NEW YORK, Nov. 13, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eleven outstanding leaders will be honored with the first annual Grateful Leadership Tribute at the launch of the new book from author Judith W. Umlas, Grateful Leadership: Using the Power of Acknowledgment to Engage All Your People and Achieve Superior Results, McGraw-Hill Professional and International Institute for Learning, Inc. (IIL). IIL will present the tribute to attending recipients, Captain Daniel E. Sosnowik, Commanding Officer of the Leadership Training Section of the New York Police Department and Kimberly Supersano, Chief Marketing Officer of Prudential Annuities. The book launch will be held at Rizzoli Bookstore, 31 West 57th Street, New York, Thursday, November 15, 2012, 5:30 to 7:00 pm.
Other honorees not in attendance include: Mark Addicks, Chief Marketing Officer, General Mills; Lynn Batara, Enterprise Project Management Office Director, Franklin Templeton Investments; Michael Case, President & CEO, The Westervelt Company; Janis O'Bryan, Chief Information Officer, Hudson Advisors; Primitivo Davis, Brigade Chaplain, U.S. Army; Walter Robb, Co-CEO, Whole Foods Market; Tom LaForge, Global Director of Human and Cultural Insights, The Coca-Cola Company; Xavier Joly, Global Director of People Development, Volvo Powertrain and Roberto Daniel, Senior Director, Invensys Controls.
These leaders are profiled in Umlas' book and embody the spirit of Grateful Leadership by cultivating gratitude and appreciation through acknowledging the value of staff and their contributions to the organization as a whole. Honorees have long-standing records of superior employee engagement, building positive workplace cultures, and delivering world class business and professional results. The Tribute will be presented by E. LaVerne Johnson, Founder, President and CEO, IIL and Judith W. Umlas, Author, Trainer & Sr. Vice President, IIL. The company will make a donation in each of the Grateful Leaders' names to the Covenant House New York Mother and Child Program.
Umlas' book Grateful Leadership presents the business case for The Power of Acknowledgment, her first book, and proposes and demonstrates with research and case studies that leaders who appreciate their employees and express their gratitude in a heartfelt and authentic way have improved performance and overall results. The Grateful Leadership Tribute honors leaders who exemplify this style of leadership.
"IIL is thrilled to honor business leaders who are pioneers in enhancing and improving the workplace culture," said IIL President and CEO Johnson. "Putting people first and enabling their success is a core value of IIL, and we are proud to acknowledge business leaders who share this vision for including gratitude among the core competencies of leadership. We are very moved and happy to make a donation in each of the Grateful Leaders' names to Covenant House, and to present the leaders with drawings and writings from current residents stating one thing for which they are grateful."
The first Grateful Leadership Tribute ceremony and book launch event will be held on November 15, 2012 at Rizzoli Bookstore in Midtown Manhattan. Members of the press and other interested parties are invited to attend by contacting Vanessa Innes at 212 515-5177.
About International Institute for Learning, Inc.
IIL is a global leader in training, consulting, coaching and customized course development, and is proud to be the educational provider of choice for many top global companies. IIL's core competencies include Project, Program and Portfolio Management, Business Analysis, Microsoft® Project and Project Server, Lean Six Sigma, PRINCE2®, ITIL®, Agile, Leadership and Interpersonal Skills, Corporate Consciousness and Sustainability.