2013 Pacesetter – Emerging winner – Dreadnought Wines
Debra Mortillaro and her company, Dreadnought Wines, have been setting the pace for small independent wine distributors by focusing on retail customers and innovations that would make buying wine a better experience for the customer. Dreadnought Wines was the first to use credit cards for the sale of alcohol in Pennsylvania, have a wine-of-the-month club […]
Cornucopia helps those with disabilities find workplace potential through Nature’s Bin
Operating a social enterprise presents its own unique challenges. Yet, at Cornucopia Inc., a nonprofit that dares to make a profit while simultaneously helping those with disabilities find meaningful careers and sustainable futures, we’ve taken a big step this year to expand our mission by renovating a vacant McDonald’s. Cornucopia operates Nature’s Bin, a natural […]
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: How the value of this high opinion can impact your organization’s bottom line
Leaders across all industries are constantly looking for the secret formula to motivate employees and increase productivity. While there are many paths to helping companies become more efficient and more productive, I believe that when it comes to getting the best out of employees, it centers on one element: respect. The vast body of […]
A new direction: Alex Johnson returns to Tri-C to become the college’s fourth president in 50 years
Alex Johnson wasn’t searching for a new job. In fact, he was quite content serving as president of the Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh. Johnson helped the institution raise $41 million for scholarships and programs, as well as build a few new facilities. “I was happy in Pittsburgh and doing well,” Johnson says. […]
Four steps to grow and sustain one of your most valuable assets
Productive, powerful, lasting relationships are built on trust. Customers, clients, donors and other supporters have the right to make other choices. A stakeholder relationship is never an entitlement. Those relationships must be earned and constantly reinforced. As you survey ways to grow trust, look at your organization’s public relations and try to remember: Trust isn’t […]
Change who you are by replacing one routine with a better one
Thirty years ago, motivated by a desire to be healthier, I quit smoking. That change had an unanticipated outcome that altered the course of my life: I learned that I had the ability to break a habit and replace it with a new one. That might sound simple, but for me it was transformative. It […]
Five hidden nuances that can destroy your business
In today’s competitive marketplace many businesses, even established ones, are struggling to survive. There are many reasons why businesses fail, ranging from inadequate cash flow, to high overhead costs, bad management, expanding too quickly and poor credit. Over the years, however, we have identified five less obvious actions that can destroy your business. These “hidden […]
Secrets to greater creativity
Exceptional leaders constantly seek opportunities and ideas that will enable their organizations to achieve their mission and objectives. For years, I have been studying how creativity happens so the Alliance of Chief Executives can be a place where leaders come to challenge their assumptions, generate fresh approaches and breakthrough ideas. Steve Jobs was quoted as […]
Jorge Titinger returned Silicon Graphics International to profitability
Jorge Titinger’s first day as president and CEO of technical computing leader, Silicon Graphics International Corp. was Feb. 27, 2012 — and the next day, instead of having time to ease into his new role, he was telling investors about the company’s shortcomings the quarter before. “There were a lot of questions about the direction […]
Fostering E-xpectations, G-oals and O-ptions in your workforce
When you hear someone say, “That person’s got quite an ego,” it’s rarely meant as a form of flattery. In fact, it typically carries a lot of negative connotation. A more positive way to think of ego is to look at what it takes to maintain a healthy one. Using the word ego as an […]