Report to Members & Friends
July 2000
RON JAMES CHOSEN AS CEBC PRESIDENT & CEO
Ron James has assumed leadership of the Center for Ethical Business Cultures (formerly the Minnesota Center for Corporate Responsibility.) James takes over as president and CEO of a reinvented nonprofit organization committed to assisting business leaders in creating ethical and profitable business cultures at the organizational, community and global levels.
James Renier, the center's chairman, said, "We are extremely pleased that Ron has stepped forward. He is an experienced business leader and his credentials as a community leader are extraordinary. Most important, Ron will lead efforts to help our corporate partners to reach for the highest standards in business conduct and work with them in tackling serious challenges to our communities."
Judy Corson, co-founder of Custom Research Inc. and a CEBC director, said, "Ron James has a wonderful ability to bring people together, get them focused, committed and working together. That is just what CEBC needs right now."
William Monahan, chairman and CEO of Imation Corp. and a member of the center's search committee, said, "The vision unfolding at the center will be a great asset to Minnesota and to businesses competing in global markets. Ron James brings a passion as well as the leadership and experience that will accelerate the center's development."
The center will launch a multimillion dollar fund drive in the months ahead; increase its business membership; build its new research partnerships with faculty at both the St. Thomas Graduate School of Business and the Carlson School of Management; and develop key strategic alliances with U.S. and international organizations.
In accepting the position, James stated: "Minnesota has clearly been a leader in fostering an environment that creates values-based leaders who invest personal and corporate resources and their time to build community. The challenge we face is sustaining this model of leadership with future generations locally and globally. The CEBC focus on building ethical, values-based business cultures that are also profitable can help meet this challenge and is a perfect alignment with the principles that I have been guided by throughout my life. I am honored and excited to be called."
James served as president and CEO of the Human Resources Group at Ceridian Corporation from 1996-1998. Before moving to Ceridian, he was corporate vice-president and CEO for Minnesota at USWest. He co-chaired the Governor's Action for Children Commission from 1992-1995, and he chaired the United Way of Minneapolis board in 1998. James serves on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards.
EXPECT TO HAVE FUN!
Can you imagine an Annual Meeting that is fun? And informative? CEBC's upcoming Annual Meeting will be both. It is planned for Wednesday, September 27th, at the Radisson Plaza from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, with registration to begin at 11:15.
In addition to the presentation of the CEBC Distinguished Corporate Citizenship Award, the program will feature Ken and Carol Adelman in Movers & Shakespeares: The Bard's Guide to Succeeding Ethically on the Business Stage. Drawing from the writings of William Shakespeare, the Adelmans lead a dramatic presentation that will help look at the ethical dimensions of such business problems as leadership, change, putting plans into action, managing risk and crises. For a sample of their work, check out their web site: www.moversandshakespeares.com
JIM MITCHELL NAMED AS EXECUTIVE BUSINESS FELLOW
The Center appointed James Mitchell as the Executive Business Fellow, Leadership. Mitchell, the chairman of IDS Life Insurance and former executive vice president of American Express, is joining the Center to develop research and programs on leading with integrity. He will organize forums for CEOs to reflect with peers on how they can lead their organizations toward an ethical business culture that is also more effective.
ETHICS TRAINING MODULES BEING DEVELOPED
CEBC is developing practical training modules covering specific topics which many companies need for their employees and managers to understand. Examples include the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, labor law, respectful work environments, export control, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the role of business ethics in the work place, and many more. Modules are designed so they can be presented in-house by trainers who may not be experts in the field. Each will contain speaking notes to allow the trainers to present the material in a clear and understandable fashion. The first modules are expected to be available in mid-October. Please contact CEBC if you have a specific topic which you would like to see covered.
NEW BOOK BEING PUBLISHED
Culture of Corporate Citizenship: Minnesota's Business Legacy for the Global Future, commissioned by CEBC and written by Bill Bockelman, will be published by Galde Press in September. Reatha Clark King, Ph.D., President and Executive Director of the General Mills Foundation, calls the book "timely, informative, stimulating, and inspiring." Harlan Cleveland, founder of the Humphrey Institute, describes to as "a lucid and fascinating account."
CEBC RESEARCH MODEL DEVELOPED
CEBC's business-academic partnerships is taking root with the development of a unique research model led by Teresa Rothausen, Ph.D., assistant professor of management at UST Graduate School of Business and the Center's first Work/Life Research Fellow. The Center connected Rothausen with business members from its Work«Life NetworkTM in order to define a research project on employee retention that not only advances academic research but also provides business with actionable results. Initial reports from participants suggest that this collaborative model will be very helpful, both for business and for academic researchers.
BRUCE JOHNSON TO CO-CHAIR BUSINESS ETHICS NETWORKTM
Bruce Johnson, Of Counsel in the International & Health Law Groups at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., is the new co-chair of CEBC's BUSINESS ETHICS NETWORKTM. Having lived in Belgium and worked in Europe, Asia and Latin America, Bruce brings significant experience with international business transactions as well as general corporate matters to the Network. Bruce worked for Medtronic, Inc. in a variety of capacities, including European General Counsel and Corporate Compliance Officer.
Carol Bros, Senior Counsel in 3M's Office of the General Counsel, continues as the other network co-chair.
CEBC IN THE NEWS
CEBC has been featured in Twin Cities newspapers recently. Star Tribune Business Columnist Neal St.Anthony wrote a column introducing Jim Mitchell as an Executive Business Fellow, Leadership. Lisa Dercks, the Center's Executive Business Fellow, Ethics, was quoted in another St. Anothony column on Honeywell CEO Michael Bonsignore. St. Paul Pioneer Press Business Beat Columnist Dave Beal announced the appointment of Ron James as CEBC's new president and CEO.
Center for Ethical Business Cultures
1000 LaSalle Avenue, TMH 331 ▪ Minneapolis, MN 55403-2005 ▪ USA
Phone: 651 962 4120 or 800 328 6819 Ext. 2-4120 ▪ Facsimile: 651 962 4042
Email: mail@cebcglobal.org
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