Company Leaders Seeking a Positive Business Roadmap Flocking to Kalamazoo

(PRWEB) March 19, 2004

Like the swallows that returned each spring to Capistrano, progressive business leaders flock each year to the Scanlon Conference. Few business gatherings are more predictable or have lasted longer (over sixty years). Originally sponsored by MIT, the conference for the last 40 years has been hosted by the Scanlon Leadership Network. The next gathering will be May 11-13, 2004 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Over 350 delegates from throughout North America will attend.

The Scanlon Leadership Network is a nonprofit association of companies that pioneered labor/management cooperation, employee involvement, gainsharing, and servant leadership concepts in business. Named after Joe Scanlon, one of the first to advocate involving average workers in decision making, the Network has been called “one of the best kept secrets in business” by several business writers. The Network exists to help its members become the leaders in their industries through networking and the sharing of best practices. Network members are frequently recognized among the best places to work.

Each year the Conference content is designed by a team of business leaders to appeal to the needs of business leaders. The 2004 theme is “Mastering a Proactive Approach to Change.” Participants will be able to choose from 34 workshops designed to create positive change on the individual, professional, and organizational level. The Conference also builds organizational trust. Front-line business leaders as well as executives attend the conference together in company delegations. On May 13th conference participants will tour West Michigan Scanlon Companies to see Scanlon in action.

In the 1952 the editors of Life Magazine wrote, “When Scanlon plans are no longer news, we shall have licked the great problems of the industrial age, how to tame the machine for liberty and democracy." With corruption, outsourcing, intense competition, management distrust, etc. reported in the business press it is clear that we still have not “tamed the machine”.

Scanlon Leaders continue to learn from each other to find better ways to lead their organizations. They welcome other leaders interested in building more humane and successful organizations to join them.