College classes in CA to prepare CEOs

New program in Hayward has practical focus

OAKLAND — California State University, Hayward brought in Men’s Wearhouse CEO George Zimmer to kick off the launch of a training program for ambitious chief executives.

Zimmer, best known for his TV commercial slogan "I guarantee it," urged a crowd of more than 70 people at the Oakland Marriott Thursday night to "create a business environment of trust."

In the past, Zimmer said he characterized himself as a "cut-throat competitive entrepreneur." However, as Men’s Wearhouse transformed from a single clothing store in Houston to a 600-store empire with more than $1 billion in sales, Zimmer’s leadership style changed.

"We are now more concerned with service leadership at the company," he said. "We want to encourage employees’ integration of mind, body and spirit."

He conceded that he would also like to see his Fremont-based company’s stock trading above its current historic lows. Nevertheless, Zimmer is a good example of how a chief executive officer turned a small business into a multinational corporation.

Taking companies to that next level of growth is the core idea behind Cal State Hayward’s program for entrepreneurial CEOs, said Aaron Silva, president and chief executive of Clayton-based technology consulting firm Paladin FS.

"This program is not about theory," he said. "This is built for business leaders by business leaders."

Tom Anderson can be reached at (510) 353-7006, or [email protected]

Silva approached the Hayward university about starting the CEO course, called the Chief Executive Program, earlier this year.

Cal State Hayward hopes to attract at least 12 chief executive to spend two working days a month for 10 months in a training program. It costs $12,500.

"The classroom setting is designed to be confidential and limited to an intimate group of chief executives that understand the problems that growing businesses face," Silva said.

Cal State Hayward will begin the program as soon as it has enough people enrolled. Classes will be held at the university’s conference center in Oakland.

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