C&K Team Takes the Corporate Challenge
Vincent Strasser was a very tired man when he crossed the finish line of the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge on June 2. Who could blame him? While the other runners covered 3.5 miles in this annual race for charity, Strasser traveled a thousand times as far.
The Corporate Challenge is a series of races held in various cities throughout the summer and fall. Companies from the United States, Europe and Australia enter men's, women's and mixed teams, and the entry fee is donated to not-for-profit organizations in the city where the race takes place. Last year, the event raised more than $350,000.
This spring and summer, ITT Industries employees have competed or will compete in Corporate Challenge races in several cities, including Boston and New York City.
Strasser was racing in Boston as part of Cannon's C&K Switch Products team. It was the third straight year that C&K Switch Products and Strasser were taking part in the race. But it was the first time this product manager - who is on a three-year assignment at Cannon's facility in Newton, Massachusetts - would start race day in his home country of France.
Flying back to the U.S., he landed at the Boston airport at 6:30 p.m., "raced" through customs, grabbed a taxi, arrived at the starting line - suitcases in hand - a half hour later and was changed and ready to race when the gun went off at 7:15 p.m.
"It was a crazy day, but I was determined to run," Strasser laughs. "The race was the perfect way to recover from the jet lag and the stress of traveling all day."
In keeping with ITT Industries emphasis on continuous improvement, the C&K team has improved each year from 140th place to 108th place and expect to be in 75th place this year once the results are published. "For 2005, the team is aiming to improve upon this year's performance," says 2004 Team Captain Barbara Lawton. "But wherever we finish, one thing is for sure: We will have fun."
Above: Vincent Strasser arrives for the run suitcases in hand. Below: C&K team members, wearing shirts with the slogan "Running for the fun of ITT," included (l. to r.): Barbara Lawton, Natalie Rowe, Fior Mazara, Ian Quinn, Paul DiLorenzo, Dom Precopio, John Sutherby, Marc Lefebvre, Cari-Anne Rodriguez, Julie McCormick and Tom Keegan.