The designations J.D. Andrews has after his name are many - Ph.D., RMP, CEP, CMC. Impressive as they may be, it is the ideas Andrews has been able to create - ideas that have resulted in positive change - that make him most proud.

The organization he founded, the Council for Professional Recognition, has made an impact on many, young and old. Its focus is on improving the professional status of early childhood teachers. He proudly states that the council awards more than 12,000 credentials and 7,000 renewals each year, enabling these childcare workers to demonstrate the necessary skills to teach in Head Start and early childhood programs. The council's bilingual credentialing system has become a model for other countries, especially in Latin America.

Andrews has been contemplating where the council is headed, "thinking carefully about what needs to be done to prepare this organization for the future," he said. This is especially important to him, because he is what he calls "at the end of life."

"Every Day is a Welcome Gift"
Three years ago, Andrews was given the sobering news that he had cancer and only three months to live. Using thorough and exhaustive research for which he is known, he got to work finding the best doctors and hospitals in the country that specialize in treating the form of cancer he is battling. His search brought him from his office in Washington, D.C. across the country to California. Still in treatment, his ordeal has completely changed his perspective on life. "This has made me appreciate my life more than ever. I've also become much more reflective. I've realized how precious life really is," he said. "Aggravation about traffic, weather, or lines no longer enters my mind. I view every day as a welcome gift."

He is an inspiration to many, especially to the 75 people who make up his staff. Asked about his management style, he explained, "I see my role as that of a coach or director, rather than an actor. I value my organization and my staff and want to make them the stars."

Good management begins with detailed attention to the selection of players (staff), he said. Once that is achieved, it is important to learn what each player's specific skills are. Responsibilities are then assigned to utilize those strengths. Sometimes this means challenging the person to tackle assignments they hadn't thought they were ready for. Other times, it is necessary to offer learning opportunities to address inadequacies.

Civil Rights and Tolerance
Attending college, serving in the Air Force, and obtaining a doctorate in psychology have all been formative experiences for Andrews. But it was his involvement in the civil rights movement, working primarily in the South, that had the most powerful and lasting influence. Racial discrimination was something Andrews was all too familiar with growing up. "I played sports at college and was the only black player on the team. For years, I dealt with bitterness, anger, frustration, all working together and eating me alive. Slowly, I started to change. I realized I couldn't be successful if I kept feeling this way and gradually I learned tolerance. Today, I feel one of my greatest achievements is that I see people as people. Not for their color, for their race, or their gender. I treat people individually as human beings." This philosophy is amplified in a book he co-authored with Valora Washington, Children of 2010.

During his time in the South, he really started to understand the importance of educational opportunities for all children. Observing poor children in spontaneous play using makeshift props, he recognized their cleverness and potential. The gap between that potential and the inequities of the health and educational opportunities available to them propelled him to focus his energies on organizations dedicated to improving life opportunities for such children. During his 30-year tenure at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the group grew from 20,000 members to more than 100,000. Under his leadership, NAEYC's small, volunteer-supported, biennial meeting became one of the largest education conferences in the nation. His meeting planning responsibilities resulted in him learning the ins and outs of the hospitality industry where he gained new ideas and made lifelong professional relationships.

"Listen With Your Mouth and Talk With Your Ears!"
Class, socioeconomic ranking, title … these things don't carry much weight in Andrews' book. "To me, the doorman is just as important as the company chairman. I try to make all people believe they can do a better job at their profession," he said.

Behaviors, not qualities, make a leader, he explained. Behavior is the observable things that people say and do. Good leaders use their behavior to influence the behavior of the people who work for them so the mission is accomplished.

The ability to listen is a leader's most critical attribute, he said. He has been known to suggest that one "listen with your mouth and talk with your ears!" It is only through listening that one gains the information and insight into what is really happening and what types of actions are needed. When Andrews talks to someone, be it a staff person or someone he meets at a convention, he really listens. "I give people my full attention. I'm not looking over that person's shoulder to see who is on the other side of the room."

Another important leadership behavior is flexibility of thought. "The greatest challenge facing organizations today is having the ability to adapt to rapid change. Leaders need to be flexible. You have to be open to new ideas and use perceptive observing and careful listening to inform the creative thought process that can identify strategies appropriate for a specific situation."

Professional colleagues describe Andrews as a "visionary leader who identifies paths not obvious to others," and this is one of the reasons he is such a valuable contributor to executives, boards, and committees of numerous corporations and organizations. He operates under the premise that every situation is different and requires a unique response. His keen skills and ability to formulate many different strategies in his mind contribute to this ability.

A Behind-the-Scenes Professional
Andrews' reputation comes from his visionary ideas and constructive behind-the-scenes negotiating and problem solving. Rarely seen at a podium or microphone, he prefers one-on-one or small group exchanges conducive to his signature skills - reflective listening and customized strategies.

Andrews, a native of Indiana, embodies many Midwest values. "My feet are firmly grounded in the important roots of my past, while my head is in the sky looking to the future," he said. "I have retained the basic philosophies about decency and how to treat others that I was taught by my parents and grandparents."

His personal quest for knowledge is never-ending. Books were constant companions as he grew up as they are today. He reads three to four books a week and three to four newspapers a day. "Reading is one of the most important things in my life. It's not a hobby, it's a necessity," he said. "I just keep going and learning things, getting good at one thing, and then wanting to learn something else."

When asked what inspires him, he responds "people - past, present, and future." As much as he values ideas he gets from reading, he says he has learned much more from colleagues. A recent example comes from work with educators in Cuba where he was deeply touched by their spirit and determination. Former PCMA President and CEO Roy Evans also comes up as an important person in his life. "I was one of the first people of color in the organization. Roy didn't bring me in as a showpiece. He brought me in to be an active member of the team."

A member for close to 20 years, Andrews has served on the PCMA Board of Directors, the Education Foundation Board of Trustees, and various PCMA task forces and committees. He will be joined by Reint Reinders and Peter Shure as honorees of PCMA's 2006 Education Foundation Dinner Celebrating Professional Achievement on May 24, at the Hilton Washington in Washington, D.C.

Summing up his thoughts on successful leadership, Andrews said it comes from a deep belief in your cause. "Everything I have in my life is because I have believed in what I do," he said.

° Andrea Doyle is Convene's senior writer. The Leading by Example series is sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission. Visit its Web site at: www.CanadaMeetings.com.