March 7, 2019: I was invited to speak to the Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach at the Story and Song, a place not on for books, but culture, ideas, and community.  I can’t speak more highly about Story and Song!  C-Span came to tape my presentation and the dialogue. It was quite an exciting scene.  I got a real kick out of the Rotary Club meeting. They started out by singing songs, together.  I was impressed and moved by their joy. They approved a full four year scholarship for a student in need. Again, impressed.

After the Rotary discussion, Story and Song hosted a community discussion of my book. I was grateful for so many friends coming and showing interest in my book.  Friends came from tennis, my condo community, the biking group I enjoy, and the Amelia Island Book Festival. Thank you everyone! I got lots of fair and tough questions. My favorite was about the economics of sustainability. Many believe it is an extra cost. I believe it should be mainstream and not a niche, premium aspect of running a business.

Speaking to the Fernandina Beach Rotary Club at Story and Song Bookstore

At the superior bookstore/bistro/culture center Story and Song in Fernandina Beach, Fl.

March 6, 2019:  I am a big, big fan of GoodReads. So to see my book as a giveaway for the next month at GoodReads thrills me to no end! Sign up for it!

My books is now a giveaway on GoooReads!

March 5, 2019: Dave Armon, a veteran journalist in the CSR space, interviewed me using new technology.  I enjoy learning about new ways to communicate. Dave’s team sent me a kit to set up my IPHone and my office as a TV studio, and he asked questions remotely while I videotaped myself.  How cool.  Check out the high quality piece in this six minute interview.

Dave posted his comments on Triple Pundit:

One veteran practitioner, Bob Langert, retired in 2016 following more than 30 years with McDonald’s, where he was vice president of CSR and sustainability.

“No company’s really figured out the formula to do this. Everyone’s still afraid to toot their own horn,” Langert told TriplePundit in a recent video interview.  “No company’s perfect. I think that the legal people run this thing too much because they want to minimize risk.”

“I do think the marketers and communicators have a great opportunity to leverage this (sustainability) part as part of the brand and reputation,” Langert continued. “If I had to start my career over, that might be an area that I’d spend more time on.”

In a new book, The Battle To Do Good: Inside McDonald’s Sustainability Journey, Langert details his communications strategies and offers an insider’s perspective on when to partner with foes rather than going to war.  Watch the full interview here.

With partnerships under his belt including World Wildlife Fund for more responsible beef, Conservation International for sustainable fish and livestock behavior expert Temple Grandin for animal welfare, Langert’s perspective is valuable not only when it comes to how companies can accelerate corporate sustainability efforts, but nimbly communicate them as well.

Feb. 27, 2019: I am at the fantastic, very best sustainability conference, GreenBiz19 in Phoenix. Joel Makower interviewed me in a break-out session. We covered a lot of ground.  An area that he asked ahead of time if it was okay to talk about was my youngest brother’s murder. Rich, his wife Nancy, and unborn child were shot to death on April 7, 1990 in a random act. I like remembering Rich. It keeps him alive for me. I choked too much to get the right words out at the session.  His death, so brutal and so early in his life, really motivated me to get myself going, don’t be complacent, make a difference, NOW!, and act as if it is alright to get fired tomorrow, so you have the freedom to be yourself, and battle for what you believe in. Thanks you Joel.  You are the very best!  I admire your integrity, trustworthiness, and our personal relationship over the  past 29 years.

Diane and I travelled together to Arizona.  I spoke to a good audience at ASU about “The 8 Attributes of Sustainability Leadership.”  I received several questions about alternate plant proteins.  What do I  think of them?  Short answer, probably just a niche, but you never know. If McDonald’s can sell a lot  of it, I bet they will have it on their menu. We had lunch with Shelby Yastrow and his wife Sybil. Shelby is my hero. He hired me at McDonalds and mentored me.  He gave me my career for which I am so, so blessed and thankful.

With my wife Diane at Arizona State University. She is my partner in life now for 40 years!

Presenting at the campus of Arizona State University at their Memorial Union.

February 22, 2019:  A really large crowd came for my talk about McDonald’s history and “battle to do good.”  It was fun to speak to my neighbors about something I am very passionate about.

Don’t I look like a giant in this picture with some of the Carillon attendees? I am tall, but 6’4″.

At the Carillon Clubhouse speaking to my neighbors