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Managing Acceleration Pools: From Identification Through Development

Acceleration Pools represent a dramatic departure from traditional replacement planning programs and provide for a different approach to grooming and developing executive talent. This session will explore the process and components related to managing an organization's acceleration pool, from nominating high potentials to ensuring that individual development takes place. The presentation will also include commentary on the benefits, best practices and lessons learned from real word applications of this unique talent management system.

Allan K. Foss is the Manager of Leadership Development for PPG Industries, Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA. PPG is a leading manufacturer of coatings, continuous-strand fiber glass, flat and fabricated glass and chemicals for manufacturing, construction, automotive, chemical processing and numerous other world industries. Sales in 2000 were more than $8 billion, and the company employs more than 30,000 people worldwide.

In his role, Mr. Foss is responsible for implementing strategic initiatives to broaden the breadth and depth of leadership talent across PPG. His efforts specifically target those individuals being developed as potential candidates for senior leadership roles within the company. Mr. Foss has extensive experience in implementing organization and individual development initiatives in the chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries. This experience includes designing comprehensive leadership development curricula, implementing multi-national high performance teams, implementing self-managed teams in manufacturing settings, and facilitating talent management initiatives. Mr. Foss earned his Master of Science degree in Organization Development from Bowling Green State University. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Harvette Dixon, Director, Learning & Development at PPG Industries, directs corporate-wide talent management and the design and implementation of organizational, leadership and professional development programs in response to corporate, staff and strategic business unit priorities. In this capacity she is responsible for the Performance & Learning Process, PPG's performance management system, The Learning Connection, PPG's learning portal, and the Talent Review Process, PPG's succession planning process. She is also responsible for the Corporate eLearning Center of Expertise, which supports the effective utilization of appropriate technologies for deployment of learning solutions in alignment with strategic objectives. Harvette has been in Human Resources at PPG for eight years.

Prior to her Human Resources career, Harvette was Manager of Corporate Systems, with overall responsibility for providing Information Technology services to the Finance, Human Resources and Distribution and Transportation functions, as well as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) services to the business units.

Harvette has also held various Information Technology positions at Beecham Products, Dravo Corporation and CACI, Inc. Harvette is a graduate of Chatham College and earned her MBA at Duquesne University. She serves on the business advisory council of the Institute for Advanced Technology, an organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities prepare themselves for transition careers in Information Technology.

John DeSantis is an Executive Solutions Consultant with Development Dimensions International. In this role John helps design and deliver executive selection, development and succession management systems that support clients' strategic objectives. He has directed executive assessment and succession management projects with numerous clients throughout the world, including Bic, DaimlerChrysler, Honeywell and PPG.

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