DePaul University’s Department of Management will host three separate events this fall that will address a trio of important issues facing today’s managers: the design of work environments that foster employee creativity; leadership that promotes ethics and social responsibility; and corporate conservation measures that support both the environment and business.

The Center for Creativity and Innovation, under the direction of DePaul Management Professor Lisa Gundry, will sponsor “Innovate 2008! Designing the Innovative Workplace” from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Sept. 26 in the  8th floor Conference Center of the DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago. Business and academic speakers will discuss how to design and manage innovation-inspiring workplaces that promote collaboration, communication and experimentation—key elements of organizational culture that result in creativity and high performance.

“Today’s business leaders recognize the importance of designing a workplace that connects and aligns individuals and teams with the company’s vision and strategy,” Gundry explained. “Effective design of programs and spaces can enable workers to achieve the creative collaboration necessary to produce novel products, services and technologies for enhanced consumer experiences and business growth.”

Speakers include:

• Cathy Calhoun, president, Weber Shandwick–Chicago and co-president, Global Consumer Marketing, Weber Shandwick
• Adam Hecktman, director, Microsoft Technology Center
• Brian Knudson, founder and CEO, NogginLabs
• Cathy Martin, vice president of Restaurant Innovation, McDonald’s Corp.
• David Schmahl, senior director, and Stephanie Schall, director, SmithBucklin Innovation Center
• Tom Stat, associate director, IDEO
• Warwick Stirling, global director of Innovation, and Nancy Tennant, corporate vice president of Leadership and Strategic Competencies, Whirlpool Corp.
• Ronald Watt, second vice president, New Growth Ventures, Trustmark Companies

The conference fee is $325 and includes lunch and a closing networking reception.  To register, visit the Center for Creativity and Innovation Web site: http://creativity.depaul.edu

On Oct. 2, 3 and 4, human resource scholars and practitioners from all over the world will convene in the 8th floor Conference Center of the DePaul Center to discuss business organization ethics and social responsibility.  Evelyn S. Howell, vice president of Global Business Practices & Compliance at Sara Lee Corp., will deliver the conference’s opening address at 9 .m. on Oct. 2.  

Academic participants will share their research findings on the legal and management aspects of workplace bullying, whistle blowing and sexual harassment as well as leadership.  From strategic and consultative perspectives, practitioners will relate their workplace experiences involving these issues.

The fee for the three-day conference is $250.  For further information or to register, contact Helen LaVan, professor of management, at hlavan@depaul.edu or (312) 362-8539.

At noon on Oct. 14, DePaul’s Management Department will host a talk by environmentalist Tzeporah Berman, cofounder of the non-profit Forest Ethics, who will discuss how corporations and environmentalists can work together to enhance environmental sustainability and business.  The address, followed by a panel discussion, will held be in DePaul Center Room 8005.

Berman works with corporations—including Sears, Home Depot, Dell and Staples, the world’s largest paper retailer—to transform their buying habits to promote tree conservation while saving the organizations’ money, boosting morale and reinvigorating their public images. She also spearheaded the campaign, Do Not Mail, to curtail the production of junk mail, 44 percent of which goes to landfills unopened. Berman and her work were featured in Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary “The 11th Hour.”

The event is free.  For more information, contact Erin Espeland at (312) 362-5203 or  eespelan@depaul.edu.