By Maria Saporta
It’s exhausting to overstate the impression Kent C. “Oz” Nelson had on Atlanta.
Nelson, who served as CEO of UPS from 1990 to 1996., died on April 6 on the age of 85.
His contributions to the Atlanta neighborhood prolonged far past his service to UPS, an organization he joined in 1959.
Earlier than and after he retired, Nelson served as a tireless chief locally. He helped launch the CDC Basis, a non-public entity set as much as assist the Atlanta-based Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. He served on the board of the Carter Middle, the Annie E. Casey Basis and as a nationwide director for United Approach of America.
Nelson additionally was dedicated to training reform, particularly in Kentucky, the most important world air hub for UPS, the place he truly served as the corporate’s first worker in 1963.
Through the years, I had the chance to interview Nelson a number of instances.
The primary time was shortly after the corporate introduced it was shifting its company headquarters from Greenwich, Conn. to Atlanta – a transfer that passed off in 1991.
Nelson advised me that shifting to Atlanta was a tremendous alternative for UPS to provide again to the neighborhood. In Greenwich, one of many richest cities in America, Nelson mentioned there have been restricted alternatives to essentially make a distinction within the lives of individuals in want.
To him, the transfer to Atlanta was a chance to turn into absolutely engaged in a neighborhood with a number of challenges {that a} company chief might assist transfer the needle.
Oz Nelson in his workplace in 1993 whereas he was CEO of UPS. (Particular: UPS.)
Some of the important strikes Nelson made was main the trouble to construct the corporate’s headquarters in Sandy Springs.
The headquarters is an environmental jewel – an instance of how a major constructing might be constructed with out destroying the pure setting.
Larry Gellerstedt III, then heading up the undertaking Beers Development, described the undertaking, designed by architect Tom Ventulett, as one of the complicated as a result of there have been large fines if any timber have been broken exterior a 20-foot perimeter of the constructing. Gellerstedt described it as being as tough to construct the headquarters in the midst of an city block moderately than a suburban piece of land.
Many companies can be taught from UPS’ management. As a substitute of clear-cutting a chunk of land, UPS demonstrated how one can sensitively protect a forest – guaranteeing a beautiful place for workers to work whereas having fun with nature.
One other reminiscence I had of Nelson was his expertise with United Approach. Earlier than shifting to Atlanta, UPS had a coverage towards office giving campaigns – not eager to stress workers to provide to the umbrella charity.
However underneath Nelson’s management, UPS turned the highest donor to the United Approach of Better Atlanta and one of many prime donors to United Approach nationally. He seen it as a part of the corporate’s accountability to provide its workers a chance to contribute to the neighborhood.
“Oz was an enormous of a pacesetter,” mentioned Sam Williams, retired president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “He introduced UPS to Atlanta, and that was one of many first Fortune 500 corporations to relocate to Atlanta. And he broke the mildew in the best way UPS constructed its headquarters and guarded the timber.”
Many tributes poured in Monday when his passing was introduced by UPS.
“Oz Nelson’s 20 years of devoted service helped make the Carter Middle the robust group it’s right this moment,” mentioned Jason Carter, who succeeded Nelson as board chair. “He was a terrific pal to me personally and to all of us on the Middle. And he was a terrific pal to the individuals we serve.”
Oz Nelson assembly with college students whereas he was CEO of UPS. (Particular: UPS.)
Kevin Inexperienced, president of the Midtown Alliance, remembered assembly Nelson at a celebration again within the early 2000s.
“We had by no means met, however after one brief spherical of small speak, we had a pleasant dialog that went on for a protracted whereas, lined quite a lot of floor and with loads of stomach laughs,” Inexperienced wrote in an e-mail.
“I stored considering, “Isn’t there somebody essential you ought to be speaking to?” However Oz made me really feel essential and made dialog easy,” Inexperienced continued. “He listened actively. He was humble, pleasant and personable. Not precisely what I used to be anticipating on the time from such an enormous. That night nonetheless sticks vividly in my thoughts, and it was very affirming. Some individuals have that high quality. Oz Nelson certain did.”
Carol Tomé, the present CEO of UPS, shared the next assertion, asking individuals to affix the corporate in extending condolences to Nelson’s household and all who had skilled his “exemplary” management.
Tomé’s message was as follows:
At this time we mourn the lack of Oz Nelson, our CEO from 1990 to 1996, and a really visionary chief. Oz helped rework our firm into a world logistics powerhouse, aggressively increasing service choices and connecting clients all over the world.
Beginning in 1959 as a gross sales and repair consultant, Oz had spent greater than three many years with the corporate when he took over as CEO, and he understood simply how rapidly buyer wants have been altering.
Oz championed revolutionary applied sciences, like our real-time package deal monitoring techniques and the hand held scanning gadgets our drivers use right this moment. He additionally spearheaded our entry into the world of logistics, completely increasing our experience past package deal supply and paving the best way for our present customer-first technique.
We additionally bear in mind Oz for main along with his coronary heart. He was deeply dedicated to individuals – UPSers and clients across the globe – and the communities the place we stay and serve, driving the corporate’s philanthropic and volunteer efforts to new heights.
Oz served in management roles for quite a few nonprofits, together with the CDC, the Carter Middle, United Approach of America, and the Annie E. Casey Basis, and he made important contributions to training reform in Kentucky.
We owe Oz a debt of gratitude for his exemplary management, and we lengthen our deepest sympathies to his household and family members throughout this tough time. Our ideas are with them as we bear in mind the enduring legacy he leaves behind.
An official portrait of Oz Nelson. (Particular: UPS.)
The corporate additionally shared the next biographical information about Nelson, who started his profession at UPS in 1959, two days after he graduated from Ball State College in Muncie, Ind. He was employed as a gross sales and repair consultant and spent most of his profession specializing in the shopper and the market. In actual fact, he helped UPS attain a major new market, main the workforce that established our first operation exterior North America in West Germany in 1976.
A 12 months after turning into chairman and CEO in January 1990, Nelson referred to as for a daring imaginative and prescient on the 1991 Management Convention – one that may assure a “future crammed with the correct mix of latest service options, new providers, and the extra revenues and alternatives wanted to maintain UPS a dynamic, rising group.”
He additionally launched a brand new company mission and technique outlining 4 factors of focus that also drive UPS right this moment: clients, workers, share holders and communities.
Throughout Nelson’s tenure, UPS started “shifting on the velocity of enterprise,” introducing service choices that prioritized velocity, like UPS Subsequent Day Early A.M., Saturday supply and even same-day supply by the acquisition of SonicAir. A brand new portfolio of pan-European providers, together with next-day supply for home and trans-border shipments and assured morning deliveries, additionally launched.
However Nelson knew that clients wanted extra, so he set the course for creating refined know-how that delivered bundles of details about shipments to UPS and to clients. By introducing the DIAD, with its handheld scanner, GroundTrac and UPS.com, clients might “see” their packages shifting by UPS’s system for the primary time. And UPS might “speak” with drivers on street about visitors and last-minute pickups.
Nelson additionally understood that to essentially develop the enterprise, UPS wanted to do greater than transfer packages – it wanted to offer clients with options that improved their enterprise alongside all factors of the provision chain. He helped start the shift of UPS’s picture from provider to trusted logistics companion, with a number of revolutionary, tech-savvy, built-in options.
In 1991, Nelson relocated the company headquarters from Greenwich, Conn., to Atlanta, the place the corporate established deep roots.
Nelson additionally led UPS efforts in one other key space – neighborhood service. He helped UPS understand that the neighborhood is made up of the purchasers it serves, and he solidified the corporate’s repute as a accountable company citizen dedicated to giving again by {dollars} and deep neighborhood involvement.
Nelson served in management roles for quite a few nonprofits, together with chair of the CDC Basis, the Carter Middle and the Annie E. Casey Basis, and nationwide director for United Approach of America.
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