Garry O. Ridge

It's All About the People
The Principles and Practices that Build a Highly Engaged Tribe.

Ian McKinnon, Sonnet McKinnon, Gary Ridge, Interim Dean Craig White, Dean Eneritus Doug Brown

Left to right: Ian McKinnon, Sonnet McKinnon, Gary Ridge, Interim Dean Craig White, Dean Emeritus Doug Brown

May 14, 2014

(Albuquerque, NM) Garry Ridge is the president and CEO of the WD-40 Company. On Thursday, May 22 Mr. Ridge will share his philosophy for creating a culture of care, candor, accountability, and responsibility within the workplace. He will present It's All About the People: The Principles and Practices that Build a Highly Engaged Tribe as part of the UNM Anderson School's McKinnon Distinguished CEO Lecture Series. Mr. Ridge will give examples of how Tribal Leadership gives employees, or "tribal members," a sense of identity and belonging and how that benefits the company as a whole.

Mr. Ridge has been with WD-40 since 1987 as executive vice president, COO, vice president of international, and in his current positions of president and CEO. As an Australian native, Ridge was national vice president of the Australian Marketing Institute and the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association. He has a master's degree in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego and is an adjunct professor in the USD Executive Leadership program.

Mr. Ridge co-authored a book with Ken Blanchard titled Helping People Win at Work: A Business Philosophy called "Don't Mark My Paper, Help Me get An A". A limited number of books will be available for purchase the day of the event for $15 and Mr. Ridge will sign copies following his lecture.

The Distinguished CEO Lecture Series will take place at Embassy Suites beginning with a reception at 5:00 p.m. and the lecture at 5:45 p.m. The event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend, however, seating is limited and reservations are required. To reserve your space go to www.mgt.unm.edu/events/ceo or call Sara Lucero at (505) 277-6413.

The McKinnon Distinguished CEO Lecture Series was created in 2010 by Anderson alum Sonnet McKinnon and her husband D. Ian McKinnon as an expression of their commitment to UNM and the Anderson School. The endowed lecture series is held annually to provide a glimpse into the minds of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders.