LEADERSHIP: What It Means to Carlsonians

The first line of the Carlson Credo is: “Wherever you go, go as a leader.” Curt Carlson, our founder, knew that leadership is not only a core value, but a busi-ness imperative. It is so important that we devoted our 2014 Values Day program to the topic. It is also an element of Vision 20/20: Developing Talent. We are developing tomorrow’s leaders today.

During Values Day, we asked Carlsonians what leadership means to them. The answers were wide-ranging, motivating and worthy of compiling for future reference. We trust that this collection of Carlsonian thoughts and sentiments on leadership will inspire you and help you to become an even better leader.

As we learned, whatever job you hold in the company, you have an opportunity to be a leader – to make a difference. You can lead from wherever you are, and make your own unique contributions to our success.

Leadership is about being the best you can be, and leading others on their journey to unlock their potential. At Carlson, we are collectively responsible and accountable for the success of our company. Every job and every task is impor-tant and appreciated. Aristotle said it best: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

The design of this leadership E-book was inspired by the chalkboard erected in our Minneapolis headquarters for Values Day. When I walked into our employee entrance and saw the heartfelt sentiments on leadership, I was moved by the many thought-provoking comments.

All of the quotes you will read in this notebook were written by your Carlson colleagues. As you read this collection of their thoughts on leadership, I hope you, too, will be inspired. Enjoy.

Trudy Rautio President and Chief Executive Officer, Carlson

WHEREVER YOU GO, GO AS A LEADER.

Whatever you do,do with integrity.wherever you go,go as a leader.

whomever you serve,serve with caring.

whenever you dream, dream with your all.

and never, ever give up.

Curtis L. CarlsonFounder

a leader is someone who

takes responsibility for their actions and helps others develop

to their fullest potential, someone

who helps guide others through their work

and provides resources for growth.

darcy bestfront desk representativeradisson Hotel La Crosse

leadership is not being afraid to fail; leadership is never being satisfied; leadership is developing

and growing talent; leadership is not what you can’t do but what

you can bring to others.

dan countrymanspecialist

digital direct programs

leadership is helping

others unlocktheir potential.

be a teacher. be patient.

want to make a difference.

create a space where people

are comfortableenough to

share their ideas.

leadership isinspiring others

to take action and take accountability

for outcomes relentlessly asking

“What is next?”john zurn, senior director

reservations and customer carecarlson rezidor hotel group

set a directionand unleash

the power ofyour organization.

suzy riestererexecutive vice president and

chief commercial and finance officercarlson rezidor hotel group

find value in each person to create

a great team.be approachable. find the fun in our daily tasks.

leadership is knowing

when to leadand when to let others

lead and be a cheerleader.

empowering thosearound you to be

comfortable enoughto make the best

of themselves and,by proxy, the best ofthose around them.

douglas wolfsenior technical analyst

carlson

leadership isresponding

with enthusiasm,being a role model,leading by example,

going above and beyond, helping others as I would want to be

helped/treated.scott Imhoff, managersales and Intermediaries

carlson rezidor hotel group

Identify a need and influence

others to help solveor fulfill the need.

leadershipis

doing the

right thing.

Leadership is findingthe right people,putting them in

the right roles, ANDmoving out of THEIRway, lending SUPPORTand direction WHEREneeded, but allowing

your team to fly.betsy bongard

Human resources delivery consultantcarlson rezidor hotel group

a leaderserves others,

develops others,does what’s righteven if unpopular.

brad hallchief financial officer

carlson

share new ideas, allow creativity, take a personalinterest, offer guidance, allow individualism.

lead by example, allowing team

to do what they do best while

removing obstacles

along the way.

leadership is communication,setting a good

example, always willing to help...

recognizing variances in abilities and working with them, fostering

development, promoting a “team” atmosphere.

troy byerestaurant supervisor

radisson hotel la crosse

leadership islistening, being

humble, and making decisions, taking risks, trusting collaboration.

Javier rosenbergchief operating officer, americas,

and executive vice president,owned and managed hotels

carlson rezidor hotel group

set clear expectations and provide direction

while encouraging

flexibility and credibilityon how you get there.

leadership meanssharing my vision

for the future tohelp others to movein the same direction.

phil mCDONALDDIRECTOR, sourcing operations

carlson

LEADERSHIP IS NOT JUST ABOUT

MANAGING OTHERS. IT’S ABOUT

DEVELOPING OTHERS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIRGOALS ALONG

WITH THE GOALS OF THE COMPANY.

LEADERS RECOGNIZE

OPPORTUNITIES AND TALENTAND THEN ENABLE

EMPLOYEES TO MAKE THE OPPORTUNITY

COME TO FRUITION.

LEADERSHIP MEANSTAKING A STEP TOWARDTHE UNKNOWN, BEING

THE FIRST, ANDENCOURAGING

OTHERS.MONICA RAMIREZ

COORDINATOR, franchise operationscarlson rezidor hotel group

LEADERSHIP ISTHE ABILITY TO LEAD

AND FOLLOW AT THE SAME TIME.THE ABILITY TO

MOtIVATE, ENCOURAGEAND SUPPORT BEYOND

REQUIREMENTS.JOEL MACHakaire

senior specialist, accountingcarlson

BE ABLE TO DO HARD THINGS

AND GET OTHERSTO DO HARD THINGS THAT

NEED TO BE DONE.

LEADERSHIP IS CONFIDENCE,

WALKING THE TALK,TAKING INITIATIVE, BEING UNPOPULAR

WHEN NEEDED,DELEGATING AND

USING YOUR PEOPLE TO

THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL.

A LEADER HARNESSESTHE TALENT AND SKILLSOF TEAM MEMBERS TO ACHIEVE COLLECTIVE

GOALS.SANDY LOEFFLER

TEAM LEAD, systems developmentCARLSON REZIDOR HOTEL GROUP

LEADERSHIP IS DEVELOPING AND THEN

ARTICULATING AVALUE-BASED VISION AND THEN INSPIRING

OTHERS TO WORK TOWARD THAT VISION.

JARED GARNERASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSELcarlson rezidor hotel group

TAKE THE

REINS AND

MOVE TOWARD A GOAL.

LEADERSHIP IS THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH

OTHERS TO IMPROVE

OUR BUSINESS, BETTER

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT.

LEADERSHIP IS MAKING UP YOUR MIND AND

EXECUTING YOUR PLAY,STAYING MOTIVATED, KEEPING YOUR EYE ONTHE PRIZE, LEARNING

FROM YOUR MISTAKES,CELEBRATING YOUR

MISTAKES.AMY COYNE

SENIOR ACCOUNTANTcarlson

lEADERSHIP ISINSPIRING ANDEMPOWERING

PEOPLETO MAKE A

DIFFERENCE.STEPHANIE LOPATO

manager, BRAND MArketing, RADISSONCARLSON REZIDOR HOTEL GROUP

LEAD WITH ACTIONS MORe THAN WORDS.

SHOW IT’S OKAY TO FAIL.

DON’T WAIT FOR PROFOUND

MOMENTS. IT’S NOT RANK, IT’S REsPECT.

LEADERSHIP ISALLOWING OTHERSTO DEMONSTRATETHEIR LEADERSHIP

SKILLS, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY FAIL ALONG THE WAY.

RYAN METKODIRECTOR, audit

carlson

LEADERSHIP ISHAVING AN OPEN MIND TO LISTEN

TO OTHERS, ACCEPTCRITICISM AND FEEDBACK AND

EMBRACE AWILLINGNESSTO CHANGE.

JAY FURNALdDIRECTOR, CUSTOMER INSIGHTScarlson rezidor hotel group

LEADERSHIP IS ENCOURAGING

OTHERS BYSHARING YOUR

THOUGHTS, VALUES AND EXPERIENCES.

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LEADERSHIP IS LEADING BY EXAMPLE,

HAVING AN OPEN MIND,ALLOWING OTHERS TO

MAKE MISTAKES, COACHING.

WENDY MOTZKOMANAGER, FINANCE

MANAGED/OWNED HOTELSCARLSON REZIDOR HOTEL GROUP

BEING SELFLESS, ENCOURAGING, COURAGEOUS,

TAKING ACTION, MAKING A

DIFFERENCE.

LEADERSHIP IS HAVINGTHE INTELLECT,

DETERMINATION ANDVISION TO INSPIRE

AND EMPOWER OTHERSTO REALIZE THEIR

POTENTIAL THROUGHACHIEVEMENT OF SHARED GOALS.

TODD FOLBRECHTVIcE PRESIDENT

STRATEGIC INVESTMENTScarlson rezidor hotel group

BE OPEN. LISTEN TO

IDEAS FROM EMPLOYEES.

LEADERSHIP IS INCLUSIVENESS.ASK THE HARD

QUESTIONS ANDLISTEN TO

THE ANSWERS.KATHLEEN MALLERYSENIOR DIRECTOR

REVENUE OPTIMIZATIONCARLSON REZIDOR HOTEL GROUP

A LEADER

IS COURAGEOUS

AND BOLD.

leadership is more about

the team than the individual.

caroline larson, directortraining and program development

carlson rezidor hotel group

leadership is directing the

energy/creativity toward a

common goal.adam lesperancesecurity analyst

carlson

LEADERSHIP ISPUSHING BEYOND YOUR

COMFORT ZONE, TESTING YOUR LIMITS, BEING WILLING TO FAIL

AND HAVING THE COURAGE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

TAMMY LEE STANOCHVICE PRESIDENT

CORPORATE AFFAIRSCARLSON

LEADERSHIP IS INSPIRING OTHERS TO COLLABORATE AND WORK AS A TEAM, DO THEIR BEST, FIND THEIR

OWN PASSION.

remember that all jobs at all levelshave opportunitiesto lead every day

and being a part of it.marnae troxel

club carlson operations managercarlson rezidor hotel group

leadership is fostering

a work environment to exercise innovative thinking.

leadership can come

from anywhere in the company. You don’t need a big, fancy or

important title to

be a leader.

leadership is being supportive, creating a safe environment, ensuring tools for

success are available,

being flexible. Jeffrey freundvice president

operationscarlson rezidor hotel group

leadership isproviding guidance,

inspiration and clearexpectations of the

direction in whichwe should be going.

elizabeth hankeymanager, mobile commerce & Experience

carlson rezidor hotel group

leadership means helping others

to become the best

they can be.

leadership is feeling

empowered to make a difference.

mackenzie childressbrand marketing specialistcarlson rezidor hotel group

leadership iscompetence &

Credibility,creating conditionsfor collaboration

to occur.mary plunkett, vice president

global talent management and developmentcarlson

leadership meansknowing when to step

up and speak whensomething does not

seem right, feel right, or is driven by the wrong motives.

kate webersenior accountant

carlson

leadership is

inspiration and

accountability.ann gilles

senior risk management analystCarlson

leadership is giving others

the opportunity to excel.tim johnson, manager

technical systems developmentcarlson rezidor hotel group

leadership is knowingmy strengths andthe strengths of

others, speaking up.everyone is a leader.

give people thespace to lead.

jan lubarsenior director

risk managementcarlson

leadership isknowing how to

motivate peopleso they do more

because they wantto and not because

they have to.carrie harrington

administrative assistantcarlson

leadership means to

not be afraid to speakup and express

your ideas.

leadership means

listening to and

encouraging others.

leadership isempowering employees,empathy, direction,removing obstacles,

vision.jeff wermager

directorrevenue optimization

carlson rezidor hotel group

leadership is bold, thoughtful,

challenging, engaging,listening, coaching,changing status

quo, reward.joel smollen

senior directorIT architecture

carlson rezidor hotel group

good leadership is getting the

best outof myself and those around me.

Rose Anderson, vice president, brandingcarlson rezidor hotel group

leadership ismotivating/supportingothers, seeking views

of others/newperspective, seeing

a purpose, love what you do and

believe in it.dan mcshane

SENIOR auditORCARLSON

leadership is the integrity

to lead by example and not stray.jeff johnson, directorINFORMATION SECURITY

CARLSON

leadership is listening and

serving others, providing vision and opportunity.

tony pellegrinsenior vice president

CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTCARLSON

...someone who leads with communication &

strength ... who acknowledges each

and every moving part of a team, down to the minor details. a person who deals with stress

and rush with a level mind.

jaimie wood, pantry cookradisson hotel la crosse

leadership is being flexible to change

and integrating many perspectives into one success.

kevin baashuman resources generalist

CARLSON REZIDOR HOTEL GROUP

leadership is caring more

about your co-workers

and the overall service than yourelf.

amanda ruettenserver, radisson hotel la crosse

create good energy, allow for

mistakes/new learnings.beth nichols, director

digital marketingcarlson rezidor hotel group

leadership is working with yourteam and peers

with honesty, trust,confidentiality and

overall caring.judy chRIstopherson

senior business support analystCARLSON

leadership simplymeans taking a

group of peopleand helping themaccomplish their

personal besttogether.

ryan larsonmanager

credit and collectionsCARLSON

set a good example, be inclusive and

respectful of others.

diane skipton district revenue specialistcarlson rezidor hotel group

leadership means encouraging and allowing others to reach their full potential

and reach higher ground

together.sheila xiong

hUMAN RESOURCES DELIVERY COORDINATORAND EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR

CARLSON

leadership ishonesty and integrity,

positive attitude,commitment,

sense of humor,team player,

open to change.It’s not about me;

It’s about us.siri peter

IT quality managercarlson rezidor hotel group

leadership isleading, educating and motivating a group of people toward a

common goal.steven dickey

district revenue specialistmidscale hotels america

leadership is

encouraging AND

nurturing others to be their best.

a leader,,,trusts others

to get the best results.

erica cohrsmanager

benefit operationsCARLSON

leadership isn’tjust going to appear.you need to seek it out, and you need to

embrace it when presented with opportunities.

eric gonzalezfinancial analyst

carlson

be supportive and influence.

be selfless. find opportunitiesfor others to lead and make a difference.

karen tillemanssenior director

human resources systems and administrationcarlson

encourage risks. bring multiple perspectives to the table.

challenge yourself

and others to bring out their best.

leadership isresolving problems

as they occur. setting goals to

achieve andpassing the goals I set for myself.

teresA lassiterhousekeeping supervisor

radisson nashville

encourage othersto do their best.

take more chanceswith people. thinkoutside of the box.

carol studenskisupervisoraccounting

CARLSON

wherever you go, go as a leader.

This e-book was published by Carlson Communications. To help save a tree during Responsible Business Action Month, we are

sharing it with you online rather than printing it.

Leadership comments from the 4th floor whiteboard in Carlson’s Minneapolis headquarters.