[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 31, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S9310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JOSH WESTON

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Josh Weston who is retiring as chief executive officer of Automatic 
Data Processing. It's been said that you can't judge a businessman by 
intentions, but by results. If that's true, then we can only judge Josh 
Weston as an incredible success. Josh joined ADP in 1970, and he has 
far exceeded the high expectations I had for him.
  During his 14 years as chairman and chief executive officer of ADP, 
Josh's leadership accelerated ADP's already extraordinary record of 
excellence. In the words of Wall Street Stock analyst James A. Meyer, 
``This company is so well managed that it's the envy of everyone on 
Wall Street.''
  Josh has decided that it's time to pass on his mantle at ADP, and he 
leaves a legacy that was not only good for ADP, its staff, clients, and 
shareholders, but for our country. His extraordinary talent for 
management will serve as a model to be studied by managers across our 
corporate society.
  ADP has grown phenomenally since two friends and I joined together in 
the early 1950's. It went public in 1961 and continued to grow and 
prosper; in fact, ADP is the only public company in the Nation to 
achieve consistent, record growth in earnings and revenue for 139 
quarters--nearly 35 years. In the most recent quarter, which ended on 
March 31, ADP earned a net $143.9 million. Earnings grew 15 percent and 
revenue 20 percent.

  Yet, ADP's success goes far beyond the debit and credit columns. It 
currently has 350,000 clients, prepares checks for 19 million, and 
enjoys a financial history which has made investors, many of them 
ordinary ADP employees, financially secure. In addition, ADP provides 
jobs for 5,000 New Jerseyans and employs 29,000, worldwide.
  Much of this success is due to the leadership of Josh Weston over the 
past 14 years. He did it by following and building upon ADP's 
established formula for success: striving to master new technology, to 
improve efficiency, to attract outstanding staff, to make profits every 
employee's responsibility, and to develop new products and markets .
  But perhaps most importantly, ADP has always invested in the morale, 
skills and training of its employees. These valuable men and women are 
ADP's greatest resource, and Josh never failed to recognize this fact. 
In fact, in a recent article in the Newark Star Ledger, Josh credited 
``teamwork'' as the key to ADP's success.
  Although an extremely successful businessman, Josh has always 
believed that we make a living by what we gain, but we make a life by 
what we give. And Josh's contributions to his community are 
considerable. The numerous Pro Bono Boards on which he has been active 
include Chairman of Boys Town of Jerusalem; Chairman of Mountainside 
Hospital; Vice-Chairman of the Tri-State United Way; New Jersey 
Symphony Orchestra; Atlantic Health System; WNET/Channel 13; I Have a 
Dream Foundation; Montclair Art Museum; Montclair State University 
Business School; New Jersey Quality Education Commission; National 
Conference of Christians and Jews; New Jersey University of Medicine 
and Dentistry; etc. This sampling undeniably demonstrates Josh's 
breadth and depth of commitment.
  For the past 14 years, Josh Weston and ADP have been a great team, 
but Josh has decided that it's time to relinquish the CEO title to 
ADP's current president and chief operating officer, Art Weinbach. As 
usual, Josh made an excellent decision.
  Management gurus John Clemens and Douglas Mayer once noted, ``From a 
management viewpoint, Shakespeare's King Lear is a tragedy because Lear 
failed to understand two managerial concepts: the need to select 
competent successors and the need to let go.'' Josh undeniably 
understands these concepts. However, ADP will miss his vision and 
vitality. Josh Weston is not just a businessman or an executive; his 
record of accomplishment, his commitment to his customers and his 
loyalty to his employees distinguishes him as a true leader.
  I am proud to call him a friend, and I wish him the best as he goes 
on to other challenges.

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