Exceptional Leadership: Lessons from the Founding Leaders

Gilbert W. Fairholmis Emeritus Professor of Public Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University, and was Adjunct Professor of Management Systems, University of Richmond, and has served as Visiting Professor of Political Science at Hampden-Sydney College and Averett University. He was a Senior Fellow of the Center for Excellence in Municipal Management, GWU. Professor Fairholm has extensive background as a government executive serving as Administrator of State and Local Finance, Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Deputy Administrative Director, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Deputy Director, New York State Office for Community Affairs, Principle Management Analyst, New York State Division of the Budget, and Director of Management Improvement, New York State Department of Transportation. He served for 4 years as City Manager in Layton, Utah. Gil has consulted extensively in government, university and business environments. He headed a university-based consultation service giving advice and policy guidance to top-level African local government officials; developed the first urban government structure in Northern Nigeria. He analyzed operations, decision systems, policy implementation, and personnel and financial relationships. He has significant experience consulting with Virginia state and local governments. Gil also developed policy proposals respecting community relations in urban renewal agencies in Philadelphia; prepared program budgeting system for all Puerto Rican cities.

Much of this work has been developmental in nature, e.g. creating 3 university leadership programs; serving as first city manager in a new Council-Manager city; creating of a system of urban government forms for Northern Nigeria where none existed before; consolidating transportation-related functions in New York into a new department, defining its goals and describing its proposed structure and procedures and coordinating new program and systems developments. Professor Fairholm is the author of over 150 articles, reports and analyses. His 13 previous books are a direct result of his practical work, but reflect a theory-building, even a philosophical bent. They represent a culmination of his experience and personal growth in the field of leadership. All have found place in standard leadership bibliographies.