2009 Volume 12 Issue 4

Video Interview on Corporate Social Responsibility with Golden State Foods

Video Interview on Corporate Social Responsibility with Golden State Foods

Keeping up with CSR During a Recession

What is a values-driven company? What does corporate social responsibility mean in practical terms? How do you balance creating social good with the bottom line?

On September 29, 2009, Bill Sanderson, senior vice president of Finance and Administration for Golden State Foods, and his colleague, Chuck Browne, executive director of the Golden State Foods Foundation, visited with the Graziadio Business Report to answer the questions above and more.

Bill Sanderson is senior vice president of Finance and Administration for Golden State Foods and president of its subsidiary, Golden State Service Industries. Bill chairs the Golden State Foods Foundation committee in Irvine. He has also been a member of the board of directors of Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Orange County for more than 17 years and served as chairman of the board from 1997 through 2000.

Chuck Browne is the executive director of the Golden State Foods Foundation. He played an instrumental role in the start-up of the foundation and has led and coached 18 foundation committees across the United States in pursuing its mission. Prior to joining Golden State Foods, Chuck took early retirement in 1997 to enjoy time on his 300-acre Missouri farm. To learn more about Golden State Foods and their foundation, visit goldenstatefoods.com.

Questions for Bill and Chuck:

  1. Tell us about Golden State Foods (GSF).
  2. How has GSF been impacted by the economic downturn
  3. How did GSF get involved with corporate social responsibility
  4. Tell us about your project that recycles cooking oil from McDonald’s.
  5. Tell us about the GSF Foundation.
  6. How do you prevent the bottom line of business from trumping the social good?
  7. What does it mean to be a values-based business?
  8. What’s next on the horizon for GSF?
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Author of the article
Rick Hesse, DSc
Rick Hesse, DSc, is currently a professor and Chair of Decision Sciences and Marketing at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio’s Graduate School of Business and Management. He has taught management science using spreadsheets since 1982 in both engineering and business schools at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Since 1982 he has been writing a quarterly column in Decision Line, “In the Classroom.” Dr. Hesse has won numerous teaching awards, including the national Decision Sciences Innovative Instructional Award, the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal from the Department of the Army, and Teacher of the Year award at the San Diego State School of Business. He has been involved as a consultant on management science problems with such companies as Semtech, YouBet.com, ITT, Pratt, Whitney, Brown, Williamson, Piedmont Airlines, GEICO, UPS, and Bluebird.
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