American Group

By Fred Hameetman, Chairman

As a leader in a few professional organizations, I have access to some of the world's most influential and innovative business leaders. But what about our employees? Why not share the knowledge, experience, and advice of successful people with them? That was the thinking behind the creation of our Lunch with a __________ program, a series of monthly lectures presented by select individuals with a proven track record in their field.

Believing in the wellness paradigm that holds that there is a strong connection between mind, body, and spirit, the American Group has hosted individuals in fields as diverse as medicine, music, real estate, and finance. Since 2007, our employees have heard from one of the top 20 scientists in the United States, a professional ukulele player, a CIA agent, a group of senior portfolio managers at a global investment firm, a principal architect, the chief of clinical nutrition and wellness at one of the top hospitals in the country, and many more.

In today's sharing economy, we share our cars, our homes, even our clothes. But, perhaps the most important "commodity" to be shared since humans learned to speak is knowledge. Through our Lunch with a __________ program, an emphasis on knowledge sharing rather than knowledge hoarding is emphasized and our employees are encouraged to share their own knowledge, skills, and information with their coworkers. Knowledge sharing provides fast solutions, increases collaboration, creates awareness, and promotes acceptance to new ideas.