EdOptions CEO Presents Best Practices to Nation's Business Leaders

WASHINGTON — Hundreds of attendees filled the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s America’s Small Business Summit today to listen to Educational Options, Inc. President and CEO Tom Sawner speak about the characteristics of highly successful small businesses.

“My doctoral dissertation proved that there is a strong and ‘predictive’ relationship between certain aspects of an organization’s culture and the organization’s performance,” said Mr. Sawner, who received his doctorate in education. “I constantly use this knowledge in my companies.”

Just last year, Mr. Sawner accepted the 2006 Small Business of the Year award at the same event on behalf of his Virginia-based education technology company, Educational Options.

Educational Options was the first ever recipient of the prestigious national award because the company demonstrated “a dedication to its employees, customers, and communities, exemplifying America’s spirit of enterprise and entrepreneurship,” according to U.S. Chamber of Commerce president Thomas Donohue.

To highlight the best practices of award-winning companies, Mr. Sawner created an in-depth study focusing on the characteristics of the 60 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Blue Ribbon recipients. Mr. Sawner, who is also a seasoned business consultant, referred to Harvard sociologist Dr. Talcott Parsons’ “Four Functions Critical for Organizational Survival” as the basis for his “factors for success.”

Among the findings of Mr. Sawner’s study, top companies demonstrated sales growth consistently, provided healthcare to employees, showed staff appreciation frequently, gave back to their community, and emphasized a commitment to stellar customer service.

Business leaders in attendance were encouraged to take an organizational self assessment created by Mr. Sawner that would help to identify company strengths and weaknesses. He called the assessment “a quick report card to focus your company and grow.”

The assessment focused on business characteristics such as financial performance and history, staff training and motivation, community involvement, customer service, and strength of culture.

Today marked the final day of the summit, held at the Renaissance Washington, D.C. Hotel. Mr. Sawner was one presenter among several notable speakers at the annual conference including former speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, CNN contributor Donna Brazile, and FOXNews contributor Bill Kristol.

Educational Options, Inc. is an education technology company headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. The company’s premier product, the Stars Suite, features more than 38 middle and high school courses, and solutions for state test preparation, high school preparation, and GED study. Educational Options is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, and is the parent company of Blue Ridge International Academy, an accredited online school able to grant course credits and full high school diplomas.

Download Materials: :

PowerPoint:
"Small Business Best Practices"

Organizational Self Assessment:
"A Company Report Card"