1960s
Business was good for Ed and warranted the construction of a new corporate headquarters in Cassopolis, Michigan. During this time Ed was also busy securing patents and trademarks for the assortment of new ideas he was bringing to market.
Business was good for Ed and warranted the construction of a new corporate headquarters in Cassopolis, Michigan. During this time Ed was also busy securing patents and trademarks for the assortment of new ideas he was bringing to market.
As his success continued with the cat box filler Ed looked to expand his product portfolio to include a whole range of cat-related products. During this time, Ed bought his first plant for the sole purpose of processing the Fullers earth. Vertical integration was part of the key to Ed’s success.
Ed Lowe entered the Navy in 1942 and continued his entrepreneurial journey by selling labeling stamps to his crewmates while in the service. After leaving the Navy Ed returned to work for his father selling grease absorbents to local industries. Everything changed in 1947 when a new opportunity came knocking.
Ed was a thinker and a tinkerer. As he matured he was keen to spot opportunities around him. Never afraid to hustle, his work ethic and moral compass were setting him on a path for future business success.
Dan Wyant discusses the way woodlands are managed at the Edward Lowe Foundation’s campus in Southwest Michigan. Instead of keeping only high monetary value trees, the foundation chooses to manage for biodiversity as the future is uncertain for any one particular cultivar.
The second program in our retreat series, Leadership of My Organization focuses on strategic thinking. You’ll become more aware of industry forces and how they may be affecting your organization. In addition, you’ll be introduced to a framework that combines your personal values and organization’s purpose with a big, hairy, audacious goal. In a nutshell, you’ll start thinking like a futurist.
Facilitating is a demanding undertaking, whether it’s an ongoing peer-to-peer roundtable, a one-time, high-stakes meeting or a large group interaction. During the process you may encounter anxiety, frustration, anger and bruised egos from group members. In this advanced course, experienced facilitators will gain a deeper understanding of the psychological and social forces that affect their ability to be effective. You’ll become more confident at managing both small and large group dialogue — and be able to address a wider range of group needs.
Designed specifically for executives at second-stage companies, this retreat gives participants a greater understanding of the challenges their company faces in this phase of growth and how to manage them — including tensions they may encounter with the founder. Discussions emphasize the role of executive orientation, the importance of information flow, industry impact on profitability, productive outcomes gained from managing conflict, and understanding group dynamics within the organization.