Engineering Inc. - November/December 2007 - (Page 33) Gary Wendt, the former CEO of G.E. Capital who turned a fledging company division into a $48 billion financial giant, offered a variety of business management tips, including five points to ensure successful business growth: resource the effort, anticipate, think globally, acquire or merge when possible and build a culture that lasts. “For success in business, it’s important to have strategic planning sessions where you can measure progress and reward forward movement,” Wendt said. “It is just as important to set objectives which are definable, actionable and rewardable.” Education Session Highlights More than 30 top-flight education sessions focused on timely business issues such as the M&A trend and losses in efficiency. ACEC Chairman Mac MacMurray shares a laugh with Conference speaker Wally “Famous” Amos, while sporting the signature “Famous Amos” hat. Maui Hundreds of ACEC members and guests enjoy a Hawaiian luau in Maui. Maui Conference Speakers Give “Strategic Advice” Wally “Famous” Amos, the cookie entrepreneur, began his speech by saying, “I appreciate engineers because you make things happen,” and continued, “I believe it is also important to be able to engineer your way through life.” Amos then reflected on the journey that led him to become “the man that sailed a thousand chips” and founder of the gourmet cookie industry. “The most important thing is attitude,” he said. “Attitude helps you through the difficult challenges in life. Attitude allows you to focus on a solution and not get bogged down by a problem.” Legendary Princeton University engineering professor David Billington took the audience on a tour of the world’s most artistically creative bridges and bridge designers. He challenged members not to abdicate on design artistry. “Don’t look to another profession for aesthetics,” he said. “It is well within our own possibility.”
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