Eric Boles serves as keynote at first-ever CWU Supervisor Summit

Eminent Central Washington University alumnus Eric Boles returned to Ellensburg this summer to speak to university leaders about unlocking potential in their employees and creating a culture of greatness.

The Supervisor Summit, held June 12 in the SURC Ballroom, was the first of its kind for CWU, bringing about 200 university managers together to discuss different ways to lead teams, foster a positive work environment, and create a culture of acceptance and belonging.

“Supervisors give so much, the faculty give so much, so how do you ensure that you not only pour into them, but you also equip them to keep pouring into each other and their peers?” said Boles, the CEO and founder of The Game Changers Inc. “What I enjoyed about being able to come in and share was that I felt it created a lot of alignment. Everybody is working hard and committed to making a difference in the lives of young people, and creating alignment ensures everybody is pulling in the same direction.”

Boles (’95) founded The Game Changers in 2010, offering executive coaching, leadership development, and curricula that focuses on leadership and employee development. Since starting the Lakewood-based company, he has dedicated his life to inspiring leaders around the globe to unleash their own potential, as well as the potential in their employees and teams.

“As a leader, teacher, or coach, if your goal is to bring out the best in those you’re influencing, you actually have to be working on yourself,” Boles said. “You can’t just work to unleash their potential but not be working on yours at the same time. What makes incredible leaders incredible is that they are incredible learners.”

In preparation for keynote talks, like the one he gave at CWU last month, Boles meets with leadership of the organization he is working with prior to the event to understand their exact goals.

Before the Supervisor Summit, he met with CWU President Jim Wohlpart to understand the university vision and mission and the direction the institution is heading with regard to performance management.

“We were so honored to have one of our most celebrated and well-respected alumni join us for this special event,” Wohlpart said. “Eric has inspired leaders around the world to become better versions of themselves, and it was tremendously impactful for our university leaders to hear his words of wisdom in person.”

Boles noted that the reason he likes to meet with leaders at the highest level before speaking to their teams is so he can understand where they are as an organization and where they are hoping to go.

“There are always circumstances people want to see made better, and I have to get an understanding of what the ideal is, where they want to get to, and most importantly, have a good understanding of where they are right now,” he said. “There is a gap between ideal and real, and our goal is to bridge the gap as much as possible.”

Boles explained that the goals of his talks aren’t just to motivate people or get them “fired up,” but rather to inspire people to change their habits to achieve the results they are looking for.

He says that while working with the group of leaders at Central, many people were discussing topics including being authentic, true, real, and vulnerable, which he genuinely appreciated.

“One thing I thought was special, which is the heart of that whole group, is the recognition that everyone is far more than their job description,” Boles said. “This kind of growth, improvement, and development is not just about your job description and your competency from a work standpoint. We want people to grow personally and professionally. It was very encouraging that it wasn’t all data and stats — it was real conversation.”

Paired with Boles extensive knowledge of how to coach and inspire leaders, he also knows a thing or two about CWU.

Boles graduated with his business administration degree in 1995 and played on the CWU football team from 1988-1991. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011 as a wide receiver and again in 2023 with the 1989 football team.

The two-time Hall of Fame inductee remembers his time at Central fondly, but over time, he says he has developed an entirely new appreciation for the university.

“It was an honor,” Boles said. “Being a part of Central, part of the Hall of Fame, and being involved with sports, but it is nice now to be connected to the school. Down to the bones and the joints where it really makes all the difference in the world.”

Boles says that by returning to speak at the Supervisor Summit, he does not feel like he is giving back as much as he is paying back what the university has poured into him. He is grateful and humbled to hear how much people enjoyed his presentation, and he described it as “a wonderful experience.”

“I love Central, but you all have helped me fall back in love passionately with Central,” Boles said. “It’s one thing to have an appreciation for your school, but there are a lot of us that benefited greatly from Central’s impact. We have a responsibility to re-engage because we want the same opportunities that Central provided us for the young people coming through Central.”

While back on campus, Boles had the opportunity to tour some of the new and upgraded facilities, including Nicholson Pavilion, which recently underwent a $55.5 million renovation, and Tomlinson Stadium, which has seen upgrades such as field turf, LED stadium lighting, entry gates, the Alumni Plaza, and more.

“Central’s campus upgrades reflect the facilities matching the competency within the school,” Boles said. “If you have world-class talent, in terms of teachers and professors, it is nice to see that the world-class facilities are catching up.”

By his side for the tour of campus was his daughter, Madison, who was visiting CWU’s campus for the first time. She also got to attend his keynote speech and listen to her father offer words of advice and wisdom to the 200-plus supervisors who attended the summit earlier in the day.

Boles says that the entire experience of returning to campus was very special to him, and that the day was something he will never forget.

“I am really grateful and humbled by people enjoying the presentation and the connection,” he said. “It is not hard to do when the soil is that rich, and the soil is rich at Central. The engagement, the appreciation, the connection … it was a wonderful experience.”