Paul Spiegelman Debates People Over Profits at the Inc. 500/5000 Conference

DALLAS, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 30 at the 2010 Inc. 500/5000 Conference in Washington D.C., there will be a battle of the minds between Paul Spiegelman, CEO of Beryl, a technology-focused patient experience services company dedicated to improving relationships between health care providers and consumers, and George Cloutier, CEO of American Management Services (AMS), a firm that specializes in financial turnarounds and profit development for small and mid-sized companies across the nation. The two will debate what the first priority of a CEO is—people or profits? Paul believes that "culture comes before cash," and George asserts that "profits come before people."

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The two will debate their views in front of a panel of three judges:

1. Norm Brodsky, a veteran entrepreneur and Inc.com "Street Smarts" columnist and senior contributing editor
2. Bo Burlingham, an editor-at-large of Inc. Magazine and author of Small Giants: Companies That Choose To Be Great Instead of Big
3. Doug Tatum, Founding Chairman of Tatum Partners, the nation's largest executive services firm

The panel of judges will choose which contestant will receive the "Judges Award" and audience members will choose which contestant will receive the "People's Choice Award" at the conclusion of the debate September 30.

Spiegelman and his two brothers, Barry and Mark, founded Beryl in 1985 and embraced the Circle of Growth ™ philosophy, which states that when you invest in your employees, they will take care of the customers, and the organization will thrive. This philosophy helped Beryl grow into the company it is today. In 2007, he wrote Why is Everyone Smiling? The Secret Behind Passion, Productivity, and Profit, which describes how operating with a true spirit of camaraderie at every level has helped the company have low attrition and high customer loyalty.

Cloutier founded AMS in 1986 and wrote the book, Profits Aren't Everything, They're the Only Thing (2009), which gives 13 no-nonsense, tough-love maxims for small business owners, such as forget teamwork, micromanage like crazy, and fear is the best motivator.

The debate will be held at the Inc. 500/5000 Conference, located at:

For more information about Beryl and CEO Paul Spiegelman please contact Nancy Lecroy, Vice President of Marketing, at 817-785-5030 or nancy.lecroy@beryl.net

About The Beryl Companies

The Beryl Companies is comprised of four businesses; two that focus on improving the patient experience in a variety of health care settings, and two that focus on improving workplace culture and values-based business productivity.  The Beryl Companies sees these activities and concepts as intrinsically linked.  The Beryl Companies' foundational business, Beryl, is a technology-focused patient experience services company dedicated to improving relationships between health care providers and consumers.  Founded in 2006, The Beryl Institute is a research and educational entity that publishes information about improving the patient experience and how that activity links to better financial outcomes for health care providers.  Founded in 2009, The Circle is a training company that helps other businesses enhance employee engagement and develop more positive workplace cultures.  The last firm, The Small Giants Community, is a global organization that brings together leaders who are focused on values-based business principles. 

SOURCE The Beryl Companies