and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2011. He currently works as an asset protection and safety leader for various retail, commercial, and non-profit organizations, specializing in investigation, recovery, and the training and development of staff.

Groce was formerly a financial asset manager for Sports Chalet, and is active with several community groups, including the San Diego Police Department Advisory Board and a city of San Diego neighborhood coalition. He is currently running for the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) board.

Trident: Why did you decide to run for the SDUSD board?
Steph Groce: My decision is based on three major factors - student & parent choice, stakeholder voice, and integrity. As a parent with a child in the SDUSD, I understand the need to have a wide variety of educational options available for students. These options should benefit both student and parent, and have as few restrictions as possible.

Secondly, as I expanded my research into the status of SDUSD, I found that many stakeholders lacked a supportive voice on the current school board, as many decisions are narrowly-focused on a small segment of the student, teacher, and parent population across the city. Finally, we need a school board that maintains integrity by putting the legal troubles of 2015 far behind so we can focus on what matters most, and that's the education of every child in San Diego.

Trident: Do you feel that your time as a student at Trident prepared you for current professional role?
SG: I believe that Trident prepared me for the biggest challenge of my life thus far. My current campaign for a seat on America's eighth largest school district is only strengthened by the research methodology, learning and teaching strategies, communication techniques, and respect for the collaborative efforts of others that Trident prides itself in. Many of these tools were gained while attending Trident but my work and civic volunteer experience have helped me hone them into finely tuned strategic, organizational, and financial instruments.

Trident: Do you have any final words about your experience at Trident?
SG: I had many universities to choose from once I completed my associate's degree, but I found that Trident provided the most flexible schedule, easy to understand teaching and research methodologies, robust curriculum and course content, and most importantly, positive professor and peer interaction.