Generous alum donation supports Michigan Ross’ Center for Positive Organizations
October 20, 2016
Terry Adderley is one of the many impressive alumni that make up the Michigan Ross legacy of success. The Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Kelly Services (BBA ‘55/MBA ‘56) has shared his gratitude to the school with a generous donation to the Center for Positive Organizations (CPO). Adderley’s contribution to the CPO was marked with a celebration on Oct. 10, 2016 on the Ross campus.
“We were so pleased to honor Terry Adderley by naming our Adderley Positive Research Incubator after him,” said Gretchen Spreitzer, CPO Director. “His contributions to our center have been a tremendous catalyst to enabling Ross to be THE go-to school for positive business and organizations.”
The incubator gives researchers the opportunity to take feedback on their work, even if it’s still in the proposal stage. Since opening in 2004, it has hosted more than 120 researchers, who have used the experience to develop high-quality projects.
The research incubator is just one of many innovative services offered at CPO, which is the leading research hub focused on the leadership, strategies, systems, culture, and practices of high-performing organizations that enable people to be their best selves in the workplace. The center also has student programming and a consortium of companies who seek to learn about and apply positive practices.
Sarah Tsung, BBA ’18 who is also double majoring in English, spent a week embedded at Kelly Services during the action learning component of CPO’s Magnify Immersion Program. She found it to be a transformational learning experience, and she was even surprised by an impromptu lunch with the current CEO. Even after her internship, she finds herself at CPO every week. “I can only describe CPO’s impact in my life as a booster shot of inspiration and energy every time I interact with someone there,” she said. “It’s the best part of my Ross education.”
Other students echo similar sentiments. “The CPO has been the bridge that has married my passion for social change with my business degree in that I want to use the power of business to make people’s lives better,” said Adam Brodnax, BBA ’18. “I’ve learned about energy networks, high quality connections, gratitude, and other POS concepts that have shaped me into the person I am now. I now view the world as a place where can I contribute to the solutions.”
Originally published on the Michigan Ross News Blog.