BUSINESS: Steps to a Healthy Boardroom
Don Maruska is founder and CEO of three Silicon Valley companies, venture
investor in others that became public companies, and business consultant to
Fortune 500 companies and growth businesses. He can discuss problem solving
in all levels of management and business, and offers a ten-step system that
has helped Fortune 500s and small church groups alike:

"A healthy decision-making process provides the means of achieving unity, focus and breakthrough results. Since independent board members each come with their
own ways of doing things and making decisions, a successful board needs an
explicit process to engage expertise constructively. One critical element is
a way to shift out of fear mode and personal agendas, and the win-lose
dynamics they engender. Another is to ensure all perspectives get out on the
table constructively and efficiently. Going underground to discuss
difficulties undermines the decision-making process. Airing things openly
without paralyzing debate leads to greater results." Maruska, author of "How
Great Decisions Get Made -- 10 Easy Steps for Reaching Agreement on Even the
Toughest Issues" (AMACOM, 2004), has appeared on radio and TV stations
across the U.S. News.

Media Contact: Michelle Tennant, 828-749-3200 (828-817-4034 after hours) or [email protected].