Shattered Covenants Book V The Partner
by
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THE BATTLE OF BOCA RATON
The first order of business on Thursday morning, October 24th, of the 1984 Partner’s meeting of McKenzie Barber & Co. was the election of a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman. The ballots were to be collected and counted by McKenzie Barber’s outside counsel, Wellington & Barr. This year, Angus Windom, one of the senior partners of Wellington Barr, was in attendance to supervise the counting of ballots for the positions of Chairman and Deputy Chairman at McKenzie Barber & Co, McKenzie Barber & Co. was experienced the first contested election in its 64 year history. The Operating Committee of the Board of Directors had grudgingly endorsed the names of:
HAMILTON BURKE III, CHAIRMAN
ROBERT FRIEDMAN, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
An opposition group of Partners petitioned the Board of Directors to place the following names on the ballot as opposing candidates.
ROSS PRITICHARD, CHAIRMAN
NEIL SCHMIDT, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
* * * * *
"Good Morning for the final time. I’m Ernie Grey, for the purpose of introduction to the first year Partners. I want to welcome you to the 63rd Annual meeting of the Partners of McKenzie Barber. This is my last meeting as Chairman and I trust that all of you have been informed that we have a Chairman election this year.
This is an especially critical meeting in our firm’s history because the Partners have some decisions to make about the leadership of our firm. Has everyone in this room received a ballot? Have you completed the ballot? If you haven’t already placed your ballot in the boxes out front, we have some people in the aisles picking up any ballots that have not been returned. The balloting will be closed at 9:30 AM sharp.
Our outside counsel, Wellington Barr & Co. is present to observe the election process and we expect to have the election results available following the mid-morning coffee break.
Now let’s get on with the meeting and listen to some very interesting presentations by the leadership of the firm. First, we’re going to hear from Hamilton Burke, Deputy Chairman of US Operations, Ham,"-------
* * * * *
Angus Windom of Wellington Barr approached Ernie Grey approximately five minutes before the scheduled resumption of the meeting.
"I believe we have a winner, Chairman Grey," Windom said briskly.
"Then we should reconvene the meeting and make our announcement," Ernie responded.
"You’re certain about the ballot count?"
"I’m certain of the results, "Windom replied" I have the winner and I’m prepared to announce the results."
"Good for you," Ernie said and he began to move to the platform. This was the end of it.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, "Ernie announced through the speaker after the assemblage had returned to the auditorium. "Mr. Angus Windom of our outside counsel, Wellington Barr, has an announcement to make. The ballots have been counted, and Mr. Windom will now report the election results. Mr. Windom----"
Angus Windom walked slowly across the stage to join Ernie. He rearranged his glasses and cleared his throat while one thousand Partners perched on the edge of their seats.
"Thank you, Chairman Grey. The firm of Wellington Barr has served as legal advisor to McKenzie Barber since 1948, the year you joined the firm, Mr. Grey. I want to confirm that the election procedures were observed strictly according to your firm’s Partnership agreement and bylaws.
The results were counted and recounted and I want to assure that the results are accurate.
Mr. Grey, McKenzie Barber Partners, I am pleased to report that the newly elected Chairman of McKenzie Barber is Ross Pritchard and the newly elected Deputy Chairman is Neil Schmidt. Congratulations to both of you gentlemen."
Angus Windom returned his lapel microphone to Ernie Grey and walked slowly off the stage. The Partners stood and applauded. Ross Pritchard stood up from his seat in the second row aisle and started toward the stage. Hamilton Burke rose up from his first row seat and shook Pritchard’s hand as he walked to the stage. The former General walked erectly and confidently up the side steps to the stage. Ernie greeted him with a hug and whispered is his ear, "It’s all yours now. I’m leaving after lunch."
Ross "Buzzsaw" Pritchard moved to the speaker’s platform and raised both hands for quiet. Order came to the room a minute later, and the newly elected Chairman of McKenzie Barber began his acceptance speech.
It’s over! Ernie Grey told himself.
* * * * *
The meeting broke for lunch about twelve-thirty. Joe Baxter remained in his front row seat and read the same page over and over again in the Wall Street Journal. He had counted on Burke winning. The election had been Burke’s to lose and he had. Now where did that place Joe Baxter?
Roger Dirks plopped down into the seat next to him. "Well Joe," Dirks said slapping Baxter on the knee. "The King is dead! Long live the King! Where do we go from here?
Baxter shifted through the Wall Street Journal to the Job Mart section. "We could look for new jobs."
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About the Book
Book V, The Partner, is the fifth book in a cycle of seven novels entitled Shattered Covenants. Shattered Covenants narrates the formation, rise, decline, and fall of McKenzie Barber, a global management consulting firm. Previously published books in the cycle include; Present & Past Imperfect The Partner guides the reader through a six year period (1978 to 1984) in the history of McKenzie Barber and concludes with the end of Ernie Grey’s 24 year reign as Chairman and Senior Partner of McKenzie Barber. What was planned as a smooth transition in leadership results in McKenzie Barber’s first contested Chairman election. A dissident group of Partners orchestrated by the villainous Clyde Nickerson propose Buzzsaw Pritchard as a candidate to Hamilton Burke III, Ernie’s choice as his successor. Burke’s leadership image is tarnished by the under performance of several boutique consulting firms which were acquired as part of McKenzie Barber’s growth plan for the 1980’s. Buzzsaw Pritchard’s Federal Service Operations (FSO) has become a key profit contributor in contrast to the cover-up efforts of Burke’s Enterprise Group of newly acquired boutique consulting firms. Ernie Grey has become involved in acrimonious divorce proceedings and Toni Alter has become his mistress. Book V, The Partner concludes with a contested Chairman Election that the press references as the Battle of Boca Mirage. Joe Baxter has been elected a Partner and is tapped by Hamilton Burke as his "special project" consultant. In addition Baxter is struggling to gain the leadership position for the Executive Compensation practice following Frank Alvardi’s resignation to return to McKenzie Barber’s arch consulting firm rival, Robson Allen & Harbridge. If Burke is elected Chairman, Baxter’s career positioning with McKenzie Barber is secure. Burke becomes a loser in the election vote, resigns, and Baxter is left alone with a new regime intent on settling old scores. Ernie Grey retires and is elected the non-executive Chairman, of IPCO, a major energy company and Joe Baxter struggles forward for survival under a hostile new regime. Book V rollicks forward with a colorful collection of villains and knaves which include Baxter’s affair with Stephany Hart, a megalomaniac securities analyst, his reunion with Bridgette Morgan in the rain at a New York hot dog stand, their courtship and marriage, and a supporting cast of spirited consultants seeking survival on their own terms.
The Road to McKenzie Barber
The Consultant
The Chairman
About the Author
Dwight Foster, the author of Shattered Covenants, is a native of Minnesota who was transferred to New York City in 1980. He retired as a consulting partner from an international public accounting firm in January 1990 to form an executive search firm. Shattered Covenants is a first novel, which represents an eight year project dealing with the passing of leadership in a professional services firm. The Partner is Book V in a series of free standing novels relating to the formation of a major management consulting firm, its rise, zenith, decline, and ultimate compliant merger with a principal competitor. Earlier Books in the Shattered Covenants series include: Present & Past Imperfect, Book I Book VI: The House of Hartwell and Book VII: Twighlight & Endgame are planned for publication later in 2003. Shattered Covenants deals with the passing of CEOs (i.e. kings) and their ultimate effect on the careers and lives of the courtiers and rank and file professionals who follow the leadership of the CEO. The author has spent his business career in the consulting industry and, for the past eleven years, has headed up a well-recognized executive search firm. Dwight Foster has published previously in management studies and magazine articles and is quoted from time to time in the national press. His experience in the practice of executive search and familiarity with organization and business models over the past thirty years provided the motivation to write a sweeping novel. The primary narrator of Shattered Covenants, Joseph Baxter, Jr., is the son of a labor martyr from Minnesota’s Iron Range who rises to a Board Room, world traveling executive compensation consultant. Baxter is a modern day Candide who develops the cunning to survive in a ruthlessly competitive business world. Dwight Foster is a University of Minnesota Alumnus, the father of two adult children, and is married to Dorothy Choitz Foster, a well-known consultant to the cosmetics and fragrance industry. The Fosters now are New York commuters and maintain their home in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.
The Road to McKenzie Barber, Book II
The Consultant, Book III
The Chairman, Book IV