BOARD APPROVES NOMINATION OF FOUR CANDIDATES FOR SHAREHOLDER VOTE
Wednesday at the Green Bay Packers' quarterly meeting of its Board of Directors, Bob Harlan formally became the team's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and John Jones became President and Chief Operating Officer.
The move was part of a plan of succession approved by the Board at a meeting in October 2005. Harlan will continue to chair the Board of Directors and Executive Committee until May 2007. The next step in the plan will take place at the Board's May 2007 meeting when Harlan will be elected Chairman Emeritus after having reached age 70, the Board's mandatory retirement age, and Jones will be elected President and Chief Executive Officer.
"This is the next step in the plan that was approved last October," said Harlan. "I'll continue to oversee the organization for the next year and John will continue to take on more duties and become more involved in the football side of operations as he furthers his preparations to become CEO in 2007."
"I'm honored to become the 10th president of the Packers," said Jones. "I'm thankful to Bob Harlan, the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors for this opportunity. I'm very confident the stability, continuity and direction of the team will carry us into a successful future. All of us here will continue to work to provide the football team with all the resources it needs to field a championship club and we will continue our efforts to give our fans an awesome experience when coming to Lambeau Field, be it on game day, or any day."
In addition to becoming the team's 10th president, Jones also was nominated as a director by the team's Board of Directors for shareholder vote at the July 19 annual meeting.
In another Board activity, Edward N. Martin, owner and CEO of H.J. Martin & Son, Inc., has been elected to the Executive Committee. He has been a member of the Board since 2004.
Martin replaces Don Schneider, a member of the Executive Committee since 1984, who has reached age 70, the mandatory retirement age under the Packers' bylaws.
"We're delighted to bring Ed Martin onto the Executive Committee," said Harlan in announcing the addition. "Ed has served the team well on the Board and as a member of the foundation committee. He's a successful businessman and greatly involved in the community, and now will be a further asset to the team as we move into the future."
The Packers' Executive Committee, elected from the team's Board of Directors, directs corporate management, approves major capital expenditures, establishes broad policy and monitors management's performance in conducting the business and affairs of the corporation.
Martin, 50, currently serves as owner and CEO of H.J. Martin & Son, Inc., a Green Bay-based family-owned business established in 1931 that specializes in building services to institutions and individuals. The company's offerings include commercial interiors, commercial doors and hardware, fixtures, floorcare, glass and glazing, millwork, residential interiors and steel stud and drywall. The company employs more than 1,000 people nationwide.
Originally elected to the Packers' Board of Directors in July 2004, Martin serves on the organization's foundation committee. He joined the company in 1978 upon graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was named president in November of the same year. Martin is involved with the Green Bay Boys & Girls Club, Green Bay Chamber of Commerce and Libertas Treatment Center.
The Board also elected the following as officers of the corporation: Bob Harlan, chairman; John Jones, president; John Fabry, vice president; Peter Platten III, secretary; Larry Weyers, treasurer; and three at-large members, John Bergstrom, Carl Kuehne and Ed Martin.
Schneider, Chairman of the Board of Schneider National, Inc., first joined the Packers' Board of Directors May 4, 1981, and subsequently was elected to the Executive Committee June 4, 1984.
Harlan saluted the excellent service of Schneider, saying, "He's been a longtime member of the Executive Committee and has offered valued advice through the years. Don always had the success of the Packers as his number one goal."
In other proceedings today, the Board of Directors approved the nominations of four candidates, including Jones, to replace directors who have reached the mandatory retirement age and will take on emeritus status. The retiring directors are, in addition to Schneider, C. Patricia LaViolette, Leo J. Scherer and Edward A. Thompson. The four candidates, who will be voted upon by shareholders at the Annual Meeting, July 19, are:
- Beverly A. French, Owner/President, Orde Advertising, Inc., Green Bay.
- John M. Jones, President and COO, Green Bay Packers.
- Thomas L. Olson, retired executive, formerly President and CEO of U.S. Paper Mills, Corp., Green Bay.
- Bryce E. Paup, General Contractor, Vision Builders, De Pere, Wis. Paup is an 11-year NFL veteran (1990-94, Green Bay; 1995-97, Buffalo; 1998-99, Jacksonville; 2000, Minnesota) who began his career as a sixth-round selection (159th overall) in 1990 from Northern Iowa. The exceptional linebacker and four-time Pro Bowler played in 148 NFL games, with 113 starts, and accumulated 690 career tackles, including 75 sacks. His 32½ sacks in a Packers uniform stand sixth on the club's all-time list. In continuing a long tradition, Paup would become another former player to serve the organization as a Board member. Tony Canadeo, Jim Temp and Willie Davis are three recent examples of such former Packers.
"We're pleased to be able to present these great candidates to the shareholders," said Harlan. "They all are well accomplished and would bring a lot of talent and expertise to the Packers."
