John Rice '78 is profiled in an Atlanta Business Chronicle article:
John Rice has a deep appreciation for education and the doors it can open. Himself a product of the public schools of New Jersey, Rice now runs the Atlanta-based $23 billion Power Systems division of General Electric Co.
Rice recently became chairman of the education policy committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, which is trying to get more local business leaders and corporations to support schools or spend time with schoolchildren.
"Educating our children is the right thing to do because it allows them to control their destiny and it puts people on a better path for the rest of their lives," Rice said. "The kids we're working with today are the future employees and leaders of these businesses."
... Rice draws parallels between the schools and major corporations - everyone should have a very clear idea of who's in charge and how well they are doing their job.
"There should be constant feedback and reviews, and a performance improvement plan for those who aren't doing well," said Rice, a graduate of Hamilton College in New York. "When you go through that entire process, termination, if it comes to that, is almost anti-climactic. Just like in the business world, you should never just come in and fire somebody on a Monday and have it seem like it's totally out of left field. That's unfair."
Aside from his work with the chamber, Rice spends much of his time traveling on GE-related business to other parts of the country, Europe and the Middle East.
