The Adversity Paradox: Achieving Uncommon Success in Business

Barry Griswell and Bob Jennings

Monday, 13 Apr 2009 at 7:00 pm – Great Hall, Memorial Union

Barry Griswell is chairman and former CEO of the Principal Financial Group. He is a past recipient of an Horatio Alger Award, given to individuals who have achieved great success while overcoming difficult backgrounds. In addition to his years of experience in the financial services industry, he is recognized for a wide range of philanthropic work, including the establishment of The Harvest Initiative to bring economic help to the people of Crow Creek County in South Dakota. He addresses his success and journey overcoming adversity in the book The Adversity Paradox: An Unconventional Guide to Uncommon Business Success, coauthored with Bob Jennings. Bob Jennings is president of Lean Management Group, a consulting company focused on senior management methods and execution. Prior to starting his own company he was president of EFCO Corporation, a world leader in the design and supply of forms for concrete construction, with operations in twelve countries. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, he received his undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University and his MBA degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

---

BIOS
J. Barry Griswell is Chairman of the Board and retired CEO of the Principal Financial Group®. Griswell joined The Principal® in 1988 as an officer and agency vice president. He became senior vice president in 1991 and executive vice president in 1996. He was named president in 1998, became CEO in 2000 and chairman of the board in 2002. Prior to his association with the Principal Financial Group, he served as president and CEO of MetLife Marketing Corporation, a distribution-marketing subsidiary of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. He currently serves as president of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines.

A native of Georgia, Mr. Griswell received his bachelor's degree from Berry College in Rome, Georgia and his master's degree from Stetson University in Deland, Florida. In 2007, he was honored with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Grand View College. He has received his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation and his Chartered Financial Consultant (CHFC) designation, and is a Fellow of LIMRA Leadership Institute (LLIF).

Griswell is a 2003 Horatio Alger Association Distinguished American Award winner and the 2003 recipient of the Oscar C. Schmidt Iowa Business Leadership Award. He has been inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame, is a recipient of the United Way of Central Iowa Alexis de Tocqueville Society Award, a 2004 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, a 2004 recipient of the Central Iowa Philanthropic Award for Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser, and a 2006 recipient of the Business Committee for the Arts Leadership Award as well as a 2008 recipient of the American for the Arts Corporate Citizenship in the Arts Award. He has also received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Stetson University and a Distinguished Achievement Award from Berry College.

Griswell is currently a board member of Principal Financial Group, Inc. and Herman Miller, Inc. He has also been active in various industry and community organizations, including service as chair of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), board member of The Business Roundtable, including co-chair of the CEO Task Force on Health and Retirement Security. He is also the past president of the Federation of Iowa Insurers, past chair of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, past chair of Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA) and past chair of Life Underwriters Trainers Council (LUTC). He is a former member of the board of trustees of the S.S. Huebner Foundation for Insurance Education, and Central College in Pella, Iowa. He served as chair of the United Way of America National Tocqueville Council from 2003-2007. He is a current trustee of Berry College in Rome, Georgia, United Way of America, Americans for the Arts, and chair of the Business Committee for the Arts.

Griswell is a member of United Way International’s India Leadership Committee, a group committed to raising money in the United States to start and support the United Way throughout India.

In spring 2008, Griswell founded The Harvest Initiative, an endeavor to bring economic help to the people of Crow Creek County in South Dakota.


Bob Jennings is President of Lean Management Inc., a consulting company focused on senior management methods and execution. Prior to starting his own company he was President of EFCO Corp., a world leader in the design and supply of forms for concrete construction, with operations in twelve countries.

Mr. Jennings joined EFCO in 1981 as a sales representative based in Santiago, Chile. Promotions and responsibility changes took him and his family to Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and ultimately Des Moines, Iowa. In 1993 he was named a senior vice president in charge of sales, service and international operations. He was named chief operating officer in 2001 and President in 2002.

Mr. Jennings was influential in taking EFCO from a domestic company of 400 employees to a multinational company of 1200 employees. The expansion came with new products, acquisitions, emphasis on employee training and development, and geographic growth that extended into many countries. He holds five patents, has participated in many of the world’s largest construction projects and has been published in various trade magazines.

A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Mr. Jennings received his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa and his MBA degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

He is active in various industry and community organizations, including his current service as a board member of Wilian Holding Company, which has interests and holdings all over the world. He is a board member of the Iowa State University Engineering Advisory Council, a past board member of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and the Greater Des Moines Partnership,

This lecture was taped and broadcast as part of Iowa Public Television's Intelligent Talk Television. Watch it online: click here.

Intelligent Talk Television showcases recent lectures given by guest speakers at colleges, universities, and libraries across Iowa. The collaborative effort between IPTV and participating institutions provides top-notch programs featuring experts on topics ranging from politics to science to economics for broadcast on IPTV’s digital channels and streaming on the ITTV website.

Cosponsored By:

• College of Business
• College of Engineering
• VEISHEA 2009
• Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government)