CEO Philosophy

I believe very much in the servant leadership approach. In the chamber, sometimes I need to be a cheerleader. At other times, I need to be a directive leader and at others a member of an appreciative audience. The key is the ability to be flexible and adapt my behavior and actions to the needs of the moment and situation.

What’s On My Mind

The current business climate in our region is better than that of the national economy. We have managed to be somewhat insulated from the worst of the effects that have taken place elsewhere. While I don’t believe that we’ve seen the worst, I do believe that, in large part because of our economic-development efforts during the past two decades, we will be spared the worst of the current recession.

Our future, however, continues to be bright. The quality-of-life factors that make ours an attractive place to live are undiminished, and we will continue to draw people from around the country to live here. Further, our efforts to diversify the economy with an emphasis on manufacturing will continue to be successful because of the business-friendly climate that has been created.

Doing Business

What have you done in your career that you are most proud of?

My role in the completion last year of the chamber’s new building is my proudest accomplishment.

What’s the most valuable lesson you have learned in business?

It is the value of patience and timing. Warren Buffet says that time is an ally for a good business in that, over time, its strong points will come to the fore. Sometimes it requires patience to remember that and to not try and hurry an outcome or push a program whose time has not yet come. It’s good to remember that, over time, it will come to fruition.

What business advice have you found doesn’t work for you?

That a leader must be a loud, rah-rah person. While that approach is important at times, always being the center of activity and calling attention to oneself wears thin on others. I’ve found that listening and limiting my input to the times when it really matters is more valuable.

Who is the most influential person you’ve never met?

I grew up in the 1960s, and the inspirational leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. impacted me greatly. His nonviolent assertion of human rights and his commitment to equality have always stayed with me.

What is your favorite gadget?

I’m not a big gadget person. But I do value my Palm Treo phone and the ability it gives me to monitor e-mail and the Web when on the go.

On a Personal Note

Where were you born?

Gloucester, Massachusetts

What’s your favorite local diversion or activity?

I enjoy exercising and being outside. While I don’t ski anymore, I always enjoyed being able to be out in the mountains and still try to run several times a week.

What would you do with your time if you didn’t work?

I would continue to be involved in the community in some way. I truly enjoy my opportunity to have a positive impact on the growth and direction of our area, and I would want to continue that on a volunteer basis if I didn’t have to work

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