Leadership – Category 1

The Leadership category examines how an organization’s senior leaders’ personal actions guide and sustain the company. It also considers a company’s governance system and how a company fulfills its legal, ethical and societal responsibilities while supporting its key communities.

For D.J. Simmons, excellence in leadership means that the senior leadership team establishes and maintains purpose, mission, vision and values through a set of activities that include (1) a strategic planning review process with employees; (2) direct communication with shareholders; and (3) a periodic review at Board of Directors’ meetings. Because of Simmons’ small size and close-knit culture, senior leadership is very visible to all employees and opportunities for discussion regarding the "right thing to do" are frequent. Opportunities and issues are quickly surfaced and either seized or resolved. Most importantly, the senior leadership team strives to create a safe environment for employees to voice concerns or contribute ideas. This serves Simmons and its partners well because it brings the best in thinking "to the table."