Ukleja Center’s Wooden Award Given To Ken Blanchard

The Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership at CSULB recently presented its 2011 John Wooden Ethics in Leadership Award to Ken Blanchard, a global leader in workplace learning, leadership, employee productivity and team effectiveness.

Blanchard, chief spiritual officer of the Ken Blanchard Companies, has co-authored some of the best-selling business leadership books of our time, including The One-Minute Manager.

The award presentation took place during “Leading the Ethical Organization,” a business ethics seminar offered by the Ukleja Center and Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. More than 450 people attended the seminar featuring Blanchard as the keynote speaker and Jim Eaton, chair of the chamber and Ukleja Center board member, as master of ceremonies.

Accompanied by a $10,000 check to Blanchard’s philanthropic organization, the award was presented by Louise Ukleja, co-founder of the Ukleja Center, and Michael Solt, center director and dean of the College of Business Administration at CSULB.

“Ken Blanchard epitomizes the spirit of the John Wooden Award,” said Ukleja. “Like Coach Wooden, he has chosen to lead a purposeful life guided by the principles of love, faith and integrity and has answered a calling to become a teacher, coach and author.”

Wooden, who passed away at the age of 99 in 2010, received the inaugural John Wooden Ethics in Leadership Award in 2009. Coach Wooden is best known for his ability to instill confidence and transmit the values of his “Pyramid of Success” to the on-court behavior of his players.

The award is named for Wooden to promote his practice of ethical leadership and to salute a leader who embodied the Ukleja Center’s core values of integrity, excellence, empowerment and servant leadership. It is designed to honor a person or organization whose contribution is built on ethical behavior and visionary leadership and reflects a significant response to a specific challenge or opportunity.

“Ken Blanchard’s groundbreaking work in leadership and management has made a significant positive difference in the lives of people and organizations around the world,” said Solt. “We are honored to have had an opportunity to recognize his global leadership influence with this award.”