Famous Figures- John "Jack" Kahl Jr.

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Discover the remarkable journey of John "Jack" Kahl Jr., a visionary business leader whose deep Catholic faith shaped his career and leadership philosophy. 

Let Jack's inspiring journey encourage you to lead with heart and integrity, leaving a lasting impact on your community and beyond.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
Thank you, hello everyone, and welcome back to CC

(00:32):
Airwaves.
I'm your host, paige Matillo.
Today I'll be sharing thelegacy of Cleveland's very own
John J Jack Call Jr.
He wasn't just a businessvisionary, but a man whose faith
deeply informed his approach toleadership and life.
Born and raised on the westside of Cleveland, jack attended

(00:53):
St Edward High School inLakewood and later John Carroll
University in University Heights.
These institutions laid afoundation that cultivated his
interest in community andservice.
In his senior year at JohnCarroll, jack met Melvin
Anderson, who offered him aposition at Manko Incorporated,
a small company known for itspractical products, including

(01:16):
the now famous duct tape brandDuct Tape.
After working at Manko foreight years, jack made a bold
move he bought the business.
It was the late 1960s, a timeof great social and economic
change.
Yet Jack remained unafraid.
He saw potential where otherssaw a challenge.
Over the next three decades,jack's leadership transformed

(01:38):
Manko from a modest enterpriseinto a national corporation.
However, what set Jack apart wasnot just his strategic thinking
, but how he conducted business.
His philosophy was simple butprofound lead with the heart.
Jack's book Leading from theHeart, choosing to be a Servant
Leader, encapsulates hisapproach, illustrating his

(02:01):
belief in servant leadership anda caring company culture.
Under his guidance, minko wasnot just a workplace, but a
community one that reflected hisdeep Catholic values.
Jack's influence and ethos ledto accolades, including being
named one of America's mostadmired CEOs by Industry Week

(02:22):
magazine in 1993 and recognizedby Inc magazine as one of three
CEOs in America to benchmarkleadership practices.
What was most remarkable aboutJack was how he attributed much
of his leadership style to hisCatholic faith.
He believed that a good leaderserves their community and

(02:42):
uplifts those around them, aprinciple he lived out daily.
Despite his success, jack neverlost touch with the values that
shaped him.
He remained deeply connected tothose roots, often speaking at
his alma maters about theimportance of integrating faith
with career aspirations.
Jack passed away at the age of78 in 2018,.
Jack passed away at the age of78 in 2018, leaving behind a

(03:05):
legacy of innovation, kindnessand principled leadership.
He is buried at St Joseph'sCemetery in Avon, ohio, a
resting place that marks the endof his earthly journey, but the
enduring impact of his lifecontinues to inspire others.
Jack Call's story is a powerfulreminder of how faith and work

(03:28):
can harmoniously coexist.
He demonstrated that it'spossible to be both a successful
entrepreneur and a devoutCatholic, using each day to lead
by example.
His life encourages us all tothink about how our careers,
ethics and beliefs areintertwined and how we might use
our own positions, whateverthey might be, to affect

(03:50):
positive change in the worldaround us.
Jack's life was a testament toliving one's faith in the
workplace and beyond, provingthat the most enduring success
is that which helps others risealongside you.
Thank you for tuning in to CCAirwaves.
I'm Paige Mattillo and it'sbeen a pleasure to share this

(04:11):
extraordinary story with you.
If there is a famous figurethat you'd like us to discuss in
an upcoming episode, we'd loveto hear from you.
Please email your suggestionsto podcast at C-L-E-C-E-M dot
org or drop us a message on oursocial media platform.
Have a great day.