Social responsibility important to Johnsons

When executive Helen Johnson-Leipold graduated from college, she decided to take a year off and enjoy herself � not a surprising choice for a young woman who was heir to one of the state's best-known family businesses.

But her father, Sam Johnson, former chairman of the consumer products firm S.C. Johnson & Son, and her mother, Imogene Johnson, were quick to remind her of her responsibilities, Johnson-Leipold told a Madison audience at a recent charity luncheon.

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"They said, 'You can enjoy life as much as you want as long as you give back more than you take.'"

For decades, the Johnson family of companies in Racine has made a point of giving back, dedicating 5 percent of pre-tax profits to charity. Johnson-Leipold, who now heads two of her family's ventures, told diners at The Dane Fund luncheon that this giving is a key part of the companies' success.

Doing right by employees and enriching the community help to create the kind of environment that attracts loyal, talented workers, said Johnson-Leipold, 48, who is the chairwoman of Johnson Financial Group, the parent of Johnson Bank, and the chairwoman and chief executive officer of Johnson Outdoors.

"Eight out of 10 executives want to work for a socially responsible company," Johnson-Leipold said, citing the results of a recent study. "I don't think we'd want the other two of the 10 working for us."

Other speakers included Madison Magazine editorial director Neil Heinen and Salli Martyniak, executive director of The Dane Fund, a local group that makes low-interest loans to nonprofit organizations. They urged attendees to seek other opportunities to become involved for the improvement of the Dane County area.

Johnson-Leipold told the story of a small, inefficient S.C. Johnson plant slated for closing and how her father had managed to keep the plant open by having it focus on specialty products, a decision that proved useful later.

"We are more profitable today because of it," she said.