Programs
Transcripts
The
George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech
Presents
The
Annual
Harold
W. Gegenheimer
Lecture
Series on Innovation
Featuring:
Richard
F. Teerlink
Retired
President and Chief Executive Officer, Harley-Davidson,
Inc.
Speaking About:
Our Learning Journey
Thursday,
October 21, 1999, 11:00 A.M.
Van Leer (EE) Auditorium
Georgia Tech Campus
Atlanta, Georgia
Biographical Sketch
Richard
F. Teerlink, a CPA by education and training, has
served as an auditor, controller, strategic planner,
plant manager, and vice 
president. He joined Harley-Davidson
as Chief Financial Officer two months after the
management buyout in August 1981. He was elected
to the Board of Directors in 1982. While he was
not one of the shareholder/employees, Rich was
one of the seven-person Policy Committee. As a
member of the Policy Committee, he was deeply involved
in developing the operating and financial strategies
and tactics that rebuilt the functional capabilities
which saved the firm from bankruptcy in 1985. In
1986, he led the effort to guide the firm back
to public ownership.
He was appointed Chairman of the Board of Harley-Davidson, Inc. in May 1996 and served as President and Chief Executive Officer from March 1989 to June 1997.
Prior to joining Harley-Davidson, he served in senior management positions with Herman Miller and RTE Corporation. His experience has included divisional, corporate, line, and staff responsibilities with large, small, public, and private companies.
Rich graduated from Bradley University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and received his Master's of Business Administration in 1976 from the University of Chicago.
He serves on the Board of Directors of Johnson Controls, Inc., Snap-On Incorporated, and Firstar Bank of Milwaukee. He is also an active board member and participant in many business and community organizations.
He has been honored by many organizations for his leadership and humanitarian accomplishments. These include the Sales and Marketing Executives International Association for Corporate Growth, the American Jewish Committee, and the Harvard Business School Alumni of Wisconsin.
Synopsis of the 1999 Gegenheimer Lecture
Harley-Davidson has a rich history that started in 1903. Since that time it has experienced feast and famine. In 1981 it was acquired in a management buyout by the then existing management, from AMF, Incorporated. The subsequent journey focused on revitalizing one of the most readily recognizable brands in the world. During that journey the company fought for its market and financial survival. Its market share fell to 13 percent in 1983 and in 1985 its lead bank was threatening bankruptcy. To overcome these challenges the management had to dramatically change how it approached each functional area of the business. This process resulted in a revitalized company. As they experienced improvements in the functional areas of the business, the management realized they had more to do. They now faced the challenge of changing the underlying culture. This culture change focused on the recognition that people are the only competitive advantage and that leaders must take responsibility for the operating environment.
Today, Harley's market share is approaching 50 percent, its market capitalization is approaching $8.5 billion, and it is identified in Fortune as one of the best places to work. One of the major lessons learned during this period of change was the realization that this is really a journey based on life-long learning and that this is a journey that will never end.
About the Lecture Series
The Lecture Series on Innovation was established in 1995 through an endowment from Mr. Harold W. Gegenheimer (Class of 1933) to support student programs that encourage creativity, innovation, and design. Through the lecture series and support of capstone design projects, students are exposed to processes that stimulate creativity and lead to inventions and patents. The previous Gegenheimer lecturers were:
| 1995 | Dr. Jerry M. Woodall |
| Distinguished
Professor of Microelectronics at Purdue
University Necessity Is the Mother of Invention, But Curiosity and Persistence Make It Happen |
|
| 1996 | Mr. Burt Rutan |
| President
and CEO of Scaled Composites, Inc. Innovation: Use It or Lose It |
|
| 1997 | Dr. Jim Adams |
| Professor
at Stanford University Creativity Versus Control: Their Impact on Innovation |
|
| 1998 | Dr. George N. Hatsopoulos |
| Founder
of Thermo-Electron Corporation Thermo Electron and the Spin-Out Business Design |
|
About the Woodruff School
The
Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering is the
oldest and second largest of the nine divisions
in the College of Engineering at Georgia Tech.
The School offers academic and research programs
in mechanical engineering, nuclear and radiological
engineering, and health physics. The enrollment
includes about 1350 undergraduates and more than
650 graduate students. Studies are directed by
a full-time staff of 83 professors, 23research
faculty, and 4academic professionals, who are supported
by 52 staff members. The George W. Woodruff School
of Mechanical Engineering is the only educational
institution to be designated an ASME Mechanical
Engineering Heritage Site. For more information
about the Woodruff School contact:
| Phone: | (404) 894-3200 |
| Fax: | (404) 894-8336 |
| E-mail: | menehp.info@me.gatech.edu |
| Web: | http://www.me.gatech.edu |
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