This Week's Speaker: Walter Valdmanis - Investing in Humans
Warren Valdmanis joined Two Sigma in 2019 and as a Partner at Two Sigma Impact – a private equity business focused on creating superior investment returns and good jobs through its portfolio companies.
Warren and his team believe that innovative and thoughtful investments in humans will lead to an enhanced employee experience, productivity, and long-term financial returns. Furthermore, Two Sigma Impact seeks to foster system change by demonstrating that active, disciplined, and focused social impact investing drives strong results from investors.
Before joining Two Sigma, Warren was a Managing Director at Bain Capital, where he worked for 14 years and most recently helped launch the firm’s first dedicated social impact fund. Warren helped lead numerous transactions through his time at Bain Capital and was a member of the board of directors and related committees of a dozen companies.
In 2020, Warren and co-author Michael O’Leary published Accountable: The Rise of Citizen Capitalism (HarperCollins), which draws on their experiences as socially-oriented investors and outlines a better path for corporations – one with accountability to a deeper purpose which they believe can make capitalism both prosperous and good.
Warren earned an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A., cum laude, from Dartmouth College. He is a founding member of the Aspen Institute Worker Voice in Corporate Governance Lab and is involved in local non-profits in his hometown of Portland, Maine.
Last Week at Portland Rotary: Craig Freshley "Together We Decide" |By Erik Jorgensen
Craig Freshley was our guest on Friday. Brought back by popular demand, Freshley is a professional facilitator and speaker who has conducted more than 3000 meetings in his roles in state government, the economic development world, and the nonprofit community. He’s known for conducting roundtable “makeshift coffeehouses” in which participants come together from different perspectives to dig into controversial civic issues. As Dave Putnam said in his introduction, “This guy has the magic”. Freshley’s New book is out, Together We Decide: an Essential Guide to Making Good Group Decisions.
He opened his talk with a discussion of group decision making: there’s something about government, politics and smaller groups, like boards, and how decisions are made: it turns out there are lots of bad meetings. Freshley realized he could do a lot as a facilitator, and that’s what he’s done now for 20 years, all with the theme of bringing people together to think through and make decisions as a group.
There were three main “take-aways” that he shared with us: First, there are practical reasons for kindness and respect. While most people agree that being kind and respectful is the right thing to do, it goes beyond morality – there are highly practical reasons to value inclusion and equality and similar good traits. By bringing more people into the conversation, you get more perspectives. Creating an environment of respect and participation is a tool to uncover the best solutions. It’s not just the right thing to do but there are tangible benefits for a business or a government in taking this approach.
Second, he discussed the importance of finding ways to get along even when there are deep disagreements. You might have two political parties that fundamentally disagree but are both working for the same cause. It’s easy to be angry – but much harder (and often more fruitful) to work with people even when they disagree. There are ways to do it – he noted that it’s “not rocket science, but people science”. Freshley suggests that you contain disagreement – just set that aside and find ways to work together on the other stuff. He noted that people create drama for entertainment. If the real goal is to get something done, we need to set aside the drama and pick up the tools.
Finally, he spoke about self-agency. In other words, it’s up to you to change your world. If you want the fighting to stop, you need to put down your sword. This is much harder to do than it looks. It’s easy to be afraid of change. Freshley has concluded he is going to work on the local world around him: “What can I do to make the group better and what is my role in the group?” When you learn conflict management, you learn to manage yourself in relationship to what’s going on.
President Bruce Jones rang us in, Paul Gore led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Julie L’Heureux offered the Invocation, quoting from a Tibetan Prayer book she found at a local library sale. She reflected on Tibetan prayer flags strung up in the wake of hurricane stricken Florida, a way of sending hope and blessings for those struggling to recover from the devastation.
GUEST BIKER
Bruce introduced 4 guests. All are special, but one made quite the trek to be at our club meeting. Phil Holt, from the Portland, Oregan Rotary Club, had completed his epic Portland to Portland, 4,331 mile, cross-country trip on bicycle, in an effort to raise money and awareness for a clean water well project in Kenya. Neither horizontal rain, nor driving hail storms could stop him. His wife drove an RV, setting up camp every night and “kicking him out every morning.” Phil was kind enough to bring us his club’s flag, and we’ll be returning the favor….by mail! Amazing job Phil! Phil is in the front row in between Bruce Jones and Patty Byers.
Maggie McGauley conducted the raffle, and was soon joined at the podium by Paul Gore, whose name had been drawn from the entries for the day. Give Paul credit, he’s trying to win back his investment – he has been the key donator driving the pot to $470. However, it takes more than a calculated risk, it takes some luck. That has proven to be elusive to brother Paul, who once again was unable to select the Queen of Hearts. The Nine of Hearts however is no longer in the deck.
PACKING THE BACKPACKS
Bruce Moore reported on the “Backpack Packing” held at the Portland Recovery Community Center, this year filling 75 backpacks with essential personal care and hygiene items, that will go to individuals who are engaged with the substance abuse recovery programs. Bruce thanked the 10 Rotarians who participated in the efficient assembly of the packs, as well as the many Rotarians who donated the supplies. On the packing crew - Jim Willey, Patty Byers, Ben Lowry, Larry Gross, Bruce Jones, Bruce Moore, Jim Vicenzi, Doreen Rockstrom and Jan Chapman. President Bruce added thanks to Jan and Bruce for heading up this 2nd annual, and growing project.
BRIDGE THE GAP TO END POLIO WALK & SOCIAL - October 20th
Patty Byers, Foundation Chair, announced that October 24th is World Polio Day, and in fact all month Rotary will be highlighting its efforts to eradicate polio.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, Oct 20th, for the first ever “Bridging the Gap To End Polio” walk across Casco Bay Bridge. We will park and meet at 3:45pm at Sea Dogs Bowling and Brews, 725 Broadway, South Portland. At 4pm our group will walk the bridge and back to Sea Dogs. "It's walk, not a run." Estimating 5pm, we'll all be at Sea Dogs for a “Pints For Polio” social event. Sea Dogs will chip in $1 for every pint sold. (No club meeting Friday)
Joining us will be Rotary members from South Portland/ Cape, Scarborough, Falmouth, Freeport, and Westbrook/Gorham. We are encouraging everyone to wear red. Thanks to Paul Gore, we had “End Polio Now” t-shirts for our members are free, courtesy of our club. The long sleeve and hoodie sweatshirt were available for sale, but that window closed, so you may have to wear your own!
CRUTCHES 4 AFRICA
Erik Greven informed everyone that the “Crutches 4 Africa” event was a huge success. Founded by a Rotarian, Dave Talbot, he himself a victim of polio, was in Uganda in 2005 and saw many other survivors of the disease, badly in need of devices to aid in walking. 17 years later, the program has collected and distributed 180,000 mobility devices – crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, canes, braces. Put a random value of $40-$50 bucks on each one, and you have over $7.5 million dollars. These were items that were being thrown away after use. The program is run by the Saco club for our District. Last weekend, another 2500 devices were packed on a trailer for shipping down in Saco. So if you have any item of this nature, hang on to it, because Erik will be around again next year for another collection effort!
NEED BOOTS
Amy Chipman shared a new club community project, working with the Portland School system, which serves a fairly high immigrant population. Turns out one of the most important needs as we head into winter are warm, waterproof boots. The emphasis is on outfitting kids in the kindergarten to fifth grade level. Stay tuned, because we will soon begin collecting boots! Check to see what you might have in your closet. More details coming next week.
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION - OCT 14TH
Membership Chair Laura Young reminds everyone that we are having a New Member Orientation on Friday, October 14th, at 11am. This takes place before our regularly scheduled meeting at 12:15, so come a little early and join in. Everyone is welcome and appreciated!
Speaker Schedule
October 14 11am New Member Orientation
October 14 District Governor, Claudia Frost
October 20 Bridge The Gap To End Polio Walk 4pm, Sea Dogs Brewery, 725 Broadway, South Portland at 5pm Social Event!
October 21 No Meeting
Club Executives President Bruce Jones President Elect Dick Hall Vice President Patty Byers Treasurer Dick Hall Secretary Bill Blount Board of Directors Ellen Niewoehner,
Bob Clark, John Thompson, Ben Millick,
Quinn Slayton Sergeant-At-Arms Jake Bourdeau
The Windjammer is published online by
The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine.
Contributing Editors Bill Blount, Jake Bourdeau, Dick Hall,
Erik Jorgensen, Julie L’Heureux, Ben Lowry,
Tom Nickerson, Tom Talbott, Laura Young
1st Q Program Chair: Dave Putnam Managing Editor Tom Talbott
Warren Valdmanis joined Two Sigma in 2019 and as a Partner at Two Sigma Impact – a private equity business focused on creating superior investment returns and good jobs through its portfolio companies.
Craig Freshley was our guest on Friday. Brought back by popular demand, Freshley is a professional facilitator and speaker who has conducted more than 3000 meetings in his roles in state government, the economic development world, and the nonprofit community. He’s known for conducting roundtable “makeshift coffeehouses” in which participants come together from different perspectives to dig into controversial civic issues. As Dave Putnam said in his introduction, “This guy has the magic”. Freshley’s New book is out, 
Second, he discussed the importance of finding ways to get along even when there are deep disagreements. You might have two political parties that fundamentally disagree but are both working for the same cause. It’s easy to be angry – but much harder (and often more fruitful) to work with people even when they disagree. There are ways to do it – he noted that it’s “not rocket science, but people science”. Freshley suggests that you contain disagreement – just set that aside and find ways to work together on the other stuff. He noted that people create drama for entertainment. If the real goal is to get something done, we need to set aside the drama and pick up the tools.
Maggie McGauley conducted the raffle, and was soon joined at the podium by Paul Gore, whose name had been drawn from the entries for the day. Give Paul credit, he’s trying to win back his investment – he has been the key donator driving the pot to $470. However, it takes more than a calculated risk, it takes some luck. That has proven to be elusive to brother Paul, who once again was unable to select the Queen of Hearts. The Nine of Hearts however is no longer in the deck.
Erik Greven informed everyone that the “Crutches 4 Africa” event was a huge success. Founded by a Rotarian, Dave Talbot, he himself a victim of polio, was in Uganda in 2005 and saw many other survivors of the disease, badly in need of devices to aid in walking. 17 years later, the program has collected and distributed 180,000 mobility devices – crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, canes, braces. Put a random value of $40-$50 bucks on each one, and you have over $7.5 million dollars. These were items that were being thrown away after use. The program is run by the Saco club for our District. Last weekend, another 2500 devices were packed on a trailer for shipping down in Saco. So if you have any item of this nature, hang on to it, because Erik will be around again next year for another collection effort!
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