TAB Column: Entrepreneur and venture capitalist who was part of the founding management teams of Staples and Zoots on why Parker is the Chief Executive Newton Needs

Newton businessman, entrepreneur and Parker Campaign co-chair Todd Krasnow highlights in the Newton TAB why Ken Parker is the leader Newton needs during these challenging times. 

The city of Newton needs a new CEO with vision of a well-managed city and the skills to implement that vision. As a business leader who has hired dozens of corporate executives, I am convinced that Ken Parker is the leader Newton needs to serve as our next mayor. Ken has the unique combination of management skill, knowledge of city operations, and open, collaborative style we need to lead Newton through the significant challenges that lie ahead.

As part of the founding management team at Staples, I helped grow a startup into a $7 billion company by finding people like Ken Parker to take on key responsibilities.

At Staples and other companies, I had no interest in hiring executives long on references but short on accomplishments. Effective leaders don’t take the path of least resistance. Leadership is about listening to numerous constituencies, setting clear goals and objectives that best address their needs, and then making those goals and objectives happen.

Ken Parker’s leadership is best demonstrated by his unmatched record of accomplishment as alderman.

In addition to his business experience, Todd Krasnow is a dedicated community servant.  He served on Parker's Finance and Management Working Group, which identified cost-saving measures that were later recommended by the Blue Ribbon Commission and adopted as policy by the City, and also served on other local volunteer citizen commissions.  To read Todd's full column, please click here.