Meetings. Talking. Meetings.
We’re always being reminded that political leaders, policymakers and industry leaders are “gathering” to hash out ideas on how to get the mojo back and what the key is to unlocking innovations and jobs of the future. We’re suppose to feel good, but from my vantage there is little visible in the way of action.
The White House has made a quiet but extensive effort to reach out to corporate executives in a series of dinners and lunches at the White House with President Barack Obama. Attendees have largely been kept secret or at minimum very quiet… until now!
Politico.com states Keith Wandell (Harley-Davidson CEO) had dinner with Obama’s chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and other top White House officials. Another comprehensive list is available HERE. It’s not clear if it was at an off-site local restaurant or something more elegant in the White House. Given the state-of-the-states, I seriously doubt the motor company will be creating any new jobs soon. In fact, the recent ratified agreement calls for a drawdown of nearly 50% of the employee’s base at the York, PA operations. Asia or India look like expansion alternatives and I suspect it won’t be long before we hear about plants being set up there. So, what did Mr. Wandell share w/ the White House chief of staff? Would H-D coming to the government to offer ideas on how they can help be a startling conversation changer? Does H-D have eyes and ears on future trends that they can grab and then be able to exploit?
I’m not sure, but do you think the U.S. is still the world’s center for innovation, or is it falling behind countries such as India and China? Fueling the debate is a new poll on innovation published by Newsweek. One interesting finding: while 82% of Chinese citizens believe the U.S. remains a technologically innovative country, only 74% of Americans feel the same way.
At any rate, the other industry officials who joined Mr. Wandell at the June 16, Rahm Emanuel dinner were:
Penny Pritzker, CEO, Pritzker Realty
Mark Gallogly of Centerbridge Partners
Mike Fascitelli, CEO, Vornado Realty Trust
Klaus Kleinfeld, CEO, Alcoa
Dave O’Reilly, CEO, Chevron
Richard Smith, CEO, Realogy
Mike Ullman, CEO, J.C. Penney
Keith Wandell, CEO, Harley Davidson
I’m not attacking or implying that only favor-curriers are “sitting at the presidents table” but I’m not reading a lot about how the voice of the average lower and middle class American are being heard. As the White House National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers has recently urged attendees at these dinners to “think about what your institution should be called on to do, not in its own interest, but in the broader national interest.”
Photo courtesy of Presidential inauguration.
Northwest Harley Blog 