¶ … beat 'em, join 'em!" Taking this maxim to heart, I eagerly launched the Association for Business Ethics and Sustainability (ABES) after receiving a research grant. As a business major, I have always been concerned with balancing the very real needs of the environment, the labor force, and consumer rights with maximum profitability. Recent protests at World Trade Organization conferences have demonstrated the need for reforming basic public policy and creating international awareness of ethics in business. As a global economy is already manifest, I realized the need for a multi-national economic and political body that acts as mediator between the business community and its most vocal critics. ABES, with the help of the grant and my staff, will be an integral part of the future of business and will also be recognized in international law. Basically, ABES is a watchdog organization that caters to the varied and often conflicting needs of the business, environmental, and labor sectors.

ABES is comprised of leaders in their respective fields: we have on staff CEOs or representatives from major multinationals like IBM, Microsoft, Nike, and Coca Cola. Their voices are heard in our regular forums: no message is silenced or censored because we feel that openness and honesty are keys in creating a sustainable and ethical international business environment. However, alongside the prevailing views of the business community will be the concerns of top environmentalists, intellectuals, philosophers, and labor union activists. As the voices of grassroots movements become increasingly louder, I feel that ABES has the unique responsibility and ability to bridge the gap between these groups and the international business community.

I feel that an expanding and prosperous economy does not need to exist in hostile conflict with the needs of workers, indigenous populations, or the environment. However, without an organization like ABES, dialog between these opposing viewpoints might not be possible. It is my aim to utilize the academic and networking resources available to me at St. Cloud along with the generous grant monies, to create this respected, recognized, and influential body of top thinkers and activists.