CEOs may set the ethical tone from the top, but they need a capable supporting cast to tend to the day-to-day implementation of the company’s compliance and ethics programs. What are these leaders on the front lines talking about and doing these days?

01// TELL US WHAT YOUR GROUP IS FOCUSED ON THESE DAYS.

We are concentrating on human resource management (HRM) and capacity building with our manufacturing partners. We are in the process of creating an HRM training curriculum to complement our lean manufacturing training programs. The HRM courses will concentrate on developing professional CR and HR managers with contract manufacturers where we have production. The programs are aimed at creating a greater sense of worker empowerment, which will allow us to further develop “best in class” human resource processes and procedures.

02 // WHAT SPECIFIC INITIATIVES HAVE WORKED WELL THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH OTHERS?

Our goal is to develop the HRM training curriculum and then open source it for others to use. We believe this will lead to further transparency and consistency across the apparel and footwear industries.

03 // WHAT PART OF YOUR BACKGROUND HAS MOST PREPARED YOU FOR THIS POSITION?

I have spent the last 25 years of my Nike career in footwear manufacturing and product creation. This has given me unique insight into the challenges our manufacturing partners are facing in today’s global economy. This insight allows me to integrate our compliance principles and programs further upstream in our business units as well as on the factory floor.

04 // WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT?

The ever-changing global economy and what this does to our long-term supply chain strategy.

05 // IS THERE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE KNOWN WHEN YOU FIRST GOT THE JOB?

In order to be successful, you need to approach compliance and corporate responsibility with a long-term view of what you want to accomplish. It does not happen overnight. It has taken us 10 years to shift the conversation from risk and reputation management to innovation and growth. We now look at CSR as part of the business.

06 // TO WHOM DO YOU REPORT? WHAT ROLE HAS THIS PERSON PLAYED IN THE COMPLIANCE AND ETHICS PROGRAM?

I report to Hannah Jones, Corporate Vice President of Corporate Responsibility. I have learned a great deal from her. Her understanding of the importance of relationship building with our external stakeholders and the unique insight they bring to the dialogue has provided dimension to the role I play in the process. From who they are and the history they bring to the relationship, to the support and knowledge they can provide to help drive our ongoing compliance efforts, the education has been invaluable.

07 // WHAT’S THE WORST JOB THAT YOU HAVE EVER HELD?

I spent two summers working in an aluminum plant as a carbon setter on the molten aluminum lines. My job was to open the protective shields over the long aluminum pots and, with the help of an overhead crane, hook up two copper rods with spent carbon blocks on them and pull them out. Next, I had to chip away a new opening over the molten aluminum to enable new carbon blocks to replace the old ones. The purpose of the carbon was to keep the temperature hot enough to cook the aluminum. It was hot, gassy and hard work. Many times molten aluminum splashed up and burned my clothes and protective gear.

I made great money, and it helped pay for a good bit of my college education. However, I realized it wasn’t for me long-term; it was definitely hard on the body.

08 // WHAT’S THE DUMBEST/SMARTEST QUESTION THAT SOMEONE HAS EVER ASKED YOU IN AN INTERVIEW, AND HOW DID YOU ANSWER IT?

I guess I’ve been fortunate in my past interviews. Most of the questions were related to the work or roles I was doing at the time.

However, something that struck me as humorous at the timeÉI was working in China and was being interviewed for Just Do It, a book about Nike. The author referred to my mannerisms and dress as though I could be mistaken for a CIA Operative…never really knew if this was good or bad as I have never had the opportunity to actually meet a CIA operative.