Chris Kjeldsen - Work/Life Pioneer

10/27/2003

Chris Kjeldsen - Work/Life Pioneer

"Dentodedology is the science of opening your mouth and putting your foot in it. I've been practicing it for years." - Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh

CHRIS KJELDSEN — WORK/LIFE PIONEER

We were saddened to hear of the recent death of Chris Kjeldsen, Vice President of Community and Workplace Programs for Johnson & Johnson. Chris was a pioneer in the work/life movement and a good friend of the World Forum on Early Care and Education. More importantly, he was an engaging individual with a strong social conscience. Some remembrances:

"Chris Kjeldsen was one of the first leaders to see the connection between employees' needs to address their family life and all the pressures and challenges they face at home, and their ability to be productive and contribute successfully in the workplace. He helped to create the work/life industry itself, which has made the entire U.S. economy more productive. Chris was a rare person who could combine his extreme compassion for the individual with the strategic imperatives facing a complex global corporation. He has made a mark that will impact on corporations, families, and children for generations to come." — Roger Brown, Executive Chairman, Bright Horizons Family Solutions

"Chris was a pioneer in fostering workplace practices that would support fathers — not just mothers — in balancing work and family life. He offered J&J as the first corporate participant in our studies of working fathers, and paid serious attention to our findings. I'll miss his friendship and the twinkle that was always in his eye, especially when we discussed our mutual passion for golf." — James A. Levine, Director, The Fatherhood Project, Families and Work Institute, NYC

"Chris was a good friend and through his support and loyalty had a great deal to do with the success of our company. As J&J's representative he carried great weight in moving work/life issues forward in corporate America but it wasn't just his position at J&J — he had an impact and was a leader because he cared about the employee/parents he was striving to help; he demanded quality; and he was very savvy about how to make things happen in a sometimes hostile economic or political environment. He will be missed — by the work/life community and by the many friends he made in doing the work he loved." — Bob Lurie

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