Servant-Leader Development Center Names Andrew Sloan as New President & CEO.

Business Editors

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 2, 2003

The Servant-Leader Development Center (S-LDC) has named Andrew Sloan as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Sloan, a recognized business educator and executive, will lead the center's growth efforts as it continues to expand its reach to national and international business, not-for-profit, government agencies, and community organizations.

Servant-leadership calls upon those in charge to lead by supporting and serving others, rather than by controlling, commanding, manipulating or intimidating them. Employed by several major companies, this approach helps organizations achieve tangible gains in earnings, productivity, employee retention and other critical measures of success. Under Mr. Sloan's guidance, S-LDC will aggressively pursue internal growth. Additional plans call for the organization to widen its range of educational and training materials, to grow its global network of consultants, and to issue its 2003 Resource Guide, Leading With Skill and Spirit. Mr. Sloan also will implement a global schedule of speaking engagements, featuring both himself and other accomplished speakers, to promote the principles of servant-leadership as a method for realizing the full potential of work-groups, leadership teams and both corporate and non-profit advisory boards.

Mr. Sloan strongly believes that ineffective and marginal leadership robs an organization of its credibility, damages customer relationships, and hurts employee morale and productivity. When it comes to developing strong leaders, such traditional sources of leadership development as business schools, graduate programs and professional associations, have not kept pace with today's needs, he said.

"Leaders of all types must seriously consider changing their long-held biases about leadership," Mr. Sloan said. "For evidence of this, one needs to look no further than the accounting scandals, shareholder lawsuits, poor work force morale, and breaches of integrity that command headlines on a daily basis. These problems touch not only corporations, but also not-for-profit organizations, sports teams and government institutions."

Mr. Sloan is particularly concerned about the emerging group of young leaders. "Organizations used to invest heavily in developing these individuals during their formative leadership years. More recently, such investments have been drastically cut back or eliminated altogether."

He goes on to predict that those organizations that truly make serving others first, then leading, a priority will get an edge over their competitors. "Doing nothing and hoping that leadership will somehow improve when the economy does is not a viable strategy, its denial," he said. "In today's environment, leaders must lead differently going forward or risk becoming irrelevant."

Mr. Sloan said servant-leadership is enjoying a resurgence in many professions. Practitioners can be found in such fields as medicine, jurisprudence, sports, seminary education, Montessori schools, automotive retail service, wholesale distribution, fire and rescue agencies, and the U.S. military. Several organizations that have integrated servant leadership into their cultures with considerable positive results include: Southwest Airlines, Marriott International, The Toro Co., AFLAC (American Family Life Assurance Company), The Container Store, Men's Wearhouse, TDIndustries, The Antioch Company and The Ohio State University Football Program.

Mr. Sloan joins S-LDC with an impressive record as an international consultant/speaker, educator, corporate executive and business owner. He previously held executive positions at Reynolds & Reynolds, Sloan-Daly and most recently Rockwell Automation's Training & Performance Services Group.

"I, and the board of directors, couldn't be more excited to have Andy join us," said Rayna Kolander, Chairperson of S-LDC's Board and an executive with IBM. "We were so fortunate to find an individual who embodies such values of servant leadership as integrity, self-sacrifice and collaboration. Andy has a passion for helping organizations realize their full potential and values both mission success and success with people."

Servant-leadership is a philosophy based on the principles of Robert K. Greenleaf, a researcher, essayist, consultant and executive. While serving as the Director of Management Development at AT&T during the 1940s, Greenleaf came to believe that the most powerful form of leadership had little to do with a person's title or a specific managerial style. Instead, it depended upon one's ability to build, support and serve others. After retirement in 1964, he co-founded the Center for Applied Ethics where his work continued.

The Servant-Leader Development Center was established to build capacities in individuals and organizations. It offers a broad portfolio of practical products and services that are helping client organizations to enhance interpersonal relationships, build more productive teams, constructively manage conflict, grow high-integrity sales and fundraising capabilities, improve communications and increase trust.

Katherine Elberfeld founded the organization in 1998. An accomplished author, entrepreneur and ordained Episcopal priest, she has written and spoken extensively about the principles of the servant-leader. She will continue her work with S-LDC.

Mr. Sloan is available for press interviews, either regarding S-LDC or as a consultant/speaker regarding the principles of servant-leadership and related implementation strategies. He can be reached via e-mail at [e-mail]. Or contact him through Michael Furrow, Administrative Assistant, by telephone at [phone] or via e-mail at [e-mail].