CWU Community Encouraged to "Be a Fred"

October 19, 2007

ELLENSBURG, Wash.-- Mark Sanborn's book "The Fred Factor," is all about turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Sanborn, a motivational speaker and international best-selling author, makes a difference everywhere he goes by sharing his vast knowledge of what it takes to be successful in the business world and in life. Sanborn will share his wisdom with the Central Washington University and Ellensburg communities Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 7 p.m. at a keynote address sponsored by CWU dining services.

Sanborn travels the globe and presents more than 90 programs a year on leadership, customer service and how to be successful in business. The program he is sharing at Central will focus on ideas from his book, "The Fred Factor," a national best seller. Sanborn will base his talk on the four principles he believes improve the workplace and make life better. Found in the "Fred Factor," these four principles include: Everyone makes a difference; everything is built on relationships; you must continually create value for others, and it doesn't have to cost a penny; and, you can reinvent yourself regularly.

"Bringing Sanborn to campus will be an effort to show our staff and the entire university community that good customer service is really our main job," says Dan Layman, director of dining services. "Whether one provides food, financial aid forms, books or a voice on the phone, our interactions with people are the basis for how we attract and retain our customers."

Sanborn believes through dedication, passion and creativity, people can create new value for those they live and work with. His message will help those in the audience understand that everyone can be anything they choose, and that each day we'll all wake up with a "clean slate." According to Sanborn, we all just need to "Be a Fred."

"Mark Sanborn has been helping develop leaders in business and in life," says Allen Lehnhoff, CWU David Wain Coon Center for Excellence in Leadership. Allen encourages all CWU students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the local community to attend the keynote presentation.

Free and open to the public, Sanborn's presentation on "The Fred Factor" will be held in the CWU Music Building Concert Hall. For more information, call 509-963-1524. For information on "The Fred Factor," visit www.marksanborn.com.

Contact: Allen Lehnhoff, David Wain Coon Center for Excellence in Leadership, 509-963-1524, cel@cwu.edu
Teri Olin, CWU Public Relations & Marketing, 509-963-1416, olint@cwu.edu

Central Washington University is a master's degree-granting institution with approximately 10,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. More than 160 undergraduate and master's degrees are offered. Founded in 1891, the Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of place bound students at six university centers throughout the state. CWU is an AA/EEO Title IX Institution.