Acknowledgments

Many people contributed to my ability to write this book.

I am grateful to the Gordon family and my colleagues on the GFS board. Thank you to my current colleagues on the EQR board, former colleagues Jim Harper, Sheli Rosenberg, and Ed Lowenthal, and General Counsel Bruce Strohm. I have learned much from fellow directors at Kelly Services, M Financial, the Upjohn Institute, and other corporate and nonprofit boards on which I have served.

I thank the directors I was privileged to interview: Chuck Atwood, Linda Walker Bynoe, Dave Downey, Dan Gordon, Jim Gordon, Dave Gray, Errol Halperin, Bill Hall, Rick Hill, Mannie Jackson, Peter Mullin, Leslie Murphy, David Neithercut, Don Parfet, Tom Siebel, Tim Solso, and Sam Zell.

I extend a heartfelt thank you to Mary Kay Haben, who agreed to review chapter drafts, and Jane Dutton, who introduced and endorsed me to Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Thank you to Keith Decie for helping disseminate the book’s messages and to Kate Metz for helping me in many ways.

I appreciate the confidence and encouragement of colleagues at the University of Illinois, including President Bob Easter, Chancellor Phyllis Wise, Provost Ade Adesida, Dean Larry Debrock, and Professors Joe Mahoney, Bill Qualls, Aric Rindfleisch, Madhu Viswa-nathan, Raj Echambadi, and Ruth Aguilera. I thank the business and law students in my U.S. Corporate Governance courses for their good work and interest in the subject.

My son, Brian, completed his PhD in accountancy, began his faculty career, and broadened my intellectual horizons as I wrote. My daughter, Audrey Imhoff, inspired me to work hard with her own hard work. My father and mother, Bernie and Gena White, died recently after seventy years of marriage and long, fulfilling lives. I am grateful for the values they instilled in me.

Most of all, I thank my wife, Mary, for her love and support.