“Listen first and then carefully plan before you leap.”

Chuck Slocum is all about business and community, having founded his own management consulting firm in 1990 after stints in top corporate assignments at Target Corporation (government affairs) and Honeywell (communications, planning, venture development). During this work with the two Fortune 50 companies, Chuck was an entrepreneurial innovator in founding new corporate departments and negotiating four new technology-intensive business ventures.

The Williston Group today offers professional services in planning, executing, resourcing and on-site turnaround. A specialty of The Williston Group is the conceiving of client-specific approaches to address business issues through independent analysis of circumstances, the development and implementation of workable responses and the measurement of results. Many of his assignments have included multi-year, start-up activity with founders and funders of various enterprises.

In recent years Chuck has established, through foundation and non profit clients, a number of statewide business engagement organizations addressing affordable housing, government reform, the environment, school readiness, literacy and afterschool issues.

Chuck’s experience in communications has earned him recognition from leading national professional groups including the IABC (Golden Quill), PRSA (Public Policy Advocacy) and has been twice a recipient of a CLIO Award from the advertising industry. A long time Premack Board member at the University of Minnesota’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Chuck also serves as an occasional commentator on business and public policy.

In a long and diverse career, recognition has come from Chuck’s leadership in Rotary International, the Minnesota Ethical Practices Board and several Chamber’s of Commerce; he is a WCCO Radio “Good Neighbor.”

Early in his business career, Chuck was elected at age 28 as the full time State Chair of the Minnesota Republican Party, overseeing a large budget and 30 professional staff. Chuck embarked on an outreach program that included renaming the party as Independent-Republicans of Minnesota just before the successful election of two US Senators, a Governor and winning control of the Minnesota House. Later, Chuck’s five year tenure as Executive Director of the respected nonpartisan research and advocacy CEO group---the Minnesota Business Partnership---resulted in improvements in the Minnesota economy, more competitive employer-employee programs, civil justice reforms, and, profound changes in the way the state manages its K-12 educational institutions. Dating over the last four decades, Chuck has taken on policy assignments for numerous Governor’s of Minnesota from both political parties, most recently Mark Dayton (DFL).

A native of the South Central Minnesota community of Madelia, where he served as Student Body President, a member of the National Honor Society and earned 13 varsity letters in sports, Chuck attended Hamline University in St. Paul where he received a BA degree in Political Science and Communications. He is a Trustee Emeritus and former officer of the Board of Trustees, also receiving Hamline’s Outstanding Alumni Award and being named to the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Chuck devotes considerable time in support of the future generations, as he and his wife Francelle have become mentors to many young people. Chuck has been recognized by the Minnesota Council on Family Relations, Minnesota Business for Early Learning, the Jacob Wetterling Foundation, “Way to Grow,” and, in 2005, was named by MentorYouth.Com as “National Mentor of the Year.”

An elder and deacon of the Presbyterian Church, he is active on a number of community and statewide organizations, boards and commissions.

• Hamline University, Trustee Emeritus, Outstanding Alumni, Athletic Hall of Fame
• International Library of Poetry “Editor’s Choice Award”
• Jacob Wetterling Foundation “Power of Hope” Award
• MentorYouth.Com “National Mentor of the Year”
• Minnesota Business for Early Learning Leadership Award
• Minnesota Council on Family Relations “Friend of the Family” Award
• Minnesota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Distinguished Alumni Award
• Premack Board, Trustee Emeritus
• Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow
• Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans of 1980 by the JayCees
• Twin West Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Superstar Award
• “Way to Grow” Don Fraser Leadership Award

Commentaries

• To address company concerns and federal regulations, created/managed a new internal communications department for Fortune 50 manufacturing/technology company; recruited, trained, mentored 50 on-site business unit coordinators, introduced new, state of the art communication avenues.
• Working with volunteer board and small staff, lead multi-faceted effort to secure future of largest cable-captive community television channel in U.S.; created "Campaign for 6" which resulted in new production studio, 300 percent increase in community programming partners, 50 percent increase in operating revenue through voluntary contributions; established a one-year budget reserve and bank line-of-credit.

• After three decades of unsuccessful citizen effort, retained to create and manage two unique start-up organizations to serve as national model for education/advocacy of a unicameral state legislature; resulted in overwhelming public support, endorsement of 100 newspapers, involvement of more than 100K citizens, voluntary contributions of $1M.
• As president of a health services and research foundation, ended 5-year deficit spiral by generating $2.3M from 20K givers in first fiscal year; expanded program services to more than 100K clients; two-year action plan resulted in $1.1M budget reserve.

• After 20 years of fiscal inattention, closed 92 savings and investment accounts; established single-source financial manager to achieve optimal return on multi-million dollar savings, checking, investment portfolio; improved fiscal integrity.
• To leverage new business development funds for technology firm, negotiated three-way, $20M joint venture with Illinois-based telecommunications firms, establishing a new consumer videotext business.

• As part of select task team, negotiated complex merger between 1200 student liberal arts college and 300-student start-up law school.
• Working in confidence as representative of business community, joined with governor and president of AFL-CIO to craft compromise State Unemployment Compensation plan which improved support for unemployed workers while curtailing costs for most employers.

• Professional Training & Executive Development - advanced courses at Wharton, Carlson School of Management, Honeywell, and Multi-Company in management, international economics, finance, team building, creative problem solving.
• B.A. in Political Science and Speech Communications (double major) - Hamline University, St. Paul, MN; Class President, Medallist Society, Olympic trials wrestler.

Copyright The Williston Group © 2000-2013, Last updated: January, 2013