According to Richard Sheridan, president and CEO of Menlo Innovations, the software industry is typically known for “bringing the death march into the office” with their long hours and hefty amounts of stress. But Sheridan and his team at Menlo Innovations have changed this paradigm to transform their office into a collaborative, productive workspace that puts the employee first.
It is a fact that the United States ranks 21st among 30 industrialized nations in science achievement. If we are to change this bleak statistic on a national level, local communities need to seize opportunities to bring about real change in their school districts. Hillsborough, North Carolina, a small community located just northwest of Durham, is attempting to do just that.
The Greater Irving – Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce offers a leadership program called “Future Leaders of Irving” (FLI) aimed at high school seniors in the region’s private, public, and charter schools. The program works with school counselors to expose students to local leadership and community involvement opportunities that help to boost leadership potential.
Seeking to transform the community’s educational systems, the Rochester (MN) chamber’s foundation has taken a holistic approach in that they offer a range of programs which champion both excellent educational standards and flexible, dynamic workplaces that effectively connect with the skills taught in the region’s K-12 schools.
Zappos has transformed from serving a niche market to becoming a retail giant, carving out for themselves a significant place among other big-name stores. But this is not what Zappos.com, Inc.’s CEO Tony Hsieh wants to be known for. His goal? To be known for excellent customer service and happy employees.
The Institute for a Competitive Workforce will hold its annual education and workforce summit on September 17 & 18 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. Details to come.
