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A quick note to listeners:
Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered a listener question in a 5-minute response.
The question is: What strategies help maintain focus on long-term vision and direction in the face of daily challenges?
Listen in for our response and thank you for doing what matters!
Meet Jeff Jones
Jeffrey C. Jones of Bloomington, Indiana, is a graduate of the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and is CEO and Chairman of Solution Tree, Inc. which delivers comprehensive professional development to PreK-12 educators around the world.
Jeff and his business partner DG Elmore purchased Solution Tree in 1998, established Solution Tree Canada in 2004, Marzano Research in 2008, and acquired Results Coaching Global in 2021. Jeff is also Chairman of Sarge Property Management and Hoosier Acres LLC. Jeff sits on the Board of Directors of Rachel’s Challenge and Marzano Academies and serves as Board Chairman for Trans World Radio.
Jeff is a founding partner and Board Chair for Cynisca Cycling, a not-for-profit professional women’s cycling team. He and his wife Margaret have been married since 1996 and have been blessed with four children.
In response to the opening question, Jeffrey shares the fascinating story of Cynisca Cycling, which he co-founded with a friend — a not-for-profit professional women’s cycling team named after a female Olympic medalist from ancient Greece.
In this episode, Jeff discusses his background and his journey to becoming the CEO of Solution Tree, highlighting its origins and relationships with key figures like Rick Dufour and Bob Acre. The conversation covers Solution Tree’s global impact, commitment to professional learning communities, and the importance of integrity in business. Jeff shares leadership insights, especially during the COVID-19 crisis, emphasizing servant leadership and effective delegation. Strategies for managing a growing organization are also discussed, focusing on clear communication and maintaining company values.
Jeff’s Background and Career Journey
Jeffrey’s journey into the education sector began in 1996 when his friend DG Elmore approached him with the idea of purchasing an education company after Jeff officiated his wedding. Despite its small size, Jeff saw potential in the company, with the initial team consisting of himself and seven women handling office responsibilities. His encounter with Rick Dufour and Bob Acre in Canada inspired him to delve into the concept of professional learning communities (PLCs). The first conference they hosted attracted 90 attendees, and PLCs soon became a significant part of their business.
Growth and Impact of Solution Tree
Under Jeffrey’s leadership, Solution Tree expanded significantly, initially focusing on conferences before diversifying into online professional development and portable event packages. The company has seen consistent growth every year except in 2012 and 2020, the latter due to the COVID-19 crisis. Solution Tree’s commitment to professional learning communities has made a global impact, underscoring the importance of integrity and keeping promises in business.
Values and Leadership Insights
Jeffrey emphasizes the importance of integrity and the principle of making promises you can keep, drawing inspiration from Rick Dufour’s work at Adelaide Stevenson High School. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Solution Tree successfully transitioned to online services, continuing to meet educators’ needs despite the challenges. Jeffrey’s leadership philosophy centers on servant leadership, encouraging leaders to trust, guide, be clear, and verify their team’s work.
Advice for Leaders
Jeffrey offers several key pieces of advice for leaders:
- Become an expert in your field.
- Identify and develop your unique skills.
- Create a mission and vision, and live by those values.
- Practice servant leadership by trusting and guiding others while being clear and verifying their work.
Managing a Growing Organization
With nearly 400 employees, Solution Tree’s growth necessitates a reliance on team members to be experts in their areas, allowing Jeffrey to focus on leading the company. The company’s guiding philosophy is to “Advance the work of our authors,” ensuring that high-quality professional development is delivered consistently.
Final Thoughts
Jeffrey advises educational leaders to seek providers with proven track records and to ensure they can trust and verify the quality of professional development services brought into their schools. This ensures the highest value and quality for their educational initiatives.
You can find out more about Solution Tree resources at https://www.solutiontree.com/our-solutions/overview?utm_medium=ppc or connect with Jeff Jones via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-c-jones-8a8268a/
