Symposium Review: 2006
A Note From Our Executive Director, Leadership Center and President, Franklin University
The 2006 Raymond E. Mason Leadership Symposium, held Thursday, April 27th, was a day of Innovation and Ideas. With 14 presenters sharing unique perspectives on leadership, hundreds of participants from central Ohio businesses, government, education, and non-profit organization discovered new ways to take leadership to the next level.
We are grateful for the support of the Raymond Mason Foundation, Abbott Laboratories Fund, Barnes and Noble, Elizabeth M. Ross, Nationwide, Battelle, Huntington National Bank, Ross Products, and Eldon Hall. Because of their generous contributions, more than 100 participants from the government, education, and non-profit sectors were able to attend the Symposium.
Franklin University's commitment to leadership does not begin and end with our annual Symposium. For many, it is just one important part of an ongoing effort to strengthen leadership in their organizations. We invite your organization, as well, to take advantage of the development opportunities offered through our Leadership Center.
We look forward to seeing you at our next Leadership Symposium on April 26, 2007.
Dr. Paul Otte
Executive Director, Leadership Center and President, Franklin University
Ideas And Innovations From Our Speakers
The Raymond E. Mason, Jr., Leadership Symposium continues to receive high evaluations for the variety and expertise of our speakers. Here is who joined us in 2006:
- Our keynote speaker, Carl Kohrt, President and CEO of Battelle, spoke to us about the importance of innovation as a competitive advantage. Battelle's principal business is fee-for-service research, laboratory operations, and commercial ventures. In the "Business of Innovation," the organization earns between 50 and 100 patents each year.
- Luncheon speaker Dean Schroeder, co-author of Ideas are Free, shared ways to harness ideas from all levels in an organization. Schroeder reminded us that "ideas are the engine of progress. They improve people's lives by creating better ways to do things. They build and grow successful organizations and keep them healthy and prosperous. Without the ability to get new ideas, an organization stagnates and declines and eventually will be eliminated by competitors who do have fresh ideas."
- In a special video presentation, General Al Gray gave us an insider's view on how a great military officer values and applies extraordinary leadership skills. As former Commandant of the Marine Corps and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Gray is a man who successfully puts theory into practice. Along with co-author Dr. Paul Otte, President of Franklin University, General Gray recently released a book entitled, The Conflicted Leader and Vantage Leadership, which was the central theme of his taped presentation.
Listen to the audio files from our general sessions below: (Each file is approximately one hour in length, please be patient as they load)
- Carl Kohrt: The Business of Innovation - Applied
- Dean Schroeder: Creating the Idea Organization
Use the links below to hear selected audio files of the break out presentations: (Each file is approximately one hour in length, please be patient as they load)
- Byron Stripling: The Rythym of Leadership
- Dean Schroeder: Creating the Idea Organization
- Jackie Nickel: Leading Through Uncertainty, Change and Even Chaos
- Jim Grote: In Leadership, Perception Is Reality
- Matt Habash: Leading Multiple Sectors: Is it Really that Different?
- Melissa Ingwersen: Your Context for Leadership
Agenda: View the 2006 Agenda
Throughout the day, central Ohio leaders shared their stories on leadership and innovation in small group discussions. Click on the names below to read bios of the presenters.
- Terry A. Boyd: Course Manager and Vantage MBA™ Faculty, Franklin University
- J. Richard (Dick) Emens: Partner; Chester, Wilcox & Saxbe
- General Al Gray: U.S. Marine Corps, Retired
- James E. Grote: Founder and CEO, Donatos Pizza
- Matt Habash: Executive Director, Mid-Ohio Food Bank
- Gene T. Harris, Ph.D: Superintendent, Columbus City Schools
- Melissa Ingwersen: President (Columbus Markets), Chase
- Carl Kohrt: President and CEO, Battelle
- Jackie Nickel: Division VP Integrated Markets, Ross Laboratories
- Peggy M. Ruhlin, CPA/PFS, CFP: Principal; Rudros, Ruhlin & Roe
- Dean Schroeder: Associate Dean, Valparasio University
- Dwight Eric Smith: President, Sophisticated Systems Inc
- Byron Stripling: Artisitc Director, Columbus Jazz Orchestra
- Master Sergeant Stephen Walter: U.S. Marine Corps, Reserve
Special Sessions:
While our keynote speakers and small-group presenters were the cornerstone of the Symposium, participants were also treated to other valuable sessions:
- We celebrated a Birthday Party for P.A.L. (Personal Access to Leadership) – the Leadership Center's innovative approach to self-reflection and decision making. We surprised all participants by giving them an access code for using this burgeoning web-based tool.
- We delivered initial results from the second annual report on the State of Leadership in Central Ohio – an opinion survey that quantifies the climate of leadership in our community in order to track the progress we are making.
- We led a Closing Strategy Session – an interactive workshop that gave participants a head start on developing individual plans for taking leadership to the next level in their own lives.
The State of Leadership
Years ago, I remember reading an article in The Wall Street Journal about a manager who included in his monthly reports a statement such as, "If you read this, I'll buy you dinner and drinks." Much to his dismay, and a lesson to us all, he was never contacted by anyone. It's easy to conclude that no one ever read his monthly report in its entirety.
Before we chalk it up to the voluminous reports generated in the industrial era's search for certainty, let's not lose the lesson. If people fail to read a report, or if they don't ask for a missing report, can it be important to them?
Which leads us to our situation: When we began the Leadership Center, someone suggested we issue a report on the annual state of leadership in central Ohio as part of our Raymond E. Mason, Jr. Leadership Symposium. The first year, 2004, we identified and reported on the leadership indicators we would be tracking. In 2005 and 2006, we surveyed local leaders as well as participants at the Leadership Symposium.
In addition to presenting the results at the Symposium, in 2005 we printed the results and distributed the Report in the community. This year, 2006, we have prepared the report but didn't print it. Yet, no one called. No one emailed us asking for it.
What should we conclude? We will leave that up to you. We would like to hear from you, if you think it should be continued. If we don't hear from you, we will conclude the report isn't needed and reallocate our resources to projects that may have more impact on our mission – raising the level of leadership in business, community, government and educational institutions in central Ohio. If you have any suggestions for future projects, let us know.
Submit your input to the Franklin University Leadership Center by reaching us at:
614.947.6888 · leader@franklin.edu · 201 South Grant Ave. Columbus, OH 43215
If you have read this far, THANKS!
Sincerely,
Paul Otte
Executive Director
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April 16, 2009