That’s how he’s known. Let’s just say the leader Scott Rysdon of Sioux Steel Company takes an atypical approach to successfully running his family-owned business. An approach that he jokes could leave people thinking his Board of Directors begins each meeting with a heartfelt “Koom-bay-yah.” Rysdon assures me that his company, which provides progressive engineering solutions for grain … [Read more...]

Kevin Eichner is the 21st president of Ottawa University. He has hit the ground running. And, why not? He’s been preparing for this job his whole adult life. When Eichner graduated from Ottawa in 1973, he always assumed he would eventually become president of the University. He was ready to attend Michigan to work on an advanced education degree. “A consultant came along and asked … [Read more...]

Creating your own elite success The Olympics are the gold standard for performance excellence. In sports, it's easy to see what works and what doesn't ... it's measured on the clock, in the score, by the kilo. It’s all in the numbers. In business and life, it can be more difficult to determine who wins. Surprisingly, most Olympians attribute their success to unlocking their potential … [Read more...]

Every person dreams of having a wise, funny mentor who understands the challenges they face. I got to chat with a great one in Cathie Black. She was the head of Hearst Magazines, and managed the financial performance and development of some of the industry’s best-known magazines, including Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s Bazaar, and O, the Oprah Magazine. She has been … [Read more...]

I'm not putting my head in the sand. Really, I'm not. It's just that I believe there are a number of things that a person can do that are more productive than complaining about the economy. Why not offer a well-reasoned solution, for example. It's what Andrew Field did. I met Andrew this summer on my tour through the Near West when it was recommended that I stop in Livingston, Montana. He … [Read more...]

Don Smithey has been executive director of the Omaha Airport Authority for 20 years. He has led Eppley Airfield through deregulation, 9/11 and recent turmoil in the airline industry. He recently announced his retirement. "My staff and their managers are the reason the Omaha Airport Authority is a model airport operation which others continuously attempt to replicate," Smithey … [Read more...]

Dr. Kay Schallenkamp is the ninth president of Black Hills State University (BHSU.) Nestled in the Black Hills of western South Dakota, they offer a myriad of opportunities for their students with a choice of more than 80 majors and minors for bachelor's degrees as well as three master's degrees and a number of associate degrees and pre-professional programs. BHSU celebrates their … [Read more...]

Tim Sanders, author Saving the World at Work: What Companies and Individuals Can Do To Go Beyond Making A Profit To Making A Difference "The 'Responsibility Revolution' is underway, and it’s challenging the importance of the bottom line. Through success stories like Horst Rechelbacher, the brains behind the ecologically sound cosmetics company Aveda, and Lee Scott’s greening of Wal-Mart … [Read more...]