Celebrating 30 Years of Leadership Excellence
The Ken Blanchard Companies, Inc. (formerly Blanchard Training & Development) is a family-owned firm, founded by Drs. Ken and Marjorie Blanchard. Incorporated in 1979, the organization is based on three simple goals—to make a difference in people’s lives, to drive human worth and effectiveness in the workplace, and to help each organization we work with become the provider, employer, and investment of choice.
Today our concepts and processes have been translated into more than 20 languages and successfully tested by individuals and organizations around the world. Our concepts resonate with people—they make sense—and they work!
Our goal—and those of our international affiliates around the world today remain much the same—to provide leadership and performance solutions that unleash human potential, create engaged employees and customers, and drive organizational results and profitability.
October 1978
Blanchard Training and Development, Inc. (BTD) is born.
Photo Details: Margie and Ken pose for their first publicity photo together.
1979
Laurence Hawkins—Founding Associate and first Consulting Partner hired.
Seminars for Spouses
Situational Leadership
1980
Ken Blanchard begins public seminar tour.
Ken meets Spencer Johnson and work begins on first draft of The One Minute Manager
1981
Don Carew —Founding Associate joins the company.
Eunice Parisi-Carew —Founding Associate joins the company.
Fred Finch —Founding Associate joins the company.
Drea Zigarmi —Founding Associate joins the company.
Pat Zigarmi —Founding Associate joins the company.
Book Release: The One Minute Manager (self published)
Product Debut: Leader Behavior Analysis
1982
Plans begin on follow-up book with Bob Lorber.
Ken appears on Today Show with Spencer Johnson, and within one week The One Minute Manager is on the New York Times Best Seller List.
Book Release: The One Minute Manager (OMM)
Photo Details: Spencer Johnson and Ken sign a contract with
William Morrow and Company, Inc. to publish The One Minute Manager
1983
Become a distributor for Video Publishing House, Inc. (VPHI).
Product Debut: OMM Video; Situational Leadership Video
1984
Four-color catalog created and distributed.
Book Release: Putting the One Minute Manager to Work
1985
Construction on 125 State Place is complete
and new building opens.
Blanchard Foundation is established
Book Release: Leadership and the One Minute Manager
Product Debut: Situational Leadership II
Photo Details: Escondido City Officials look on as Margie and Ken
christen BTD's new home.
1986
The One Minute Manager Gets Fit, Inc. is formed.
BTD East Coast office opens
Book Release: The One Minute Manager Gets Fit
(Later released as The One Minute Manager Balances Work and Life)
1987
Become co-partners with VPHI.
Strategic Planning Group is formed.
Tom McKee (current CEO) joins the company.
1988
Golf University opens.
Book Release: The Power of Ethical Management
Product Debut: SLII Facilitator Guide and Participant Workbook
1989
Professional Services Department is established.
BTD for Others established.
Book Release: The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey
Photo Details: Ken and Margie Blanchard host a lovely evening at the Rancho Bernardo Inn honoring the 10th Anniversary of the company.
1990
Book Release: The One Minute Manager Builds High Performing Teams
Product Debut: LBA--Self, Other, and Scoring for Sales Managers; Revised SLII; BHPT
1991
First Regional office opens--Raleigh, NC.
First Leadership Conference
Product Debut: Frontline Service; Teamworking
1992
Wellness team is formed.
Blanchard print shop opens on site.
Book Release: Playing the Great Game of Golf
(Later released as The One Minute Golfer)
Product Debut: Situational Self Leadership; The Leadership Bridge--SLII/MBTI/DISC
1993
Purchase of Canadian office.
Product Debut: SLII 2000; Creating Your Organization's Future
1994
Managers implement One on Ones.
New focus on consulting.
Restructured marketing team; Accounting merges with MIS
Book Release: We Are the Beloved
(Later released as It Takes Less than One Minute to Suit Up for the Lord)
1995
Quality Card Improvement process implemented to collect feedback for fulfillment.
Opening of Blanchard Corporate Travel.
Book Release: Everyone's a Coach
Product Debut: Raving Fans; SLII Revision
Photo Details: Don Shula and his wife, Mary Anne, join Ken
and Margie at an early morning breakfast. Many of Shula's fans
bring footballs, programs, and jerseys for the legendary football
coach to sign.
1996
Marketing launches first Internet Web site.
New Resource Center library grand opening in 118 building.
Book Release: Empowerment Takes More Than a Minute
Product Debut: Raving Fans Gapfinder
1997
Redesign of sales, marketing, HR, delivery, assessment center, electronic fulfillment, intellectual property, intranet/technology, and training center.
New corporate structure includes Family Council, Board of Directors, Office of the Future, Office of the CEO.
Books Released: Managing by Values; Mission Possible (out of print)
Product Debut: Leader Action Profile; DISCovering Self and Others
1998
Office of the Future Steering Committee is formed.
Branding/name changed to The Ken Blanchard Companies.
Blanchard purchases United Kingdom office.
Book Release: Gung Ho!; Empowerment: Achieving Peak Performance through Self-Leadership
Product Debut: Building High Performing Teams--Revision
Photo Details: Larry Hughes (center), former President of William Morrow
and Company, Inc., attends a Gung Ho! book signing with Ken and
Sheldon Bowles in New York City.
1999
Y2K Team implements Navision Financials software.
Questar Assessment platform is launched.
Books Released: The 3 Keys to Empowerment; The Heart of a Leader; Leadership by the Book
Product Debut: Gung Ho!--Video
2000
Office of the Future created; reviewing emerging technology.
Coaching.com is born.
Books Released: Developing Leadership and Character
(Later Released as The Leader Within)
2001
Siebel CRM is launched.
Tom McKee becomes CEO.
Books Released: The Little Book of Coaching; High Five!
Product Debut: Leadership and the OMM--Video revision
2002
eLearning and Blended are launched.
Coaching.com merges into The Ken Blanchard Companies.
First Webinar is held.
Books Released: Whale Done!; Zap the Gaps!; The Generosity Factor
Product Debut: eSLII Tool Kit; Virtual Teams
Handbook; Situational Leadership II on the
Ninth House Network; Whale Done--Videos
Photo Details: www.coaching.com.
2003
Marketing Releases Ignite! online newsletter.
Books Released: The One Minute Apology; Full Steam Ahead!; The Leadership Pill;
The Servant Leader
Product Debut: Situational Leadership II for Sales Leaders
2004
Service Excellence initiative.
Books Released: Leverage Your Best, Ditch the Rest; Customer Mania!; The On-Time, On-Target Manager; The Secret
Product Debut: Situational Frontline Leadership; Situational Team Leadership; Whale Done! The Power of Positive Relationships
2005
Focus on sales outside the United States.
Accents opens an office inside Blanchard.
Books Released: The Simple Truths of Service; Go Team!; One Solitary Life; Self Leadership and the One Minute Manager; Lead Like Jesus
Product Debut: Coaching Essentials for Leaders
2006
Blanchard Cultural Center opens.
San Diego's Fastest Growing Private Companies Award--San Diego Business Journal
Books Released: Leading at a Higher Level
Product Debut: Building Trust; DISCovering Self and Others--revision
2007
United Kingdom office moves to Guildford .
Books Released: The Mulligan; Know Can Do!
Product Debut: Sustainability Modules; SLII Launch Kit; Team Charter Checkup; Legendary Service
Photo Details: The Ken Blanchard Companies United Kingdom,
Guildford, Surrey
2008
Blanchard awarded Government Services Administration (GSA) Contract
Harvard Partnership on Leadership and the Next Presidency
Books Released: The One Minute Entrepreneur; Coaching in Organizations
Product Debut: Leading People Through Change