Harris Corporation
Company: Harris Corporation, Melbourne, Florida
Company Description: Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Florida, the company has annual sales of over $3 billion and more than 13,000 employees — including 5,500 engineers and scientists — dedicated to the development of best-in-class assured communications products, systems, and services.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Chairman
Nomination Title: Howard Lance, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Harris Corporation
1. Tell the story about what this nominee achieved in the past year (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
Harris has a singular focus: To provide assured communications and information technology to government and commercial customers, whenever and wherever they need it, with the highest levels of performance and reliability. Howard Lance has been leading this commitment to excellence since 2003, when he was named Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Harris Corporation.
Fiscal year 2005 was a record by all key financial measures for Harris. Forbes Magazine included Harris in its “Platinum 400” listing of America’s best big companies. Revenue increased 19 percent, reaching $3 billion, and all four business segments posted significant increases in operating income.
Lance received the 2005 AeA's Abacus Award as Florida's High-Tech Executive of the Year. The Abacus Award is presented annually to honor high-tech executives and educators who have taken steps to advance the business of technology in Florida. Previous award winners include Florida Governor Jeb Bush, former Florida Senator Bob Graham, and Citrix President and CEO Mark Templeton.
However, to Lance, the mark of a great company is not only financial success and viability; it is also a responsibility to the success of the communities in which a business operates. This is a philosophy that he demonstrates both personally and professionally.
Lance has been a long-time supporter of the United Way. In 2005, he served as United Way of Brevard’s Campaign Chair, leading them to the largest ever year-to-year increase in new dollars. He is the Chair-elect for the Board of Directors; and under his leadership, Harris Corporation received the 2006 Chairman's Award - the highest honor given to a company or organization for outstanding leadership, generosity and dedication to improving their community.
Harris and Lance are also strongly focused on supporting educational initiatives that are key to developing the minds and character of future Harris employees and leaders. In 2005, Lance presented two Florida universities with million dollar donations from the Harris Foundation to help prepare tomorrow’s high-tech workforce. He closed out a $150,000 challenge grant for the Brevard Neighborhood Development Coalition’s capital campaign to build a new Outreach Center for Children and Youth. Lance also issued a $200,000 challenge grant for the Space Coast Early Intervention Center’s capital campaign to expand facilities and services as a nationally recognized, non-profit therapeutic preschool for children with and without special needs.
Lance is a director of the Eastman Chemical Company and vice chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Florida Institute of Technology; the Board of Governors of the Aerospace Industries Association; the Board of Directors of Enterprise Florida; and the Board of Directors of the Florida Council of 100.
2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:
Biography
http://www.harris.com/management-team.html
Harris Corporation CEO Howard Lance Receives AeA's Abacus Award as Florida's High-Tech Executive of the Year (1/12/06)
http://www.harris.com/view_pressrelease.asp?act=lookup&pr_id=1748
“The Information Technology 100,” BusinessWeek (2005)
http://www.businessweek.com/it100/2005/company/HRS.htm
Harris Corporation Earns Chairman's Award from United Way of Brevard (March 2006)
http://www.uwbrevard.org/
Harris Corporation gives generous donation to College of Engineering (7/22/05)
http://www.eng.ufl.edu/newsroom/topstories/detail_article.php?id=522
Harris Corp. Donates $3 Million to Help UCF Prepare High-Tech Workforce
(8/17/05)
http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?page=article&id=002400411a
428d50103c2675a02006377
Howard Lance to Speak at Florida Tech Commencement (4/11/06)
http://www.fit.edu/newsroom/news/April2006.html#lancespeaks
Harris Corporation Creates $150,000 Challenge Grant For Neighborhood Outreach Center for Children (6/8/04)
http://www.harris.com/view_pressrelease.asp?act=lookup&pr_id=1475
Space Coast Early Intervention Center Receives $200,000 Challenge Grant From Harris Corporation (1/20/06)
http://www.harris.com/view_pressrelease.asp?act=lookup&pr_id=1761
3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the nominee:
Howard L. Lance is chairman of the board, president, and chief executive officer of Harris Corporation. Lance is personally and professionally committed to community and social responsibility initiatives. Under his leadership, Harris community outreach programs have been extended worldwide, while profits from all four divisions have increased. Lance earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from Bradley University, and a Master of Science degree in management from the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. He serves on the Board of Directors of several US companies and organizations, associations, and local and regional organizations.