Welcome

For the inaugural post to this blog, I am writing from the Hays, Kansas airport. Actually (and my wife would disapprovingly agree) this is an appropriate place to start given I am spending more time in airports these days. This morning, with my management colleague Turner White, I presented a paper to an audience of business professors from all over the country.

I am usually reluctant to make these trips—it has costs, not the least of which was miss my morning Principles of Management class. But I also get to meet some interesting people in my field of management and business. For example, we got to hear from Matt DeFeo, a marketing V.P. for Techtronic Industries. Though Mr. DeFeo was an excellent and engaging speaker on the topic of leadership, the interesting thing was learning about his company, Techtronic. Did you know that this company makes the Swiffer (another company owns the brand), including the new hit the electronic Swiffer? They also own brands like Hoover, Ryobi, and Dirt Devil. They make other tools that are branded by other companies – tools like Craftsman and Rigid. Techtronics is one of those companies that makes a lot of things that nobody knows about. I love learning about companies and how they find ways to create value for their stakeholders – customers and employees.

I enjoy not only learning about companies but learning the people part, which is management (and leadership). In fact, learning and management have a symbiotic relationship . . . this blog will explore some of my reflections and observations about management, teaching, and learning as experienced here at Rockhurst. I am thankful for the opportunity . . .