Fall 2001 Issue
CDC Foundation Welcomes New Chair
In October, Kent C. “Oz” Nelson, former UPS chairman and chief executive officer, became the new chair of the CDC Foundation board of directors. Nelson succeeded Bernard Marcus, co-founder and chairman of The Home Depot, who served the previous three-year term.
“We are fortunate to have such an outstanding leader as chair of our board of directors,” says Charles Stokes, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation. “There are very few individuals who could follow in Bernie Marcus’ footsteps. Oz Nelson is the superb candidate.”
Nelson remains a member of the UPS board of directors and serves in leadership capacities on numerous other non-profit boards, including national director of the United Way of America and chairman of The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the world’s largest foundation dedicated to helping disadvantaged children. He also serves on the board of trustees at The Carter Center, where he is co-chairing a $150 million fundraising campaign.
Why the strong desire to get involved with the CDC Foundation? “I’ve seen how the committed men and women of CDC are making a real difference in the world,” says Nelson. “CDC scientists have so many brilliant ideas that could benefit humanity, if only they had enough resources and flexibility to achieve their dreams. That is why the work of the Foundation is so vital.”
In addition to public health, education reform is among Nelson’s top concerns. The first in his family to earn a college degree, he co-founded and formerly chaired the Kentucky Partnership for Schools, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving education for all Kentucky students. He also served on Gov. Roy Barnes’ Education Reform Study Commission and heads a $90 million fundraising campaign for his alma mater, Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Active in the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Nelson is on the Chamber’s education committee, which he formerly chaired.
Nelson began his long, successful UPS career just two days after graduating from college in 1959. He joined UPS as a customer service representative, rising through virtually every division of the company to eventually become chairman and CEO of the global transportation giant - serving in that capacity from 1989 to 1996.
“I always wanted to learn as much as I could about the company and do my job well,” he says. “My accomplishments at UPS were spurred by the great people I worked with.”
Nelson is especially proud of UPS’s commitment to promote from within and to hire and promote women and minorities. “The employees own a large part of the company, so everyone has a stake in the business. And, it’s a very personal company. We never used titles within the organization, and most people worked their way up from the front lines. Everyone was on a first-name basis, and it’s still like that today.”
He credits UPS founder Jim Casey for a smart approach to business. His slogan, ‘Best Service and Lowest Rates,’ still guides UPS today, Nelson says. “He told us that we should never promise more than we’re able to do, and always do more than we promise.”
When he’s not tending to his many civic pursuits, Nelson enjoys reading mysteries and playing golf. He also is an avid sports fan - especially when it comes to the Chicago Cubs.
As for his nickname, Nelson explains that a fourth-grade classmate dubbed him “Oz,” back when the show “Ozzie & Harriet” made its debut. (He and Ozzie both shared the last name Nelson.) The nickname stuck, and today rarely anyone calls him “Kent.”
Married, with two sons, a stepdaughter, and four grandchildren, Nelson strongly supports the CDC Foundation’s efforts to make the world a safer, healthier place for future generations. “No one’s health is safe in this country unless it’s safe in every country,” he notes.
Also joining the CDC Foundation board in October was Phil S. Jacobs, president of Georgia Operations for BellSouth.
Jacobs serves on the boards of numerous regional and local organizations, including the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Corporation for Economic Development, the Medical College of Georgia Foundation, and the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership.
“Both Oz Nelson and Phil Jacobs will bring critical energy, depth, and experience to help the Foundation carry out its vision of significantly enhancing the impact of CDC,” says Stokes.
A Conversation with Kent “Oz” Nelson
- Lisa Splitlog