The Greatest Boss Contest Honorable Mention
Rudy Alvarado
Chief Executive Officer
Advancia Corporation
Oklahoma City, OK
For-Profit Organizations Category
Nomination Essay
"...is one who subconsciously and positively influences your actions, who presents an authentic example in their daily interactions and activities, and who inspires [not directs] the workforce to do better." Our CEO, Mr. Rudy Alvarado, does that.
When I first met Rudy - and it's Rudy, not Mr. Alvarado - he thanked me for making the choice to bring my talents to our (not his) organization. Later that afternoon, he came back to the headquarters from other obligations so that we could spend some time together. The greeting was profound, in that it was so markedly different than any other I'd received that it still stands out and set the tone for my tenure in this organization. He made me feel important, valuable, and welcome.
Rudy listens, advises, counsels, and mentors. Never overt, but consistent, it is oftentimes body language, posture, or a facial expression that gently guide an interaction. He walks softly and, by who he is and what he does, can generally leave the “big stick” at home.
In the vein of telling corporate stories, I often share that my daily activities are guided by his example. Many seek counsel in the "What would Jesus do?" mantra. At work, the additional adage I would include is "What would Rudy do?" We lost an employee to a tragic automobile accident in March of this year. Rudy joined the company's "team" to pay our respects to his memory and family at a memorial service in Colorado. As we linked up at the airport in Denver to begin our trek to the service, he took me aside, looked me in the eye, and told me that he was there to support me and to do what was in the best interest of the family - if that was to be the CEO, so be it. But if that was to be Rudy, he was equally fine with that as well. He would lead, follow, or simply get out of the way, but he had a keen sense of what we were there to do and the roles required to do it.
Rudy makes me want to be a better boss. He has created an environment where we give subordinate leaders rein, he enables productive counseling and coaching as we pursue the organization's business, he cheers our successes, and shares in our missteps. I can see his hand and feel his influence in the interaction and guidance I get from intermediate bosses. They, by his example, invest in me. The best bosses, like Rudy, create an environment where I'll never fail to offer the “extra mile” for our organization.
