SPECIAL REPORT
CHAIRMAN of the
BOARD
ED MADY CREATED HIS PERSONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS , mentors with whom he has chemistry , trust and synergies who give him honest feedback . “ They make me comfortable being uncomfortable , and this is a sensation that is helpful to anyone who wants to grow ,” he says .
JOE TORRE . Hall of Famer and winner of four titles as manager of the New York Yankees , who taught his teams a responsibility to continuously improve . “ I try to instill this same sense of responsibility in my own hotel team ,” Mady says .
TONY LA RUSSA . Hall of Famer and manager of three World Series-winning teams , who often talks about the intangible “ 26th man ” on a team – a chemistry and spirit of family that makes teams better than just groups of individuals wearing the same uniform or jersey .
DEREK JETER . Former captain of the New York Yankees and five-time World Series champion , who met Mady when they were both facing turning points in their lives and careers .
JOSEPH MICHELLI , PhD . Psychologist and best-selling business author , including “ The Starbucks Experience ,” “ The New Gold Standard ” ( about Ritz-Carlton ). They met when Michelli was doing research for “ The New Gold Standard ” and shadowing Mady and his team at The Ritz-Carlton , San Francisco . he became the number two for the next five years , regularly picking up messes created by Helmsley and quietly shielding and earning the trust of the line staff . He survived what he called “ Marine Corps training ” and developed his ability to inspire employees , manage crises and keep teams in sync .
“ Leona actually fired me a week before I got my green card and when she fired me she rehired me in the same breath ,” Mady recalls with a chuckle . “ She liked me because she never smelled fear , and she taught me that fear is not a motivator . She led with fear . She wanted to intimidate and called employees ‘ the little people .’ I learned what not to do as a leader , and for
Mady cherishes his collection of 588 ( and counting ) signed baseballs , ranging from the Dalai Lama to his friend , baseball legend Joe Torre .
Mady ' s office is adorned with career and baseball memorabilia , highlighted by a Yankees jersey from friend Derek Jeter .
that knowledge I am grateful .”
In 1988 , Mady met Schulze and got his first GM job offer at age 36 . He jokes that Schulze figured if someone could thrive under Helmsley for five years , they were ready to become a Ritz-Carlton GM .
Mady spent the next two decades with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co ., serving most prominently as vice president and area general manager overseeing five properties .
Under Schulze , Mady played a pivotal role in coaching teams to master 1,000 process checkpoints over five categories needed to win the coveted Baldrige award . They captured an unprecedented two awards in the 1990s – a first for the hospitality industry .
26 hotelsmag . com November 2017