Craig Raben, Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Cardinal Medical Products and Services, Lake Forest MBA Class of 2003
Meeting Challenges Head On
As featured in the October 2004 edition of the Hotchkiss Happenings Newsletter
Ladies and gentlemen…meet Craig Raben…Hotchkiss Scholar from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management’s Class of 2003. Craig is the Director of Environmental Health and Safety for Cardinal Medical Products and Services. What, you ask, does one with such a title do on a daily basis? Hotchkiss Happenings had the opportunity to find the answer to this question and more.
HH: How long have you worked at Cardinal and what positions have you held?
CR: I started with Cardinal, formerly Allegiance, in 1998. Allegiance was acquired a few months after I started. Cardinal provides medical products and services and manufactures and distributes hospital supplies. My first position was Environmental Manager, primarily supporting the manufacturing side of the business. Over a 5-year period, I started picking up responsibilities like fire protection, acquisition, due diligence, and integration of acquired facilities, and was promoted three times. I was promoted to my current position in July 2004. I am responsible for the Environmental Health and Safety for over 100 facilities worldwide, served by over 30,000 employees.
HH: In twenty words or less, how would you describe a typical day at work?
CR: There is no such thing as a typical day! My daily activities range from dealing with emergencies and issues to supporting facilities to advising management.
HH: What is the most meaningful aspect of your job?
CR: I think I have one of the most significant responsibilities anyone can have at any company; making sure the people who work for us are safe. They make products that save peoples’ lives. On a global level, I am helping to protect the environment while protecting shareholder value and improving profitability.
HH: What do you find to be the most challenging?
CR: Environmental Health and Safety is a subject everyone says they support, but the challenge lies in trying to tie your message into a meaningful communication that helps people understand why and how to do it. Telling someone they’re having too many accidents is less effective than telling them that 10% of their employees are getting injured.
HH: Where do you hope to be in five years?
CR: Good question! I’m going through that thought process now; I’d like to be in a position that challenges me as much as my current one does, and would like to be ready to take on the next challenge within Cardinal.
HH: How has your degree from LFGSM helped you excel in your current position and how will it help you achieve your future career goals?
CR: It has had a significant impact. I have a Masters in Environmental Engineering, so I went from being an engineer with an engineering thought process to being an engineer with a business thought process. The biggest challenge in my job was how to communicate, and now I am able to convey issues in business terms that everyone can understand. I’ve also been able to think more strategically, which has led to my promotion and success. My degree from LFGSM has helped me translate technical knowledge into business knowledge.
HH: What do you miss most about the LFGSM experience?
CR: I miss the camaraderie; the fact that every week there was interaction with people on very challenging projects. I also enjoyed learning from others; they showed me new insights and challenged me. The people at LFGSM led me to be able to achieve new heights.
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