annual_report_2006_PDF:Annual Report PDF.qxd
Transcription
annual_report_2006_PDF:Annual Report PDF.qxd
MeadWestvaco Announcement Page 1 of 2 A press conference to announce the relocation of MeadWestvaco's corporate headquarters to Greater Richmond was held February 15, 2006, at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership's briefing center. Patrick O. Gottschalk, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade, opened the press conference and introduced Governor Timothy M. Kaine. “Landing a Fortune 500 company is a great way to begin a new Administration,” said Governor Kaine, who met with the company's CEO during negotiations. Governor Kaine welcomes MeadWestvaco to Virginia Press conference speakers and audience Marge Connelly, chair, Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc. John Luke and Alison von Puschendorf of MeadWestvaco John Luke, chairman and CEO, MeadWestvaco The Governor praised the cooperation between the public and private sectors during the 18-month effort to attract the company. In addition to Governor Kaine, officials from MeadWestvaco and Jones Lang LaSalle, their consultant, met with former Governor Warner, other government and university officials, CEOs of local Fortune 1000 and other major corporations, plus economic development, real estate and corporate human resources professionals. Many of those individuals attended the press conference. John A. Luke Jr., chairman and CEO of MeadWestvaco said Virginia's business environment - “possibly the best in the country” - was important to the company's decision. Other attractive factors were the well-trained work force, solid education system and low cost of doing business. Greg Wingfield, Partnership president David Smith, Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade, with Pete Stith, Chesterfield County, and the Partnership's Dara Glass Greg Wingfield, president, Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc. Pat Gottschalk, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, with Kent Hill, Dominion; Marc Weiss, Hanover County; Hugh Keogh, Virginia Chamber of Commerce; and the Partnership's Gene Winter He also said, "We love the city's cosmopolitan character, its diversity, its charm, its quality of life." For the company's press release click here For the Governor's office press release click here For Richmond.com click here Marge M. Connelly, chair of the Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc., added her thanks to all those from the public and private sectors who assisted in presenting Greater Richmond to the company, saying that “this is how great economic development is supposed to work.” For the Richmond TimesDispatch overview click here Governor Kaine For the Richmond TimesDispatch on the role of local CEOs click here For the Richmond Times- http://intranet.grpva.com/intranet/meadwestvaco/index.asp 6/10/2008 MeadWestvaco Announcement Page 2 of 2 Dispatch on real estate options click here August 5 – Project referred from Richmond Department of Economic Development – a corporate headquarters evaluating 20-25 communities August 27 – Regional data questionnaire completed and emailed to Jones Lang LaSalle, the consultant September 10 – Greater Richmond Partnership staff met with the consultant in Chicago and found the area was eliminated due to international air service needs October – Greater Richmond reconsidered October 19 – Site visit – consultants and company official met with economic development, real estate, and corporate human resources representatives November 5 – Site visit consultant visited to discuss real estate needs November 24 – Greater Richmond is one of final three localities being considered February 3-4 – Site visit – consultants and senior corporate officials met with Governor Warner and state officials, university and elected officials and local corporate CEOs March 22 – Additional information sent on school bond issues, enrollment and scores and high speed rail April – Richmond and Atlanta are the two final localities; Raleigh is out according to newspaper accounts January – Incentive package evaluated by company's attorney February 3 – John Luke visited Governor Kaine to discuss the project February 10 – John Luke called Governor Kaine to tell him that the company had chosen Greater Richmond February 15 – Press conference to announce the relocation of MeadWestvaco's corporate headquarters to Greater Richmond June 1 – Additional information on real estate options sent to the consultant June 21 – Consultant attended State Chamber reception in Chicago and talked with Governor Warner and Secretary Schewel June 24 – Eric Cantor, U.S. House of Representatives, responded to John Luke about a trade bill August 23 – Site visit – Consultants toured sites and met with commercial realtors September 23 – Site visit – Three top corporate executives met privately with senior executives of Richmond's Fortune 1000 headquarters October 14 – Additional information on education and incentives and various publications sent December 2 – Information on applicable state of Virginia business incentives sent http://intranet.grpva.com/intranet/meadwestvaco/index.asp 6/10/2008 MEADWESTVACO: ANATOMY OF A DEAL How It Happened, And Almost Didn’t 2004 August: Project (“a corporate headquarters evaluating 20-25 communities”) referred to Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc. by City of Richmond’s Department of Economic Development. Regional data questionnaire completed by Partnership and emailed to Jones Lang LaSalle, the consultant handling the search. September 10: Greater Richmond Partnership staff meets with the consultant in Chicago and learns that Greater Richmond has been eliminated due to international air service needs. October: Greater Richmond earns reconsideration as the result of follow-up with consultant. Consultant and company officials visit Greater Richmond and meet with economic development, real estate and corporate human resource officials as part of a site visit arranged by the Partnership. Top: John Luke chairman and CEO, MeadWestvaco Second from Top: Governor Kaine Third from Top: Greg Wingfield, president, Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc. Bottom: Marge Connelly, chair, Greater Richmond Partnership, Inc. 4 June 21: Consultant attends State Chamber reception in Chicago and talks with Governor Warner and Secretary Schewel. June 24: Congressman Cantor responds to MeadWestvaco Chairman and CEO John Luke about trade bill. August 23: Site visit. Consultants tour sites and meet with commercial realtors. September 23: Site visit. Three top corporate executives meet privately with senior executives of area’s Fortune 1000 firms. October 14: Additional information on education and incentives sent. December 2: Information on applicable Virginia business incentives sent. 2006 November 5: Second site visit by consultant, to discuss real estate needs. January: Incentive package evaluated by MeadWestvaco’s legal department. November 24: Greater Richmond is selected as one of three finalists. February 3: John Luke visits Governor Kaine to discuss project. 2005 February 10: John Luke calls Governor Kaine to tell him MeadWestvaco has chosen Greater Richmond. February 3-4: Site visit. Consultant and senior corporate officials meet with Governor Warner and state officials, university and elected officials and corporate CEOs. A press conference to announce the relocation of MeadWestvaco's corporate headquarters to Greater Richmond was held February 15, 2006, at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership's briefing center. June 1: Additional information on real estate options sent to consultant. March 22: Additional information sent on school bond issues, enrollment and scores, and high speed rail. April: Greater Richmond and Atlanta are the two finalists. Raleigh is out, according to newspaper reports. February 15: Press conference announcing the relocation of MeadWestvaco’s corporate headquarters to Great Richmond. March 30: MeadWestvaco selects former Capital One building near Innsbrook as its temporary headquarters. Company says it could remain there for about two years while making decision about permanent location somewhere in Greater Richmond. THE STORY BEHIND THE MEADWESTVACO DECISION “The Choice of Richmond . . . Was Not a Foregone Conclusion.” (from the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Sunday, March 5, 2006) Editor, Times-Dispatch: This summer, MeadWestvaco Corporation will begin moving to our new corporate headquarters in Richmond. We are grateful for and inspired by the warm welcome we’ve received across the community. Our move was prompted by many factors, foremost a compelling need to bring together people who are currently dispersed at many different MeadWestvaco locations throughout the country. The choice of Richmond, however, was not a foregone conclusion. Our relocation team spent over a year studying various sites around the country. From a business perspective, Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia may well offer the best business environment in the United States. Also, we looked very closely at the area’s key attributes: the talented workforce, education system, and the costs of doing business here. But we also considered the “intangibles”—Richmond’s unique character, its diversity and charm, its “small city-big town” environment, and above all, the positive spirit that pervades the community. These qualities are reflected in the people of Richmond, and they are the ones who helped MeadWestvaco understand why Richmond is indeed so “easy to love.” I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge some of the many people who worked diligently and collaboratively in helping MeadWestvaco make its final decision: Governor Tim Kaine; former Governor Mark Warner; the Greater Richmond Partnership; Congressman Eric Cantor; former Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Mike Schewel; Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Patrick Gottschalk; the Virginia Economic Development Partnership; the Greater Richmond Chamber; and the elected leaders of Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, and Goochland Counties. In addition, I would like to recognize the tremendous and ongoing support provided by Senator George Allen, Mayor Doug Wilder, and former Congressman Tom Bliley. During this process our company also met frequently with Michael Szymanczyk and Jack Nelson of Philip Morris USA, and Marge Connelly of Capital One. Their insight was invaluable during our decision process, and we look forward to a strong, collaborative relationship with these business leaders as we build our involvement in the community. In addition we met with key business leaders, among them: Beverley Armstrong and Bill Goodwin, Jr., of CCA Industries; Jim Ukrop of First Market Bank; Robert Grey of Hunton & Williams; Michael Dan, Austin Reed, and Frank Lennon of The Brinks Company; Tom Capps and Eva Teig Hardy of Dominion; Eugene Trani of Virginia Commonwealth University; William Cooper of the University of Richmond; Teddy Gottwald of NewMarket Corporation; and Charles Foster, Jr., of LandAmerica Financial Group Undoubtedly, the teamwork and can-do spirit expressed by the Greater Richmond area weighed heavily as we made our final decision; in the same spirit, we are enthusiastic about being a part of this vibrant community and contributing to its prosperity as we look to build our company’s future here. John A. Luke, Jr. Chairman and CEO MeadWestvaco Corporation Stamford, Connecticut 3