To get a flavor for the “real Don Winkler,” select one of the speeches below by clicking on the icon to the left of the abstract.

ASFA Keynote Remarks
October 8th, 2001

The Shadow of the Leader
2001

Urban Financial Services Coalition National Conference
New York Hilton & Towers
June 1, 2001

Learning How To Live
King's College Commencement, First Union Arena At Casey Plaza
May 20, 2001

"Ennis' Gift" premiere
Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Remis Auditorium
October 12, 2000

IDA Remarks
IDA National Conference, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Regency Ballroom, Washington, D.C.
November 10, 2000

Shelton School Commencement
Commencement Speech at Shelton School, Dallas, Texas
May 21, 2000

Financial Services Fast Forward
Address to the Financial Services Roundtable, Arizona Biltmore
April 8, 2000

Living the Vision – Part One
Opening Speech, 1999 Finance One National Sales Conference, January 10, 1999
Don Winkler took the audience on a journey to the future where he showed them the success wrought by living the Finance One vision. He shared with them that living the vision made customers want to do business with Finance One — it made a difference in the way we listened, how we worked together, and how we helped our customers succeed. He then brought the audience back to present day to relate their 1998 success stories. And he went on to describe that during the next three days at the conference, the participants would learn about having heart, creating a culture to promote leadership and respect, and making a commitment to living the vision in 1999. Once again, Don Winkler and his team set the tone for another successful conference!

Living the Vision – Part Two
Tuesday Speech, 1999 Finance One National Sales Conference, January 12, 1999
Don Winkler wrapped up the day by reviewing the highlights of the training in the leadership breakouts and personal development workshops. He hoped that everyone had a chance to visit the new information fair, in which the various Finance One businesses and support group shared with the participants. And before introducing Gen. Colin Powell, Don asked everyone to remember just one thing they learned that day: to live the vision every day by doing the right thing.

Living the Vision – Part Three
Closing Speech, 1999 Finance One National Sales Conference, January 13, 1999
Don Winkler showed how he made Kato attacks (surprise phone calls to Finance One employees) in 1998 to ensure that they lived up to the commitments they made at the 1998 Sales Conference. He asked that the participants challenge each other in 1999 and inspire teammates to the next level of excellence. Then he led the commitment ceremony, at which time the participants wildly and enthusiastically pledged their support to living the vision in 1999!

The Gifts and the Great Possibilities
25th Annual Tree of Light Celebration, Lewis Clinic and School, Princeton, NJ, December 11, 1998
Don Winkler spoke about how learning differences are now being identified at an early age. And that people with learning differences could achieve their dreams with the right teaching and the right teachers, such as that provided by the Lewis School. He spoke about his childhood experiences with dyslexia and about the support he received from family, friends and teachers. As this was the Annual Tree of Light Celebration, Don said the 100,000 lights on the tree represented the thousands of people with gifts and talents hidden behind a curtain of learning differences. Each student then received a “Giving Tree” as a reminder to “…give to those who need it most.”

Give of Yourself and Make a Difference
Phillipsburg Chamber of Commerce, Phillipsburg, NJ, October 13, 1998
Don Winkler returned to his hometown to share his experiences of growing up in Phillipsburg and to thank the many people who believed in him and supported him. The values he learned while growing up in P’burg included love and support, belief in yourself, courage to take risks, and desire and determination. He asked that everyone just carry one message home: “…that we can all make a difference — each one of us.”

The Forman Family: Give of Yourself, and We Shall Grow
1998 Commencement Address, The Forman School, Litchfield, CT, May 30, 1998
Don Winkler spoke about the ties that bind the Forman family — the students, faculty and administrators — together. This was demonstrated in the love and support that each shows the other. He told them that they need not wait until they could afford to give money or a building to the school. Instead they could begin by educating others about learning differences, helping people to read, and continuing to provide love and support to one another after they left Forman. He closed by making the following request of the graduates: “...in everything you do, give of yourself! And we shall continue to grow forever.”

Sharing the Vision – Part One
Opening Speech, 1998 Finance One National Sales Conference, January 11, 1998
Don Winkler kicked off the conference by introducing the purpose of the 1998 sales conference — sharing the vision. He outlined the opportunities the team would have to learn about sharing the vision with teammates through teamwork and commitment; across BANC ONE lines of business by leveraging the many products, services and philosophies available throughout the company; and with customers by creating value and solving problems for them. He added that Thursday’s program was going to be about making a commitment to achieving breakthrough results in 1998. He congratulated the team on their incredibly successful 1997 and honored star performers. It was an exciting evening for all and set the tone for a highly original and successful conference!

Sharing the Vision – Part Two
Closing Speech, 1998 Finance One National Sales Conference, January 15, 1998
Don Winkler closed the 1998 National Sales Conference by describing how vision brings clarity to one’s dreams and one’s passion for accomplishment. He told them that by using the ideas and lessons learned during the week, the participants would be able to share the vision with teammates, customers and the other BANC ONE lines of business. He then led the management team in pledging their commitment to “sharing the vision” in 1998. And then in a rousing salute, all attendees committed to sharing the vision with teammates, customers and other BANC ONE lines of business. It was an exhilarating finish to a very powerful conference!

Honoring the Contributions of Diane F. Kessenich
Presentation of the John N. Forman Award, Forman School, New York, NY, October 5, 1995
Don Winkler spoke of the many contributions and accomplishments of Diane Kessenich, chairman emeritus of the Forman School. He spoke not only of her management skills, but of her extraordinary leadership in working with the trustees and staff of the Forman School to identify the school’s mission. She created an environment where new theories were tested and new techniques were born. Don added that Diane believed that everyone had greater potential then they thought and she encouraged them to act, to achieve. She was an inspiring leader and was honored for her many contributions.

Trends in Nationwide Banking
Bank Administration Institute, Hartford Chapter, Hartford, CT, January 22,1980
Don Winkler (Vice President/National Business Manager, Correspondent Resources, Inc., a subsidiary of Citicorp) shared his thoughts about how commercial banks must be willing to change to withstand the loss of market share to new competitors. He shared his views on nationwide banking, which went beyond banks crossing state boundaries to banks being able to compete in the same arena as non-bank competitors: insurance companies, finance companies, brokerage houses, etc. He stated that banks must ban together to create a vision of how they want the industry to look, and then to get legislation passed that would help banks compete in the changing environment. Finally, he noted that the Correspondent Resources subsidiary of Citicorp was poised to work with independent correspondent banks to meet the challenges of the changing industry.