Making Character First: Building a Culture of Character in any Organization

Making Character First is the turn-round story of Kimray, Inc., a premier manufacturer of oil and gas equipment and controls. It is also Tom Hill's personal story of the founding and development of Character First, and includes a step-by-step guide for transforming the culture of any organization to one of character. With tough economic times for business, highly visible ethics violations in major corporations, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and a "flat" business world, the character of every individual, beginning with the top leaders, may be the most important and challenging issue facing every organization today. As leaders we must do more than ethics training. Ethical conduct can be motivated by fear of prosecution or by individual character. But individual character demands the right response, even when no one will ever know. Making Character First explains how Kimray became what it is today and how your organization can also develop a culture of character, the foundation of any effective ethics program.

Tom Hill is the chairman of the board of Kimray, Inc., a manufacturer of oilfield equipment and controls. He began his career at Kimray in 1971 after seven years in the United States Marine Corps, including a tour in Viet Nam. Upon graduation from Oklahoma State University, he received the St. Pat's Award, the highest honorary recognition in the College of Engineering, and the Outstanding Electrical Engineer Award. He is the founder and chairman of Character First!-a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing materials and training for families, schools, businesses, and other organizations interested in building good character. He is a regularly invited speaker on character and ethics in business.