Page 19 - Build a Culture of Employee Engagement with the Principles

xviii Acknowledgments

and their families—even those they would never meet. It is dif-
ficult for me to comprehend their courage and strength. I owe
my grandfathers a debt of gratitude that I cannot repay but only
honor by making the most of the opportunities that they, as well
as my grandmothers and parents, set in motion.
While I could not appreciate it as a child, I want to thank
my mother and father for teaching me about respect and never
tolerating disrespectful behavior. I also want to thank them for
teaching me about hard work and to never take our freedoms for
granted. Their extraordinary sacrifices made it possible for my
brothers and me to attend college and follow our dreams. I can
only hope to be as selfless and loving a parent.
This book would not have been written if it were not for my
wife, Karen. She has been an inspiration and integral part of this
process from proposal to final edit. I could not imagine a more
loving, patient, and supportive partner and just don’t know what
I’d do without her.
I want to thank my clients over the past twenty years who
have entrusted their most valuable resources to my care. I would
like to give special thanks to Mannington Mills for their gen-
erous support of my research and acknowledge their care and
commitment to their employees as exemplified by their health
and wellness programming.
In all of my work as a teacher, therapist, consultant, entre-
preneur, and group fitness instructor, I have sought to make a
difference in the lives of others. My inspiration throughout this
process has been to make the workplace a more respectful envi-
ronment and to improve the quality of work life for all employ-
ees. I hope that you will bring the words on these pages to life
and make a difference to the people in your organization.