USD President's Report and Honor Roll of Donors 1995

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n the coffee table in the lobby of Schmidt-Cannon International sits a copy

Enriching this team approach is an atmosphere that encourages not only customer service, but personal values. Giant purple letters painted in a stairwell at the California office spell out SCl's 15 "winning principles," which include teamwork, integrity, treating everyone with respect and fairness, and doing the little things right. The list was derived from Schmidt's and Cannon's business education and the way they were raised, Schmidt says. "The winning principles represent who Neil and I are as people." Similarly. their guarantee represents who they are as business people and explains the book in the lobby. A hand- written message on the inside cover asks visitors - who are most often vendors selling the gifts used in SCI promotions - to act according to the Schmidt-Cannon guarantee: What you expect. when you expect it. with no surprises. "Provide us with excellent service and 'Oh, the Places You'll Go!' " the message concludes. Schmidt acknowledges the values that guide his com- pany's day-to-day business practices are not revolutionary; however, living up to them. in many ways, is. He tells of a competitor's surprise when a client was outraged at receiving 80 percent of an order on time and the rest a few days later. "Their mind-set is that 80 percent is acceptable," Schmidt says. "Our mind-set is. unless it's exactly what you expect, when you expect it. with no surprises. it's not right." Oh. the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. Perhaps the favorite winning principle of SCI employees is the last: "Fun. fun. fun until daddy takes the T-bird away." Clearly Schmidt and his partner understand that creativity and commitment from workers are natural by-products of a fun atmosphere in the office. For Schmidt. his love for fun and games begins at home with his wife, Debbie, and their three children: Catherine. 11, Mary. 4, and loe, 2. One of loe's and Debbie's favorite tasks is coaching Catherine's soccer team and watching the two younger kids join practices. When commitments to work, school. church or other volunteer activities don't demand their attention. the Schmidts head for the Colorado River in the summer and snow-covered mountains in the winter. While Schmidt knows his success includes some luck. he also knows he has earned the respect and financial success his company currently enjoys. "There have been so many times over the past 15 years that things could have fallen one way or the other and I think God just decided that Schmidt-Cannon is going to be successful." Schmidt says. "Every time something seems to go wrong, it always ends up in our favor. But it doesn't fall your way unless you're doing a good job for your client." }'.

of Dr. Seuss' book Oh. the Places You'll Go/Visitors to the Ontario, Calif., office building and warehouse cannot help but notice it. It's the only book there. You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. Had these words been written 20 years ago when joseph j. Schmidt 111 '80 was a teen-ager with his own stall at a local swap meet. the young entrepreneur might have carried them around in his wallet. Dr. Seuss' clever rhyme would have reminded him of what he already knew, and reinforced that other people knew it too. From the day Schmidt set up his own jewelry stand at the swap meet, he knew that he would own a business as an adult. At 16, he chose a path that led him to USD's School of Business Administration and into a partnership with his boyhood chum, Neil Cannon. , With seed money from his father, Schmidt bought a supply of fashion jewelry and built a business that helped pay for his college education. On the advice of his high school football coach, he visited Alcala Park and immediately fell in love with USO and the people he met on campus. Despite not having enough college prep courses to gain admission. Schmidt proved his determination to attend USO by making up the classes in summer school. That fall he was admitted to USO, made the football team and promised himself he would make the dean's list within the next four xei:!rs. Schmidt kept his business alive by driving two hours north to Diamond Bar on weekends and selling his wares from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. "All the guys at USO used to think I was nuts for driving home every weekend and working long liours at the swap meet." Schmidt recalls. "But it was fun tie~ause I would go back to class and when the business P.rofessors were talking theory, I'd ask how my real-life exP.eriences related." .· Schmidt's journey through college - where he was a ttiree-year standout on the football team. secretary of acaaemics his senior year, recipient of the Franklin Award or outstanding male senior and member of the dean's list - , p~ ed he had brains in his head, feet in his shoes and the clrive to turn his small venture into something much more grand. You won't lag behind. because you'll have the speed. You'lfpass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead. if oday Schmidt is vice chairman of Schmidt-Cannon International, a retail promotions company that employs 105 work:~rs at offices in Ontario and Hong Kong. SCl's niche lies in clesigning promotions for such retailers as Sears Roebuck, Neiman Marcus and Avon. Using free gifts and giveaways as ttie'hook, the company utilizes its graphic designers, mark:e~ing specialists, sales executives and shipping experts to create promotions from the ground up.

Vice Chairman Schmidt-Cannon International Ontario, California