news-record.com

GREENSBORO - Not even the experts on leadership and corporate efficiency are immune to the bad economy.

The Center for Creative Leadership, an elite executive training institute respected worldwide, is trimming staff and programs to adapt to the slumping world economy.

Although corporations, governments and nonprofits recognize the value of helping executives sharpen their skills, leadership training may be an expense to be deferred until business improves.

CCL is planning for that.

"The market is softer, definitely," said Stephen Martin, global public relations manager for the center.

No hard figures are available, Martin said, but the center is evaluating every program and expense as it plans for its fiscal budget, which begins April 1.

That means taking a look at its 600 jobs spread over five offices worldwide, its open enrollment programs offered through a catalog and its fund-raising strategies.

For the moment, the center has cut a few staffers through retirements and eliminating vacant jobs.

Martin said that corporations are more interested in custom training programs tailored specifically to their needs and have become somewhat less interested in general "open enrollment" instruction programs.

"That's still a strong area but a lot of companies are starting to express interest in custom work," he said. "This is all in the evaluation phase. This is not unique to CCL," Martin said.

Similar centers are "looking more at how to streamline and combine their open enrollment programs."

More than 20,000 people a year - chief executives, military officers, university presidents - come in contact with CCL through some kind of program worldwide.

The programs range from assessments of personal leadership styles and coaching, to teaching executives how to lead teams and corporations.

The center operates in Greensboro, Colorado Springs, Colo., San Diego, Brussels and Singapore, as well as through other representatives licensed to use CCL programs.

The center has become a bedrock institution in Greensboro's business community during the past four decades. It was founded in 1970 by the Smith Richardson Foundation, which was endowed by H. Smith Richardson Sr., who built the Vick Chemical Co.

CCL's Web site describes Richardson's dreams for the center: "His thoughts turned to questions of leadership: how can businesses remain vital and continue to provide useful, innovative products and services through economic ups and downs, in the face of changes in the marketplace, and in spite of the inevitable succession of management groups?"

Now that the center's leaders are struggling with economic issues of their own, Martin said the center will continue to explore custom programs, whether commissioned by corporations or funded by the center and a corporation on behalf of a nonprofit or other group.

"A lot of it depends on the client," he said. "Some will see these (programs) as part of their business strategy, crucial to long-term success.

"Others are saying we're going to have to delay this a little bit until the economy stabilizes."

Contact Richard M. Barron at 373-7371 or richard.barron@news-record.com