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Howard Behar
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| Howard Behar | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Organization: | Starbucks |
| Role: | Former President |
| Location: | Seattle, Washington |
| Website: | Official website |
As of 2016, Howard Behar was the former president of Starbucks as well as an author, motivational speaker, and mentor.[1] According to the Washington Policy Center, Behar described himself politically as a "pragmatic progessive."[2]
Career
Professional career
As of 2016, Behar was a motivational speaker who encourages a "servant leader" mentality and placing "values first" in a corporate setting. Behar worked for Starbucks as the president of North America for 21 years and was instrumental in establishing the chain's first international store location in Japan. He also served on the Starbucks board of directors for 12 years before his retirement.[1]
Behar authored the book It’s Not About the Coffee: Lessons on Leadership from a Life at Starbucks and other works about business and leadership.[1] He stated regarding business practices, "There’s no conflict between treating your people with respect and dignity and making a profit. That’s fiction."[5]
Behar also served on the boards of Anna’s Linens, Sterling Savings Bank, and Wild Ginger Restaurants and was on the advisory board of Anthos Capital.[6]
Volunteer activity
Behar served on the board of several nonprofit organizations, including the University of Washington Foundation, The Robert Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, and the Washington Business Alliance.[6]
Political activity
Ballot measure activity
Behar supported the Washington Carbon Emission Tax and Sales Tax Reduction (Initiative 732), a 2016 measure designed to impose a carbon tax. He stated regarding his support, "I like it because it’s clear, it’s neat and it’s focused. And it’s direct. So, when I pay more for my gas, I know I’m contributing. When I pay more for my energy in my house, I’m contributing. If I’m running a business and I’m paying more for my energy, I know that I’m contributing."[5]
Behar also claimed the ballot measure would be revenue-neutral. He stated, "It [Initiative 732] takes into consideration the needs of people that don’t have resources; It gives tax credits, gives money back. It does the things that we need it to do. And I think that people can get behind it because it takes out the argument of increasing taxes. It’s tax neutral."[5]
Overview of ballot measure support and opposition
The following table details Behar's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
| Ballot measure support and opposition for Howard Behar | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot measure | Year | Position | Status |
| Washington Carbon Emission Tax and Sales Tax Reduction, Initiative 732 (2016) | 2016 | Supported[4] |  Defeated
|
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Howard Behar'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Howard Behar's official website, "About," accessed September 2, 2016
- ↑ Washington Policy Center, "The battle brewing in Seattle over scheduling," June 13, 2016
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Proposed initiatives to the people - 2016," accessed May 25, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Public Disclosure Commission, "Carbon WA," accessed August 2, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 KNKX.org, "Former Starbucks Exec Howard Behar Wants To Change How We Lead," May 16, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 University of Washington School of Business, "Howard Behar," accessed September 2, 2016
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