Dr. John E. Walker, Founder of Andesa Services to Speak at Business Leaders of Uncommon Excellence Lecture Series

Dr. John E. Walker, founder, past CEO and chairman of the board of Andesa Services will present the lecture, “Re-thinking the Purpose of the Firm” at the Business Leaders of Uncommon Excellence lecture series on Thursday, March 7, at 4:00 p.m. in the East Parlor, St. Joseph Hall.

His lecture will discuss how the business firm has both an opportunity and a responsibility to provide an environment which elevates its employees; after all, how many human activities consume as much time and energy? His lecture will tell the story of the creation of a small, but great, firm built upon the fundamental premise that it exists as an institution for this purpose.

Walker, the author of “Ethics and the Employee-Centric Firm” retired in 2007 from management of the firm he founded which mirrors his beliefs. Previously, he was a faculty member at Lehigh University and director of its computing center, a research economist and director. He served in the U.S. Army as an artillery officer and commanded a heavy artillery battery in Germany in 1963. He was honorably discharged in 1966 with the rank of Captain. His passion for the fair treatment of employees, out of which he founded Andesa Services, resulted in his recent publication of “Ethics and the Employee-Centric Firm.” He earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Virginia in 1963. He and his wife reside in Bonita Springs, Florida.

 
The new biannual speaker series, which kicked off in the fall with the inaugural lecture by Gerard P. Cuddy, president and chief executive officer of Beneficial Bank, aims to raise students’ awareness and understanding of current business issues and encourage meaningful interactions and collaboration between students and the greater community.

 
The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Barbara Diemer, MBA, M.Ed., assistant professor of business, at 215.248.7033.