Trader Joe's Goes To College

By the time "The Pirate" (Johann Patterson) finished speaking to and answering questions from my Marketing students, practically everyone who met the indefatigable, highly personable and wonderful ambassador from Trader Joe's wanted to apply for employment. The Captain of the Agoura, CA Trader Joe's store shared with the CLU management and communications students the secrets of his success.

                                                                                 
The hour long exchange covered a myriad of key business topics ranging from the unique history and management of Trader Joe's to its philosophy, "word of mouth" marketing, low prices, product ingredients, private brands, sustainable practices, corporate culture and neighborhood store dynamic. The discussion on the qualities Trader Joe's seeks in hiring its crew was also of great interest to the class. Many of the qualities Johann seeks in new hires are remarkably similar to the expectations in this Marketing course: integrity, punctuality, positive attitude, regular attendance, helping others, cheerfulness, industry, flexibility and more. It is clear that "The Pirate" loves his job, Trader Joe's and the customers he and his crew serve everyday.

Prior to the Pirate's voyage to campus, students read several articles about the company. We are very grateful to Johann and Trader Joe's for this excellent learning opportunity!

Procter & Gamble Site Manager Gives Outstanding Presentation

Chris Wolf, P & G's Site Finance Manager at their California Paper Making Facility for North America (Oxnard), gave an illuminating presentation to the Cal Lutheran University students in my marketing class.

The University of Notre Dame MBA spoke for more than 90 minutes which the students described as "awesome." During and after his enlightening remarks, Chris fielded a wide range of student queries.  Drawing on his 14 years with one of the world's unquestioned global brand leaders, his meticulously researched talk was the capstone of the semester-long class.

Peet's--Savor the Flavor

Dan Charoenrath, Store Manager at Peet's Coffee and Tea in Thousand Oaks, CA, gave a very  interesting and enlightening "guest lecture" in my Principles of Marketing class today. The charismatic and charming Peet's leader did a superb job of engaging the management and communications majors in my class.

Using a variety of personal examples, Dan underscored the major reasons for the retail roaster's success including the importance of wise selection of the best people available, the freshness of the coffee and tea and the power of the Peet's brand including display expertise and signage.

Under Dan's leadership, the partnership between Peet's and CLU has grown substantially in the past couple of years, one of the most recent, sterling examples of "town-gown" relations we began in earnest while I was the university's first vice president of marketing and communications beginning in the 2002-2003 academic year.

Students benefit significantly when thoughtful business leaders volunteer their time in the classroom sharing their successes and failures. "Hats off" to Peet's and Dan Charoenrath for this lively, productive exchange.

I Hate To Say I Told You So...but

Earlier this year, Strategic Health Care Marketing published an article I wrote about branding the merger of two excellent health care organizations--Indiana University (IU) Medical Center ( comprised of Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children and Indiana University Hospital)--and Methodist Hospital.  Based on substantial market information gathered from key "publics" across the Hoosier state at the time, the Medical Center Relations team I headed had strongly recommended that the newly merged organization be called IU Health.  The named that was selected, however, was a "made-up" appellation called Clarian Health.

Now, a decade later, the leadership has decided to revert to the name my team and I had originally recommended; hence, the title of this blog posting.  I've never been one to say "I told you so" but in this case had the name we suggested been adopted, several million dollars would have been used where the needs were much greater.  That said, I still believe in this organization and am proud to have served as the chief marketing, public relations and business development officer for IU Medical Center for nine years.

I hope you enjoy reading this article.  Please feel free to contact me at ritcheich@gmail.com if I can assist you.

Corporate Scandals ad nauseam

To read the entire article, please contact me at ritcheich@gmail.com or 805.492-6010

It's A Reality--Ritch's New Book

Real Leaders Don't Boss will be released by the New Jersey publishing house, Career Press, in February  2012.

THE HILL Publishes Ritch's Article on the House's Page Program

For the rest of the article, please go to:

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/lawmaker-news/178637-reform-dont-reject-the-house-page-program

Leadership for Peace

We recently visited the Martin Luther King, Jr., Park near 17th and Broadway in Indianapolis which is named for the Civil Rights leader.  On April 4, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy spoke to an inner-city crowd gathered to hear his campaign speech, but instead he had to break the news that King had been assassinated.  Kennedy was strongly advised not to deliver his remarks; he refused and spoke instead about King.  While riots occurred in other U.S. cities, Kennedy's comments about reconciliation between the races prevented riots from breaking out in the "Crossroads of America."  The park is home to the Landmark for Peace Memorial (pictured here) which honors the contributions of both slain leaders.

         

Time For A New Generation in Hospital Boardrooms

The July 4, 2011 issue of Modern Healthcare published Ritch Eich's latest article on leadership in U.S. hospitals and health systems.  Younger, new talent must be sought for governance roles in our nation's hospitals as Ritch points out, utilizing his perspective and past experience as a hospital executive, trustee and board chair.

Currently, Ritch is writing his book REAL LEADERS DON'T BOSS which will be published by Career Press in January 2012.  For more information, please contact him at ritcheich@gmail.com

Jiffy Mix CEO Leads Company to New Heights

 

This summer my wife, Joan, and I had the opportunity to spend nearly three hours with Chelsea Milling Co. CEO, Howard S. "Howdy" Holmes.

A wide ranging interview with the highly respected and very personable Holmes was complimented by his extensive personally-led tour of their newest facilities.

Howdy's transformational leadership has enabled the family-owned company to thrive despite very challenging economic times and when households are cooking fewer meals than in past years.

Payers & Providers Features Ritch's Essay on CEO Visibility

Hospital CEOs Cannot Be Wallflowers...Need to be in the Public Eye

The hospital or health system CEO is arguably one of the most important individuals in any community.  This role has evolved over the years from primarily a financial expert focused on ensuring the institution’s fiscal viability to one who can also collaborate artfully with his or her medical staff, negotiate successfully with unions, navigate the independent hospital through a system merger or other collaborations, reach out to local businesses, assess patient satisfaction surveys and more.  Because of this, the potential power of the hospital president’s voice as a community leader has never been greater.

Unfortunately, not unlike university presidents who were once striking figures on the public stage, too few hospital CEOs make it a priority to be visible outside the walls of their institution.  Fewer still are comfortable jumping into the fray to share with their local public where they stand on the pressing debate regarding Medicare, Medicaid or health care reform in general.  I find this troubling and believe that it is the role of today’s health care CEO to advocate for something beyond his or her institution’s necessary but parochial needs.

To read more, please contact Ritch K. Eich, Ph.D. at ritcheich@gmail.com

Change Leadership: Small Wins and Broken Windows

My father was a teacher, coach and later a school principal in northern California from the 1940s through the 1970s.  He was one of those who firmly believed in the separate theories of “small wins” and “broken windows” before they were formally advanced by such scholars as Karl Weick, James Q. Wilson and George Kelling.

I suspect that because my dad had such success with his own personal blend of these two practices in his career as an educator (especially in teaching mathematical reasoning and in teaching sports techniques), it was only natural that I would adopt them into my own career (first as a naval officer and later as a hospital and university executive) especially when participating in organizational change initiatives. These two theories have worked well for me in several ways.

For more information about this topic, please contact Ritch K. Eich at ritcheich@gmail.com

Miller-McCune's Focus: Ritch's Article on the Arts & Leadership

Thursday, March 17, 2011

TOP STORY IN BUSINESS & ECONOMICS

Marching to the Beat of A Different Drum Major

In hunting for leadership potential, you might make sweet music by looking at marching bands — or at least the examples good ones set.

 By Ritch K. Eich 
March 13, 2011

To read complete article, please visit http://www.miller-mccune.com/

THE COSTCO CONNECTION Publishes Ritch's Article

The following leadership article, "Business lessons for the family," was published in the March 2011 issue of THE COSTCO CONNECTION.

The Ronald Reagan Centennial Symposium

The symposium "Leadership and Legacy" at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library was a GREAT event!  Co-sponsored with USC, the event drew a packed house in early February.

The keynote address was given by Tom Brokaw and the panel he moderated featured authors and historians Richard Reeves, Lou Cannon,  former California Governor and U.S. Senator Pete Wilson and Douglas Brinkley.

The photos below capture the insightful educational program in Simi Valley, California.

                        

                          

Leadership San Francisco Celebrates 25 Years!

Leadership San Francisco (LSF)  held its gala "Silver Soiree" last week in the beautiful Rotunda of San Francisco's City Hall.  Ritch, Class of 2002, and Joan, Class of 2003, joined several hundred San Francisco Bay Area civic leaders and fellow LSF graduates in paying tribute to area corporations and businesses who support this premier leadership training program.

Pictured below are several executives who have steadfastly supported LSF and its Executive Director Dianne Easton and continue to recommend their employees for participation in this 25 year old, 10 month leadership laboratory.

San Francisco's spectacular Rotunda at City Hall

Dianne Easton accepts tribute

Inspiring civic leader, Steve Mayer, Managing Partner of Burr Pilger Mayer greets the large audience.  BPM was the "Presenting Partner" and has approximately 20 LSF graduates in its accounting and consulting firm.

Presidio Bank Chairman James Woolwine and President Steve Heitel  are among the community leaders present.  Presidio Bank, created by Bay Area business leaders, personifies the region's entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to quality service.

2010 World Champions SF Giants President, Larry Baer, an exemplary leader and a fourth generation SanFranciscan, is a staunch supporter of Leadership San Francisco.

Joanne Hayes-White is Chief of the SF Fire Department.

David S.F. Chiu is President of the SF Board of Supervisors

The Ugly Executive

William Lederer and Eugene Burdick’s prophetic book, The Ugly American, was required reading when I was in high school.  The authors’ fictional account of why American diplomacy was failing in Southeast Asia created anger in our small, largely agricultural community.  Little did I know at that time that the book would play a role in reshaping national policy.  And, I never guessed that I would meet some of their cousins—The Ugly Executives—much later in the workplace as an executive and consultant.

Fortunately, the ones I’ve encountered are few in number but large in their degree of unpleasantness and repugnance.  What is it you might ask that makes for an ugly executive?  There are many types of behaviors that I’ve observed that fit this definition.

For more information, please contact Ritch Eich at ritcheich@gmail.com

Future Leaders from Unlikely Places

 Sometimes talent comes from the most unlikely places. Though our future business leaders are apt to come from top MBA programs or perhaps even military branches, these should not be the only avenues to search, especially when looking for leaders with a different point of view.

An often-overlooked arena for leadership development is the arts. Theatre, music and the fine arts all require, undeniably, an above-average level of creativity.  But they also require the type of discipline, passion and commitment that can be extremely valuable in many areas of business that are now floundering.

For more information, please contact me at ritcheich@gmail.com