Submitted by: Jennifer Dobrich, Cozen O’Connor and Antoinette Cristella, Drucker & Scaccetti, P.C.
What makes a highly successful board? Usually you will find a set of individuals with a special skill-set and industry knowledge, honed throughout a highly successful career. These professionals must balance time spent in their primary business with the time spent serving on boards, while still finding time to spend with family and friends. Stretched thin, the only way these members can do what they do so well is with the support of their companies.
Two local business leaders are showing us all how it is possible to balance work, community, and family, and why it is so important for companies to encourage their employees to follow suit.
Jane Scaccetti is a founding shareholder of Drucker & Scaccetti, P.C., a specialty tax and business consulting firm with over 60 members. Scaccetti also serves as a trustee on many large nonprofit boards, most notably as chair of the Temple University Health Systems (TUHS). Patrick O’Connor, vice chair and former president and CEO of Cozen O’Connor, a full-service, national law firm headquartered in Philadelphia, serves on several boards, dedicating the majority of his “free” time as the chair of Temple University’s Board of Trustees.
Both Cozen O’Connor and Drucker & Scaccetti are first-generation firms – meaning their founding members are still actively working and involved in the day-to-day management. But due to the numerous changes that the education and health care industries are undergoing recently, O’Connor and Scaccetti are spending increasingly large portions of time dealing with governance issues for Temple University and TUHS. So, how is it that they are able to dedicate the time that’s required to give these institutions the direction and leadership that their positions require? They credit the support of their firms, each company’s commitment to community service and leadership, and the fact that each encourages its professionals and staff to dedicate time, energy, and resources back into the community in which they work.
“One of my favorite quotes is, ‘If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.’ Having a lot on your plate encourages you to accomplish more,” says Scaccetti. Yet, she insists that her success is a result of team effort. “I’m often asked how I find time to serve on for-profit and community boards, provide good service to my clients, help to run our firm, and still sleep. I’m able to participate in so much because I have a tremendous support system at my firm.”
With the support of Drucker & Scaccetti, many of their members are involved in volunteer work with charities and community organizations. Many volunteer using their financial experience and acumen. Others assist as teachers, carpenters, and cooks. It may be with large organizations like Habitat for Humanity and MANNA, or smaller local groups, perhaps part of their synagogue, church or community center. “We encourage the members of our firm to find a cause that is meaningful to them, something they are passionate about. If you do what you love, everyone benefits,” explains Scaccetti. The firm makes a point to support these efforts by allowing flexibility with hours. “When it comes to giving back, it’s easy – we do it because it is the right thing to do. Leaders must lead in business, in governance and in giving. This is our community.”
Since its founding, Cozen O’Connor has committed significant amounts of financial and personal resources to charitable activities. The firm has an active pro bono initiative, which encourages each of the firm’s more than 550 attorneys to dedicate 60 hours of their time per year to pro bono matters. In addition, to support its numerous charitable endeavors, the firm established The Cozen O’Connor Foundation. The firm was even recognized this past May at the Philadelphia Business Journal‘s annual Corporate Philanthropy Summit, earning recognition across several categories, including the cornerstone Community Impact Award.
“I truly believe that it is our responsibility, as good corporate citizens, to give back to our communities,” adds O’Connor. “From the very beginning, Steve [Cozen] and I have tried to instill this sense of duty in every lawyer and in every staff member at our firm. Whether it’s giving or volunteering through our foundation, taking on a pro bono legal matter, or volunteering with an organization that is personally important to someone, we consider it a vital investment in the communities where we work and live.”
Both large firms and smaller firms know that the energy and time commitments of serving the community are ultimately worthwhile. Drucker & Scaccetti and Cozen O’Connor are perfect examples of how everyone benefits when companies support their member’s involvement in community giving. As anyone who has served or is serving on a board well knows, the time required of any individual member is considerably more than the time spent attending board meetings. In order to effectively govern, along with preparation for and attendance at meetings, all members of the board must take the time to truly understand the organization and its business, as well as the community in which it operates. This may mean adjusting focus away from other obligations, including one’s primary job responsibility. This can only be done with the support of their firms.
