Steelcase CEO Jim Hackett Retires

James P. Hackett, the CEO of Steelcase Inc. is retiring. During the company’s annual shareholder meeting, July 17, Hackett said he will remain in his current position until February 28, 2014, the end of the company’s fiscal year, and then take a new position as vice chair for an additional year. He will also continue as a member of the board of directors.


“Jim Hackett helped change the conversation at Steelcase from merely selling office environments to providing insights about how spaces can impact performance,” said Rob Pew, Board Chair, Steelcase Inc. “He adopted design, and design thinking, as core beliefs and spread them throughout the company. In his 19 years as the CEO, Jim has led the company through some difficult times as well as periods of growth. We appreciate his calm hand on the tiller.”

Pew added, “With Jim continuing in his role for more than seven months, we are not naming a new CEO at this time but we have a succession process in place.”

Steelcase Gesture Chair

Hackett became CEO in December of 1994 after holding a variety of sales and leadership positions in the company. He helped to transform the company’s business model, expanded its global perspective and presence and championed life-long learning. He introduced the company’s current critical thinking model and personally taught the key principles of that model to hundreds of Steelcase leaders.

“I couldn’t be happier about what Steelcase has become and where we’re headed,” said Hackett. “But it’s time to provide opportunity to others, and time for me to pursue some other interests. While continuing to run the company with as much energy and excitement as I did when I took the role in 1994, I’ll also ready myself for the next chapter in my life.”

Hackett led Steelcase through some very tough years. When the economy collapse, the office furniture industry went down with it. He also took Steelcase into a new era of innovation as the company looked for new markets in healthcare and education.

The Steelcase story is an important part of the fabric of Grand Rapids, Michigan, as are all of the furniture companies and their founders. They are part of the Last Chance Mile: The Reinvention of an American Community, available wherever books are sold online, including Abbott Press.

Last Chance Mile: The Reinvention of an American Community is also available at West Coast Coffee-Monroe Center, Schuler Books & Music-28th Street and Barnes & Noble-Woodland Mall. 

Autographed editions are also available by clicking the Add to Cart button on the Welcome Page of www.rodkackley.com.

The Restore The Roar: Manufacturing Renaissance ebook essay series tells the story of the entrepreneurs leading Michigan into the twenty-first century in such diverse manufacturing endeavors as automotive, furniture, beer and food processing. 

Restore The Roar: Manufacturing Renaissance begins with The Great Collapse. For a free preview, please click here.

Stand Or Sit, You Don't Get To Decide

Given the importance of the office furniture industry in West Michigan, this seems important. Even if you don't care about Steelcase, Herman Miller or Haworth, haven't you been sitting long enough today?
                                             

New Survey: To Sit or Stand? Almost 70% of Full Time American Workers Hate Sitting, but They do it all Day Every Day

Simple Changes Can Make a Big Difference in Health and Productivity

ST. PAUL, Minn., July 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Most Americans have to sit all day at work and they despise it.  A new survey commissioned by Ergotron, a global manufacturer of digital display mounting, furniture, and mobility products including sit-stand desks, found that nearly 70 percent of full time American workers hate sitting, yet 86 percent do it all day, every day. When they do get up, more than half (56 percent) use getting food as an excuse.

On top of all of that sitting at work, and for meals and commuting, the respondents:

• Sit another 1-2 hours while watching TV (36 percent)
• Game another 1-2 hours (10 percent)
• Lounge for 1-2 hours for things such as reading (25 percent)
• Use their home computer for 1-2 hours (29 percent)

In total, Americans are sitting an average of 13 hours a day and sleeping an average of 8 hours resulting in a sedentary lifestyle of around 21 hours a day. While Americans know about the importance of exercise, only 31 percent go to the gym, and 56 percent devote less than $10 per month to staying active. However, 96 percent would be willing to stand more to improve their health or life expectancy, and 30 percent even responded that they would rather go without coffee for a week to stand.

The survey also found that the vast majority (93 percent) didn't know what "Sitting Disease" is, but 74 percent believe that sitting too much could lead to an early death. The term "Sitting Disease" has been coined by the scientific community and is commonly used when referring to metabolic syndrome and the ill-effects of an overly sedentary lifestyle. Just last month, the American Medical Association adopted a policy recognizing potential risks of prolonged sitting and encouraging employers, employees and others to make available alternatives to sitting.

"Research is showing links between sedentary lifestyles and diabetes, several types of cancer, obesity and cardiovascular disease," said Jane Payfer, an Ergotron spokesperson. "There is a significant opportunity for people to change their behavior in the workplace and for corporations to change their cultures. Standing increases energy, burns extra calories, tones muscles, improves posture, increases blood flow, reduces blood sugar levels and ramps up metabolism. Frequently overlooked, standing more is the simplest, easiest change someone can make."   

This is Ergotron's second survey in three years on the effects of sitting for office workers.  The 2010 survey can be found here.   

Resources:

• An Infographic illustrating the survey findings can be viewed at JustStand.org.
• 8 ways to stand more every day.
• Ergotron's  JustStand™ Index – Revisited annually, the Index will show the growth of awareness around the problems of sitting  and will quantify the following questions:

1. Do you know what sitting disease is?
2. Are you aware of sit/stand computing products?
3. Have you requested sit/stand products at work?

For more detail and analysis of the survey findings, the JustStand® Report by Ergotron is available athttp://www.juststand.org/portals/3/literature/SurveyIndexReport.pdf. The Survey and Index results are being presented at the 3^rd Annual JustStand Wellness Summit today, via live stream atJuststand.org/summit.

Did you know Steelcase was born out of the need to stop office fires? Too many men were flicking too many hot cigar ashes in the wooden waste baskets at their desks. Metal Office Furniture came to the rescue, and later would become Steelcase.

That is one of the stories told in Last Chance Mile: The Reinvention of an American Community, the story of how the people of Grand Rapids are changing the way the world sees their community.

Last Chance Mile: The Reinvention of an American Community is available wherever books are sold online including Abbott Press, and also on the shelves of Barnes & Noble-Woodland Mall, Schuler Books & Music-28th Street and West Coast Coffee on Monroe Center.

Autographed copies are available by clicking the Add To Cart button on the Welcome Page of www.rodkackley.com

The Charter Group Calls Furniture Industry A "Sellers' Market"

The Charter Group anticipates increasing M&A activity in the furniture sector in 2013 and 2014 based on pent up demand following the global economic downturn.

As an example, The Charter Group was enlisted to review a $12.5 million buyout proposal of a regional distribution company who had been approached by a national competitor.


Their valuation showed the company was worth significantly more, so The Charter Group pursued additional buyers, prompting five additional letters of intent and a final transaction value in excess of $18 million, 50 percent higher than the original offer.

The Charter Group has announced the formation of a dedicated Furniture Practice led by Andrew Williams. The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based merger and acquisition advisory firm said the move reflects growing activity and demand for buy, sell and capital raise transactions in the office furniture, residential furniture and home furnishings markets.

Charter made the announcement in Chicago at Neocon, North America's largest furniture and commercial interiors exposition featuring more than 700 showrooms and exhibitors.

Grand Rapids may be known around the world as "Furniture City," but it is also recognized as "Beer City USA." The story of this community's love affair with craft brewing is told in Quenching The Thirst, available for immediate download by clicking here.






The Charter Group has been serving clients from the office and contract furniture industry since 1989 and has closed furniture transactions spanning OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), component suppliers, and dealers ranging from small businesses to national manufacturers and leading brands. The Charter Gropu has also rolled out a comprehensive succession planning advisory package specifically designed to meet the needs of the office furniture dealer community.

"We've gained a solid benchmark on the value drivers of businesses in the furniture sector, and we have the expertise and relationships to maximize the fit and financial outcomes for our clients," said Andrew Williams, CM&AA and vice president, business and transaction management for The Charter Group. "The combination of our track record and the continuing uptick in the industry warrants this expansion into a full practice area, and we hope to continue to offer additional niche service lines in the future."


The Charter Group also served as exclusive merger and acquisition advisor to library and educational contract furniture manufacturer, The Worden Company of Holland, Mich., initiating, negotiating and closing the successful sale of the company.

"As the leading M&A advisory firm in the global headquarters of office furniture, Grand Rapids, Michigan, we have a unique breadth of experience," said John Kerschen, managing director of The Charter Group. "We look forward to the potential for our Furniture Practice and for other specialty areas as the M&A market improves and we continue to grow our reputation nationally."  


The Charter Group is a merger and acquisition advisory firm focused on buy, sell and capital raise transactions in the $10 million to $100 million value range. Founded in 1989, Charter is recognized as one of the Midwest's premier M&A advisory firms, with offices in Michigan and Indiana. Charter's track record of success delivering value for clients includes 400+ successful transactions for businesses ranging from $1 million to $100 million+ in revenue. For more information on The Charter Group, please visit www.charter-group.com.

The Charter Group has also been a part of the effort to change the way the world sees Grand Rapids, and as a result, the way Grand Rapids sees the world.

That story is told in Last Chance Mile: The Reinvention of an American Community, on sale wherever books are sold. For your hardcover, softcover or ebook edition, please click here.

Autographed editions of Last Chance Mile are available at Schuler Books & Music and West Coast Coffee in Grand Rapids, as well as at www.rodkackley.com

Haworth Wins U.S. Government Contract

 U.S. Communities Awards Haworth National Furniture Contract

Holland, MI – November 27, 2012 – The U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance, a leading national government purchasing cooperative, today announced  a multi-year new contract with Haworth, Inc., a global leader in the design and manufacturing of office furniture and organic workspaces.  The agreement will provide state, local, and municipal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and schools with access to Haworth office furniture and organic workspace solutions at competitively bid pricing through December 2016 with four – one year renewals options through December 2020.

“Haworth is pleased to strengthen its long-standing relationship with U.S. Communities,” said Phil Todd of Haworth.  “Our network of more than 250 preferred dealers throughout North America is committed to providing best-in-class customer service.”

In addition to competitive product discounts, U.S. Communities participants will have access to reconfiguration and relocation services, design/layout, planning, installation, project management, financing options and workplace consulting.

“We are happy to continue to offer Haworth’s integrated office solutions to U.S. Communities participants,” said Chris Robb of U.S. Communities.  “Their sustainable product offering and workspace design expertise provide participants with lasting value.”

For more information and FAQs regarding Haworth’s U.S. Communities contract visit http://www.uscommunities.org/haworth/.

*****

 

Last Chance Mile: The Reinvention of an American Community tells the story of Grand Rapids, Michigan's transformation into, among other things, one of the Gay Friendly Cities in the U.S.

The story takes place on Medical Mile, a cluster of prosperity that includes a research institute, a Big Ten university and the West Michigan Science and Technology Center, an innovation incubator for entrepreneurs.

Last Chance Mile: The Reinvention of an American Community is available wherever books are sold, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Abbott Press.

Special autographed editions are available at the Schuler Books & Music stores on 28th Street in Kentwood, Michigan and in downtown Grand Rapids.