NationStates Jolt Archive

HRMC
HotRodia Motor Corporation



Location:

HRMC Administrative Facilities
641 Gallos Lane
Showroomtown, HotRodia

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William F. Bernard, CEO of HotRodia Motor Corporation, was lost in thought as he made his way from the parking lot to his plush top-floor office. Today he didn't notice the huge manufacturing facility several hundred meters away. He didn't notice the light breeze that brought the temperature down a few degrees from 120. His mind was on the upcoming meeting. He absent-mindedly ran a hand through his graying and thinning hair, a nervous habit. Though he hadn't been told what the meeting was about, the fact that he hadn't been told suggested the answer. They were going to ask him to resign. It was the only thing that fit with the secrecy.

It was no surprise that the Board of Directors wanted him gone. William knew quite well that while he had made an effort to turn the company around, he had also failed miserably to get much in the way of real results...and results were what counted. The directors, stockholders and accountants were not interested in excuses. They did not give A's for effort. William knew all of that, and understood it. In their eyes, he was a failure, and he couldn't blame them for seeing it that way. You can't win them all, Will.

HRMC
HotRodia Motor Corporation



Location:

HRMC Manufacturing Facilities
643 Gallos Lane
Showroomtown, HotRodia

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Joseph Denoto was clearing a new chassis design from one of his best engineers when the message arrived by an interdepartmental courier from headquarters. After dismissing the engineer and asking him to come in early tomorrow to get final approval, Joseph took a quick look at the message. After rubbing his eyes in disbelief and shaking his head softly, he read it again to be sure.


HRMC Internal Message

To: Production Manager, Joseph Denoto
From: Board of Directors

Re: Available CEO Position

Greeting Mr. Denoto,

We regret to inform you that Mr. Bernard has resigned his duties as CEO of the HRMC, effective in two weeks' time. As a result of his resignation, the position he held is now open to others. You have been selected by the Board of Directors as one of several possible candidates for the position of Chief Executive Officer of this corporation.

We selected you because we have noticed and approved of your punctuality, efficiency, and hands-on approach to facilitating the production of HRMC vehicles. We would like to meet you in person and conduct an interview to assess whether you would be the most appropriate person for the position, so please schedule an appointment with us by way of our secretary as soon as possible. You can find our secretary by scanning the HRMC contact list in the general internal database. Thank you for your time, sir.

HRMC
HotRodia Motor Corporation



Location:

HRMC Administrative Facilities
641 Gallos Lane
Showroomtown, HotRodia

-----------

Georgia Barnett had found the usual pile of mail outside her comfortable corner office that morning. What had not been quite so usual was the internal message she had received from the Board. First they stated that William Bernard was resigning as CEO, and in the same message they had asked for an interview. I suppose that's their way of saving paper and helping to cut costs. She smiled at the idea, knowing that it was quite likely that the Board had never considered cutting costs in that manner.

As the Chief Financial Officer, it was no surprise to her that she was being considered for the CEO position. The Board would want someone who had more of a financial awareness than Bernard had ever displayed. The man had been great with Public Relations, but horrible with corporate finances. He had spent money as if it were as common as air, operating on the dictum that "you have to spend money to make money". Georgia was of the opinion that he had taken that position too far. After all, one doesn't need to spend a truckload of money to make an ink pen. Chuckling to herself, Georgia booted up her computer and began the day's work, making a mental note to schedule an interview appointment in the afternoon.

HRMC
HotRodia Motor Corporation



Location:

HRMC Administrative Facilities
641 Gallos Lane
Showroomtown, HotRodia

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Stanley Savell, Board Member, was not pleased with the rather small pool of acceptable candidates for the position of CEO and the replacement of that moneyhound Bernard. He ran a hand through his thinning gray hair nervously, concerned that the fate of the HRMC might end up in the hands of a Production Manager. The man didn't even have a degree in Business Administration. He's an engineer, for God's sake. Stanley threw the candidate's file into a pile on the far side of his desk and looked at the other one. She was the current CFO, and a damn fine one. She had accounted for every penny that Bernard had wasted and she had often protested the former CEO's more risky financial decisions. Unfortunately, she was basically a glorified accountant. She didn't have a degree in Business Administration either. Stanley sighed and turned even more pensive. There has to be someone else.

His telephone rang, and Stanley sighed again while picking it up, knowing that it was probably his secretary asking for more time off. After assuring the secretary that he could do without her, Stanley went back to his earlier thoughts. After a few moments, he realized who would make the best new CEO, and picked up his phone again. It was time to get a third candidate into the lineup.

HRMC
HotRodia Motor Corporation



Location:

HRMC Public Relations Center
352 Erubus Beaulevard
HotRodia City, HotRodia

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Kelly Reynolds walked into her office quickly and shut the door, hoping to avoid the barrage of simpering sycophants that usually tried to pass as dedicated employees. The wimps wanted every action they took to have her personal stamp of approval. None of them would take the initiative. That was a shame, because initiative and competency were what Kelly found impressive, not suck-ups. Sighing, she took a look at the morning mail and was surprised to find an internal message from the HRMC courier service.

A few moments later, Kelly called her rather handsome young secretary into the office and asked him to make an appointment and secure travel arrangements for a trip to the HRMC headquarters in Showroomtown. This was the opportunity of a lifetime. She could become CEO of the HotRodia Corporation, make her mark on the world, and (more importantly) leave these incompetent employees behind. She smiled as her secretary left the room, looking forward to the new road that had opened up ahead of her.

HRMC
HotRodia Motor Corporation



Location:

HRMC Administrative Facilities
641 Gallos Lane
Showroomtown, HotRodia

-----------

William F. Bernard, soon to be known as the former CEO of HotRodia Motor Corporation, looked around the office that had been his home away from home for several years with a certain amount of sadness. It was by far the best office he had ever worked in. The plush carpets, huge desk, abundant storage space, high-end computing equipment, and a lovely view from a window made from bulletproof glass had made this office a great space to work in. After taking his last look at the now-empty room, William sighed and shut the door behind him softly as he turned off the lights.

As William walked out to the parking lot, he thought about the days to come. His first job after retiring was to play a nominal role in the selection of his successor. The Board of Directors had suggested that he mentor the new CEO as a show of good sportsmanship; it was a move that would benefit the company's image as a stable and friendly corporation. William understood what they were trying to do, but he would not be enjoying his role as an observer in the first interview tomorrow afternoon, nor the commute that he would have to make to get there.

HRMC
HotRodia Motor Corporation



Location:

HRMC Administrative Facilities
641 Gallos Lane
Showroomtown, HotRodia

-----------

Joseph Denoto was idly tapping his foot on the very nice wine-colored carpet outside the boardroom when the reality of the situation finally set in. There is a definite possibility that I will be the next CEO of the HotRodia Motor Corporation. A staggering possibility, to be sure. It was unheard of that an engineer would head a company, but...

The Board had seemed pleased with his responses, most nodding appreciatively or smiling warmly at his statements. In most people, this response could have simply indicated superficial politeness, but not with the Board. They tended to be brutally honest about their feelings. They praised you when you deserved it and chastised you when deserved it. There was no coddling to be found at the HRMC as most of the employees thought that coddling just produced false confidence and lead to greater problems than a few hurt feelings on the part of those who failed to do their best.

With that Joseph broke out of his reverie, got up from the smooth bench where he had been sitting, and walked down the hallway intending to get home after buying his wife some flowers and tell her about his good day at work.

HRMC
HotRodia Motor Corporation



Location:

HRMC Administrative Facilities
641 Gallos Lane
Showroomtown, HotRodia

-----------

After making certain that she was absolutely clean and sparkling by checking herself thoroughly in the large mirror on her bathroom door, Georgia Barnett chose carefully from her wardrobe a rather conventional business suit with pinstripes on the navy blue skirt. It was a very safe look, one based on Georgia's belief that the Board was looking for someone more practical and ordinary to head the corporation. After applying a small amount of makeup that accentuated her features without drawing attention to the fact that she was wearing makeup, Georgia began filling her briefcase and mentally reviewing the answers she had come up with for the questions that would likely be asked in the interview. She only hoped they wouldn't ask any questions about sex, which she had heard from reliable sources that they sometimes did in the interest of determining a candidate's character. It would be hard to hide the tension if William Bernard were in the room as an observer, which was exactly what was supposed to happen. She had always regretted that affair, and was still afraid it might come back to haunt her.

HRMC
HotRodia Motor Corporation



Location:

HRMC Administrative Facilities
641 Gallos Lane
Showroomtown, HotRodia

-----------

Already Kelly Reynolds was finding the HRMC Administrative Facility to be much more enjoyable than the offices at the Public Relations Center. The employees here seemed much more assertive and competent. It also helped that the rooms were generally more spacious, considering her ever present fear of small spaces. Besides, the accomodations at The Grand Showroomtown Hotel were incredibly luxurious and had put her in a delightful mood. That should help with her upcoming interview. It was always better to go into an interview happy, in Kelly's experience. That way if the interview stressed you out you actually had the emotional energy to deal with it.

After rising from her seat in the lobby, Kelly headed towards the elevator. Walking across the rather sparkly marble floor that looked as if it had been cleaned both regularly and recently, Kelly stepped into a large elevator which was, as usual, empty at this time in the day, with most of the employees having gone to lunch a few minutes ago. Of course, the Board wasn't making time for lunch and had insisted on holding the interview at this hour. The elevator opened quietly, and Kelly stepped out, smoothed her clothing unnecessarily, and began composing herself for what would likely be the most important interview of her life.

HRMC
HotRodia Motor Corporation



Location:

HRMC Administrative Facilities
641 Gallos Lane
Showroomtown, HotRodia

-----------

Stanley Savell sat quietly in his office, fuming at the decision made by the other board members. They had done, by a vote of eleven to one, exactly what he had been trying to prevent. They had chosen a new CEO that didn't have a degree in Business Administration. Stanley was used to being annoyed, because he was always annoyed at something (and his blood pressure had suffered for it), but this was more than he could bear. He would have to resign in protest. It was for the best. After this new CEO ran the corporation into mediocrity and low profits the rest of the Board would be happy to have him back. Maybe then they would finally recognize his wisdom.

Stanley groaned as he pushed himself away from his chair, trying to count his blessings in what seemed like dark times. He put his heavy trenchcoat and fedora on, turned off the light, and walked out of the door of his office for what he didn't realize would be the last time. At least I won't have to deal with my secretary anymore.

HRMC
HotRodia Motor Corporation



Location:

HRMC Administrative Facilities
641 Gallos Lane
Showroomtown, HotRodia

-----------

William F. Bernard was moderately pleased at the moment, despite his replacement as CEO becoming official today. The Board had selected the engineer rather than the other two candidates, which meant that William would not have to try to mentor Georgia Barnett. That was fortunate, to say the least. Given their past history, he suspected that it would have been an incredibly uncomfortable sistuation.

As far as Mr. Denoto's suitability for the CEO position was concerned, William wasn't exactly sure about him, but had liked the man's determination and competency when he had worked with Joseph in his position as Production Manager. Besides, Denoto was probably better than the other two anyway, given that the women's focuses were on money and advertisement, respectively. Joseph would focus on building better cars, and that was what the corporation was ultimately in need of.

HRMC
HotRodia Motor Corporation



Location:

HRMC Administrative Facilities
641 Gallos Lane
Showroomtown, HotRodia

-----------

Joseph Denoto was having trouble getting to sleep, not because of his wife's deep breathing, but because he was still obsessing over his presentation for the Board tomorrow. His speech at the press release had come off nicely, and he had entered the public eye with a congenial smile, but Joseph was more concerned about the Board's eyes once they saw his proposal.

It was all in order, of course. Cost and profits had been projected, production and marketing strategies developed, and the presentation materials made to look quite spiffy. The only worry was that it might be a little overwhelming for the Board. They liked change, but believed it should be slow and steady in its progression. Joseph was planning to buck this trend with a sudden expansion of the lineup, and he knew he might have to scale back the rather sharp deadlines he had suggested as a compromise.