President & CEO Tim Kime’s Remarks

at the 2010 Annual Meeting

 

As I reviewed many quotes, I realized I was more inspired by the real people… the real leaders in my life.  I have had the chance to learn from so many leaders---including many of you---that I have lots of quotes and lots of material to work with but will keep it to just five.  With our 25th coming up, I imagine we will being doing things in multiples of five so let me start now!

 

Leadership Quote #1:  "So What?" and "Let's Change the Conversation" are from Board Chair Maxine B. Baker.  Maxine and I spend a lot of time together talking, strategizing and planning for LGW, but we also talk about real life and so many other things.  In the past, during my comments, I would have spent much time focusing on all the great things we did this year... we had many successes... our awards dinner exceeded fundraising goals, we sponsored many important regional dialogues from the region's response to the Haitian earthquake crisis to affordable housing to launching a new leadership skills course, our new Effective Leadership Institute (ELI) program.

 

However, I would like to “change the conversation” and focus on the “so what?” as we work to take LGW to new heights and work to ensure we have an even more significant impact on you, our members and our community.  Maxine often raises the question “so what?” with everything we do.  As the organization’s leadership, we ask ‘why is this important, why are we doing this, what is the valued added’ to ensure we are being the most effective and strategic as possible.

 

So what if LGW didn't exist?  Our region would not be the same.  LGW brings enormous value to our community in the relationships that get started, enhanced and expanded that help to improve the quality of life here in Greater Washington.  I know there are people in your life today that have helped you in your personal and professional missions that would not be there without LGW.  There are organizations like Greater DC Cares and Bright Beginnings that would not exist without LGW.  There are leaders in elected offices in our region that are touching lives every day that would not be there without the connections and support of LGW.  Business is happening because LGW builds trust.

 

You will hear many of these stories in the coming year as we tell about our impact.

 

Leadership Quote #2:  “Control Your Own Destiny” is from my father, Dr. Timothy Q. Kime, Sr.  June 2010 marks my 25th anniversary in DC.  I first came to DC when my father was President of the American Optometric Association; I got Potomac fever 25 years ago and stayed.  My father is still a practicing optometrist in Toledo and this was a quote that was the theme of his year as national president of his professional association.  He often said it about being empowered to have a dream and make it a reality, to set a goal and work to make it happen.  This clearly had an impact on me.  Also, he wanted the leaders of his profession to not accept the status quo and to challenge the way to do things in order to be more effective.  This is exactly what we do with our members at LGW.  By bringing diverse, influential and passionate leaders together, we want you to look at challenges, to challenge the status quo in order to be more effective… this is why we are able to change the region and change lives.  Thanks, Dad, for being an inspiration!

 

Leadership Quote #3:  “People Are Your Greatest Asset” from Michael. C. Rogers, Former LGW Board Chair and member of the Class of 2000.  Michael served as chair a couple of years ago and, during that time, he tapped into his resources… the people in his life… to support him in his leadership role with LGW.    He always made very thoughtful decisions with the best interest of those we worked with or who were involved with us.  I am amazed that he is still in close contact with people from his childhood, school and college days.  He always works hard to support and connect with the people in his life.  I saw him in action and have tried to model that behavior.  Included in LGW's vision statement is a phrase that reads, “We believe in the power of relationships,” something which supports Michael’s quote.  I would like to share a story about how LGW does this best. 

 

When Widmeyer Communications needed a construction firm to complete a build-out of their new office space, Principal and Chief Strategy Officer Margaret Dunning (’09) asked the architects to include Turner Construction in the competitive bid process.  Margaret had come to know and trust Drew Langsam (’09), Project Executive and Sustainability Director at Turner, during LGW’s Class of 2009 and wanted to give his company an equal opportunity to compete for the project. Turner’s green building practices fit well with Widmeyer’s goal to create an environmentally-conscious headquarters, and the architect ultimately awarded the job to Turner Construction. The LGW connection not only enabled Turner to bid for the project, it also helped the project run more smoothly. “Because of our shared experience in LGW, Margaret and I knew each other well enough to speak very candidly and openly about issues that arose during the project,” noted Drew. “As a result, there was more productive dialogue that resulted in quicker decisions and a sense of comfort about how the job was progressing – on both sides.”

 

Leadership Quote #4: “Trust the Process” comes from Linda Burke, a member of the Class of 1993 and program co-leader for the Classes of 2004 and 2005.   I know those in the Class of 2009 and 2010 will find it hard to believe, but this is not a quote from me although I do say it all the time and it has become part of the mantra as we lead the class.  As type A's and very driven people, we often want to run the show, we want all the answers, we want to make all the decisions.  This is what we are good at and that's what we get paid to do.

 

However, when you get involved in LGW, suddenly you are a peer among peers.  This is a huge lesson for our leaders that starts with having to turn off your Blackberries during program days.  When Linda was program co-leader, she often used this phrase and I have used it when people don't get into the class the first time but when they do get in they realize this was the right class at the right time for them.  I use this when the leaders find out they have to room with a stranger during opening retreat or when they have to go to a site visit they don’t think will be meaningful.   Ten times out of ten, when our leaders open up and trust the process, amazing things happen.  Well, this year, this quote got morphed into “Surrender to the Process” and to “Succumb to the Process.”

 

Leadership Quote #5:  “Approach Life with an Attitude of Gratitude” which comes from my mother, Barbara Richie Kime.  Thank you letters, phone calls, simple unexpected gifts to those you are grateful for are a way of life for her.  She believes in showing appreciation for the many gifts we have in life and to take nothing for granted.   I learned from her that a leader always looks for the good and learns from every situation.  All of us in this room have been very blessed, someone in this room helped us, opened a door for us, showed us the way.  Someone took a chance on us with business, gave us the chance to prove ourselves, wrote our letter to help us get into LGW, sponsored us, served on our board, took our call, something that helped us.

 

So in conclusion, as we launch our 25th, I need your help to ensure it is a success.  We are committed to having a great time and a year with important events and lots of fun.  Thanks for being part of our bright past and for being a part of our bright future.

 

Sincerely,

Timothy Q. Kime, Jr.

President & CEO

Leadership Greater Washington