The Great Expert Blog

Initially, when Henry Kravis and George Roberts founded Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) in 1976 with some assistance from the First Chicago Corporation, their specialization was in highly leveraged transactions. Pushing beyond, in an extraordinary endeavor to make the businesses they purchase more ecologically friendly, they have rolled out a groundbreaking green proposal which has completely changed the way businesses and environmental groups function. Green business procedures became major topic of dicussion last year when KKR’s Henry Kravis and the non-profit Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) got together. Their objectives include encouraging their affiliated firms to oppose procedures which may destroy the environment e.g. hazardous chemicals not to forget any inflated water consumption. Eco-efficiency (a phrase initially endorsed by the WBCSD) constitutes their mission’s framework, through utilizing policies like fuel economy, optimizing data centers for efficiency and reducing the intensity of materials. Although the program was an enormous success, no-one understood how far reaching the consequences were until Ken Mehlman, the executive in charge of the project, carried out the first annual review.

Only at that point did Ken observe that the project was not just helping to conserve the local environment, but additionally it was saving a large range of businesses a significant amount of money. Well-nigh all of the businesses owned by KKR and Ken Mehlman at present apply eco-efficiency. And, with a current business portfolio estimated at eighty-six billion dollars, you can be certain that this was no easy feat.

The initial project has grown beyond its basic purpose and today encompasses new ventures. The Climate Corps Program established by the EDF is just one of these initiatives, it promotes cost-efficient, environmentally friendly practices to MBA interns. KKR and Ken Mehlman have been formulating metrics and other applicable products which evaluate and manage resources. These tools can assess a company’s progress and identify any practices that may need improving. Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund have encouraged all sorts of businesses to go green. So, to summarize, these systems have made environmentally friendly business practice not only viable, but commercially desirable, and their radical ideas are setting a new standard in the business world of today.

A major improvement in hospitality and air travel was triggered by Nicholas Bredimus, who combined them with the computer world to establish a new way to do business. He has been involved in a plethora of drives, from the creation of time-saving software programs to improving aircraft safety and designing high-value homes. Whatever he turns to, he can pledge all of his energy to it. You could have predicted, mind you, that given his heritage he was sure to reach the top. Coming together from a true melting pot, his family can be traced to classical Roman times, with the maternal line emerging from Scotland and Germany. Luxembourg and England were the source for Bredimus’ paternal line, although during the nineteenth century his family came to America. That passionate zeal continued on arrival in America. Nicholas, as well as his siblings, was born to a father employed as a mechanical design engineer and a mother who was a practicing nurse. His homes for several years saw him based across several states.

Nicholas has worked in respected posts at companies throughout the air travel sector — many of them popular names. Among these was included the position of Vice President for Trans World Airlines (TWA), Hughes Airwest, and even Republic Airlines. These accomplishments nothwithstanding, above all the airlines have had reason to thank him for the creations he has made in software design.

He is easily most acclaimed for a US Airways request, designing airplane upkeep programs, which would rapidly become an “old reliable” for much of the industry. He turned his creativity next to making and recording reservations. For both flight and room bookings he developed programs to offload most of the work that had been involved until that point. He also produced QuikTix, an automatic ticketing network. Mr Nicholas Bredimus has even served in quite a number of roles entirely outside of software development, let’s remember. Responsible roles with American Airlines and American Express were to come, and in the biggest move of all he founded his own company seventeen years ago. But is he still working? Most definitely — his prowess is still very much ready to answer the call regardless his retirement. You’ll find his work now advancing building design — balancing the requirements of superior quality with increasingly sophisticated technology and bona fide concern for our environment.

Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was launched in the seventies and orginally the company’s specialization was in leveraged buyouts. Recently, in a drive to make their acquisitions more environmentally friendly and more profitable as well, KKR have set up a unique green project that has entirely changed the method by which business concerns and environmental activists operate.

Environmentally friendly business practice became major discussion topic last year when KKR’s Henry Kravis and the independent Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) merged. Their objectives include encouraging companies in avoiding operations which may jeopardize the environment like climate change and any colossal water consumption. To follow through with these goals, they use a methodology called eco-efficiency; this involves techniques like maximum use of renewable resources, improving fuel economy through vehicle fleet maintenance, and using clean energy. The project was initially well received, but the businesses who were participating did not grasp the full program’s advantages until Ken Mehlman, the person in charge of the program, studied the project subsequent to a full year in operation. Ken observed that applying eco-efficiency wasn’t merely helping to conserve the environment, but it was also saving firms a remarkable sum of money. Currently, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman have almost each and every business in their portfolio taking part in eco-efficiency principles. Yet, when you consider that the group has a 2009 business portfolio worth $86 billion, you can be sure this wasn’t an easy see what a huge feat this is.

The Green Portfolio project now includes new and innovative initiatives. The Climate Corps Program established by the EDF is one of these, it raises awareness of earth friendly business techniques to students taking an MBA. More recently, Ken Mehlman has collaborated closely with Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co to create a series of metrics which a range of business concerns can employ to measure and oversee resources. These tools let management see how they are progressing and discover any underlying issues. The business community has been transformed permanently by the efforts of these individuals. These innovations have made going green less problematic for firms in every industry and demonstrated that running a profitable business need not entail the hefty price of damaging the environment.

Volunteering — a bridge to a better community, and helping the nearby needy. Finding the ideal timeslot for this can be rather difficult by itself, and arranging specific activities can easily take up free time that could be used to actually work. Obviously, if volunteering becomes a group effort with friends from work, it’s likely to be more enjoyable.

The obvious step is for companies to take a cue from far-sighted firms like Adaptive Marketing LLC. As well as shopping programs like Leisure Exclusives (MVQ*LSUREXCLUSIVE) intended to benefit consumers, Adaptive Marketing organizes local volunteer activity so that its employees have the time to reach out to the community.

Company-supported volunteering has grown beyond blood drives and once-a-year donations. To go back to our earlier example, Adaptive Marketing has provided its staff members with opportunities to participate in everything from shoe recycling efforts to tree replanting days. Once all the pertinent information — time, date, location, details, etc — had been publically posted it has become very simple for employees to set aside the time they’d volunteer and how they’d be using it.

Naturally, it’s essential to let volunteers choose projects that fit their strengths. Firms involved in this like Adaptive Marketing, present their staff with a diverse list of drives in their area. There’s so much to be done, after all; working with young adults, lending a hand to environmental activities, or supporting local theater to name just a few. Adaptive Marketing’s employees are presented with such a choice that they’re certain to have a project they’ll enjoy participating in, making their time fun as well as effective. If firms encourage their staff help at homeless shelters, it is typically during an individual event or a regular, perhaps weekly or monthly task. No matter how short the time you can spare, we’d expect you can still find some project you can take part in, which makes time no obstacle to volunteering. Commercial history is full of tales of companies giving back to the citizens of their home town. A sense of community goodwill is generated by the volunteer work carried out by Adaptive Marketing’s staffers through company sponsored projects like those discussed earlier. Helping around your home town can make you feel like a better person — exactly what you need, of course, to get staffers motivated both in their volunteer work and back behind their desks, too. Helping your employees to find the time to volunteer is rewarding in some very concrete ways.

Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was established by Henry Kravis and George Roberts in 1976 with help from the First Chicago Corporation. Recently they have put together a unique green project which centers not just on profitability, but additionally on how environmentally aware each of the corporations in their portfolio are. When Henry Kravis from KKR and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) got together in 2008 environmental matters all of a sudden became a mainstream idea. Issues like greenhouse gas emissions and exaggerated consumption of water resources are a top priority in their corporate mission statement. In order to achieve these goals, they apply eco-efficiency which makes use of concepts such as reducing the waste of resources, recycling programs, and increasing the durability of products. Regardless of the fact that the project was an enormous success, no-one realized how important the results were until Ken Mehlman, the head of the Green Portfolio Project and global public affairs, reviewed the figures for the first 12 months.

Knocking off everybody’s expectations, Ken realized that this program not only cut down on environmental impact, but also increased the the profit from all their business organizations besides. Almost all of the business concerns associated with Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman now participate in the Green Portfolio Project. Seeing that this portfolio of companies is worth eighty six billion dollars, you can imagine what an achievement this really is.

The original Green Portfolio project has grown beyond its basic purpose and today includes new ventures. For instance, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co got together with the Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Corps Program that teaches MBA interns how to promote financially sound, ecologically friendly practices.

KKR and Ken Mehlman have taken the time to formulate a series of analytical tools and other related products that quantify and manage various resources. With this information available, companies can study their everyday activities and find out how they can resolve any issues while simultaneously tracking their progress.

The business community has been changed forever by the ground breaking efforts of these organizations. So, to summarize, the work of these organizations has made ecologically friendly business practice not only viable, but commercially desirable, and their revolutionary ideas are setting a new standard in the business world of today.

Today philanthropism is definitely as necessary as ever. Like most people, you will have heard about Mr. Naveen Jain’s name the CEO & co-founder of Intelius, Inc. a market leader in background checks and public records services. Beyond having made the Forbes list “400 Richest in America” in 2000, this eminently successful entrepreneur has won a number of notable awards including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the WSA Industry Achievement Award, and the Albert Einstein Technology Medal. Nevertheless it definitely does not finish off there. Because Mr. Jain and his kin are just as impassioned about philanthropy and will strive to assist wherever possible.

There can be no doubting the fact that young generation are truly our world’s #1 resource and the single guarantee of its entire future. They are moreover a central focus of attention for this enterprising man and he uses any occasion available to assist them. This is the primary reason why he is always unfailingly leveraging every chance he can to lend a helping hand wherever viable. In consequence, Naveen Jain, his relations and his employees at Intelius, Inc. dedicate their time and efforts to various philanthropical agencies like United Way, the Overlake Service League, and the Bellevue Boys and Girls Club. Obviously they will provide plenty of monetary support, but most importantly, they devote their time and effort to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children. Further, Naveen Jain donates to the Children’s Hospital in an effort to restore children’s health, as well.

And as Naveen Jain is an alumnus of XLRI Jamshedpur and the Indian Institute of Technology, it’s hardly surprising that education constitutes a critical pivot point in his benevolent operations. This incorporates movements and deserving causes that are local, state, and nationwide. Hence, Intelius and its head are actively funding charitable entities and organizations such as the Indian American Education Foundation, Hopelink and the University Preparatory Academy.

Getting food to the impoverished of the planet is another critical objective to Naveen Jain and those around him and to him, it makes not a iota of difference. Although Naveen is aware that the job of getting food for all the world’s unnourished is a titanic one, he also knows that the unattainable can really come to be possible if everyone labors together. If this business leader achieves his goals, there will be a decisive end to hardship and hunger on this planet in the future. Observers could imagine that as the man in responsible for a wildly thriving market leading enterprise plus being a committed family man would allow him no spare leeway for altruism and aiding the needy. Nonetheless Naveen Jain takes care to ensure that each one of his humanitarian endeavors may rely on all the assistance he can conceivably give. To wrap it up, this altruistic man is decidedly a lot more than a simple albeit very successful maverick of industry. He is, moreover, also an absolutely extraordinary personality and a genuine community patron.