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January 17, 2006 |
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 THOMAS
C. NELSON2005 Excellence in Business Award Presented by The Rotary Club of Charlotte, Charlotte Chamber, and Business Journal By Marilynn Bowler The leap from the small fishing village of Lapland to the executive board room in Charlotte took only one generation. There were stops along the way which only make this "made in America" story more fascinating during Tom Nelson's remarks to our Rotary Club on January 17th. In accepting the 2005 Excellence In Management Award presented to him by Charlotte Rotary's Immediate Past President Catherine Browning, National Gypsum Company's Chairman, President and CEO Thomas C. Nelson talked to us about the company he leads and its excellent employees with whom he works so closely. With tongue in cheek, he thanked Alan Greenspan to whom Tom attributes "our robust economy, low interest rates and a housing market that makes everyone in the building products industry wear a smile." He poignantly paid tribute to some of the special people who have - in his words - "shaped his life." "These people are, in part, responsible for the recognition you have honored me with today. They have shaped me as an individual, as a manager, and as the leader of National Gypsum," Tom continued. He spoke of his mother who came to the United States from Kalix, Sweden, settling in Chicago. She was able to speak very little English but was enterprising and courageous enough to work a full-time job at Marshall Fields while taking English classes at night. From her, Tom learned courage, grace and the importance of determination and a positive attitude. Tom then told us about his father, Nels, who had a flair for contagious optimism yet, in Tom's words, "was grounded in reality." An award-winning salesman for IBM, his father always put his family above and beyond his career, often passing up promotions rather than uproot his family from the community they loved. Nels showed his children the power and impact of technology on the business world which directly led to Tom's keen interest in engineering. Hence, Tom chose to attend Stanford University in the heart of Silicon Valley. The rest, as they say, is history. During his undergraduate years, Tom heard young Steve Jobs talk about his new company … the one which would introduce the Macintosh and would successfully re-invent Apple Computer over-and-over-again. From Steve Jobs, Tom learned about management style, team-building and "a lesson for all business - we must innovate." It was in 1992, when he had the privilege of serving as a White House Fellow in the program initiated by President Lyndon Baines Johnson, that Tom, incredibly, was assigned to the Pentagon. He came in close contact with General Colin Powell, himself a former White House Fellow. Tom admired General Powell's "passion, his moral standing, his open door." And, most of all, "his absolute respect for all people." Tom then paid tribute to the past recipients of the Excellence In Management Award, including Bill Lee, Hugh McColl, John Belk, Ed Crutchfield and Ken Iverson. He also added his own special acclamations to Dick Spangler, Alan and Stuart Dickson, and Russell Robinson. In her introductory remarks, Catherine Browning described the fantastic leadership that Tom and his wife, Anna, have-and-are providing to Charlotte. He is the 2007 Chairman-Elect of the Chamber; he and Anna co-chaired the 2005 Arts & Science Council drive; he is the capital campaign chairman of the Mecklenburg County Boy Scouts drive; he is a board member of the Foundation for the Carolinas; and he is a member of the United Way board of directors. As we may suspect, there's more. Today, Tom Nelson reminded Charlotte Rotary members that "we have been blessed with great leaders who gave back to this community." Now, we - at Charlotte Rotary - affirm that this community has been blessed with another great leader - Thomas C. Nelson. Head Table: Tony Zeiss, Kit Cramer, Herb Harriss, Catherine Browning, Jeannie Falknor, Jim Woodward; Invocation: Hershel Sanders Visitors & Guests: Tom Bartholomy; Health & Happiness: Don Steger; Song: Thomas Moore
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Revised: January 24, 2008.