Diverse Paths of Leadership and Innovation: John Miller '56

John Miller '56 will be the featured speaker in the Diverse Paths of Leadership and Innovation speaker series on Friday, April 27. The event, which is free and open to the public, will start at 2 p.m. in Noyce 1023. The Donald and Winifred Wilson Center for Innovation and Leadership is sponsoring the speaker series and associated course.

A “long time” specialist in Small Business Entrepreneurship, Miller has spent the past seventeen years as a volunteer business consultant for several organizations serving a variety of small domestic and international businesses. He is a business mentor with the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Group (HEMP). Internationally he has consulted for the International Executive Service Corps (IESC) and the Citizens Development Corps (CDC), utilizing funding from the USAID. Site locations have included Thailand, the Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Southeast Asia, Honduras,—and the U.S. 

Prior to this activity he enjoyed more than 30 years of small business management and ownership in the international manufacture and distribution of building materials and consumer products for residential and commercial use in U.S., “Middle East,” Asian, European, and Central American markets. Key to this activity was the creation of an extensive “International” proprietary product line. Necessary were vital international working relationships with other manufacturers, architects & designers, hotel operating companies, building contractors, building material distributors, and retailers. Proven abilities utilized: to analyze markets; create new products; find resources; develop strategic & tactical plans; practice/teach financial management; organize or reorganize as needed; grow skills and develop effective, quality leadership in others; and manage through others to maximize opportunity, minimize costs, meet or exceed planned objectives, and maximize profits. 

In addition to past participation on bank, industry, and hospital advisory boards, Miller has continued to serve in a variety of leadership positions for “Non Profits” including Rotary, Red Cross Disaster Services, and The Salvation Army. Participation Included responses to some six national disasters and numerous local actions. 

Miller considers the following to be his career highlights—Graduating from Grinnell January ‘56 (in 3-1/2 years); providing the plumbing fittings for the White House ’81 remodel (being the “honest White House plumbers”); meeting the Saudi Secret Police ‘91 learning that you “need to know the territory”); watching a number of his clients find “success,” and multiple recognitions from the organizations he has been involved with. His life is: finding ways every day to make each day better for someone somewhere!