[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 23, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9274-S9275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MIKE CRITELLI

 Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to someone I 
have known for many years, both because of his guidance of a major 
company in Connecticut as well as his leadership in the mailing 
industry--Mike Critelli, executive chairman of Pitney Bowes Inc.--which 
is headquartered in Stamford, CT. Mike will be retiring late this year, 
after dedicating 30 years to both Pitney and the mailing industry.
  Mike and I have come to know each other not only because Pitney Bowes 
is headquartered in my home State of Connecticut but also because he 
has been the chairman of the Mailing Industry CEO Council, an 
organization of chief executive officers of companies in the mailing 
industry.
  The Mailing Industry CEO Council, under Mike's able leadership, has 
been at the forefront of educating policymakers about the mailing 
industry for years. Although those of us who follow mailing industry 
issues know by heart now the key statistics--a $900 billion industry 
representing over 8 percent of the gross domestic product and employing 
9 million workers--there was a time when the impact of the industry was 
less well known. Mike Critelli and the Mailing Industry CEO Council 
helped to change that. The CEO Council came to town several times a 
year to meet with me and others in Congress to provide support for the 
postal reform legislative effort. They helped to spread the word to 
many of my colleagues who are not on the Senate Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over postal 
issues, about the importance of the mailing industry and the impact of 
the industry on jobs in each of their States. As we moved forward with 
postal reform legislation in the 109th Congress, having others in 
Congress actively supporting the mailing industry proved very helpful.
  As we worked together on the Postal Accountability and Enhancement 
Act, my staff and I were always impressed by the attention and care 
Mike gave to every detail. As a lawyer, Mike took the time to read the 
various versions of postal reform legislation page by page. He got into 
the details and commented on specific provisions--and the final outcome 
was better as a result. He was critically important in brokering some 
agreements with interested parties that helped get us over the final 
hurdles towards enactment. In the final days of the 109th Congress, the 
Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act passed the House and Senate 
and was signed into law. Mike Critelli played an essential role in 
helping to educate others about the importance of the mailing industry 
and the need for the legislation that enabled it to get done.

[[Page S9275]]

  He began his career at Pitney Bowes as a staff attorney and rose 
through various leadership positions over the years. He served as 
general counsel, chief personnel officer, and then became president of 
Pitney Bowes Financial Services. He was then CEO and chairman and now 
serves as executive chairman of the board. He has brought the company 
through many changes--acquisitions and transformations. He has also 
served as an effective ambassador for the mailing industry. After the 
deadly anthrax attacks of fall 2001, Mike wasted no time in working 
with the U.S. Postal Service to advocate on its behalf so that our 
mailstream would quickly regain the confidence of the American people.
  Under Mike's leadership, Pitney Bowes has been a leader as well on 
health care issues. The company invests heavily in the health of its 
employees and has found that the focus on prevention, wellness, early 
diagnosis and treatment, and chronic disease management has improved 
health and minimized costs for employees as well as the company. This 
has helped to make Pitney Bowes a model for other companies.
  Mike has also demonstrated a strong commitment to diversity. Under 
his tenure, Pitney Bowes has been consistently recognized as one of the 
best corporations in America for diversity. Although this record began 
before Mike took the helm as CEO, he continued to grow the diversity 
efforts within the company. Outside of the office, Mike served for 
several years in a Connecticut chapter of the Urban League and as 
chairman of the National Urban League Board.
  As I wish Mike Critelli well as he begins a well deserved retirement, 
I can't help but be disappointed that Connecticut's business community 
is losing a great leader. For our sake, I hope he continues in some 
capacity assisting us with public policy issues of concern to our 
State.

                          ____________________