The Mcely Meeting Advantage     

Some results of this philosophy...

Our interest is to have maximum leverage in developing and supporting visionary leadership for the increasingly unique demands of business in the 21st century.  As such, Chateau Mcely caters to modest size groups (up to 70 people) of mid- to high-level executives, and particularly those from organizations that can have a positive global impact.

Using the surroundings of natural aesthetics at the chateau, our aim is to help participants reach the optimal state of consciousness they need to absorb new information and resolve important challenges.

Our spaces are equipped to provide every technological comfort, but also to create a pleasant human environment for participants. For instance, all of the rooms have large windows and beautiful views over the park. We have completely abandoned screen projections and have changed to flat screen monitors. This allows our guests to maintain visual contact with the surrounding countryside, and to have a sense of being in the park, even during presentations.

Tangible evidence of our approach includes:

• a remarkable level of services and accommodation
• tranquility in the middle of beautiful nature, even when the work is intense
• high quality technologies and up to date facilities
• friendly staff and a "family" atmosphere
• passionate attention to detail to ensure event planning exceeds the wishes and expectations of customers
• Wellness centre after a hard day is at your disposal

The People behind the scenes

The real 'hidden' Mcely advantage lies in the fact that its founders are world leading experts in business growth and transformation themselves. Years of hard-won experience has gone into designing the perfect business retreat venue.

The two operating partners have extensive international team-building experience, with successful joint-venture efforts in North America, Europe and Asia.  They are well networked and skilled at attracting respected opinion leaders to assist in pursuing their mission.

As Vice Chairman of the World Business Academy (see www.worldbusiness.org) in charge of its European operations, Jim Cusumano, Chariman, brings access to a number of well-known international thought leaders to present lectures, seminars and training sessions at Chateau Mcely.  Established more than a decade ago by Rinaldo Brutoco and Willis Harman of Stanford University and SRI International, the World Business Academy is a successful global research and educational institution.  Its European offices are located in Prague center and at Chateau Mcely. The Academy engages the business community in better understanding and practicing the role of business as an agent for positive global social transformation.  For example, a few years ago, as an equity partner with leading Croatian businessmen and academicians, it helped establish CBA Business School in Zagreb—(see www.cba.com.hr), and currently supplies faculty members on a visiting basis.  Dr. Cusumano is a lecturing professor at CBA and Chairman of the school’s Board of Directors.  The school is supported by the World Business Academy’s international team of Research Fellows, all of whom are a resource to Chateau Mcely.

Jim's co-founder (and wife) Inez Cusumano, is the main 'vision' behind the restoration of the Chateau.

After an M.A in International Business at the Prague School of Economics, Inez soon became Managing Director of Asset Management Company s.r.o., a full-service commercial real estate company with 20 professionals that specialized in renovating heritage properties and creating novel projects for the Central and Eastern European markets.  She managed projects with an average size of more than $10 million, and was responsible for overseeing strategy, marketing, public relations, brokerage, consulting, finance, facilities and information services.  For example, she was the Project Manager for the construction, and subsequently for the operation of Vinohradsky Pavilon, the first Western style shopping center in the Central Europe.  It won numerous international awards, including Best European Shopping Center.  She also studied business at Oxford and Harvard Universities, and has worked in Japan.

Partners make Perfect

Chateau Mcely is developing global partnerships to increase its access to leading thought leaders in business, societal trends, science and technology to help it carry out its mission.  Two examples of such partnerships are with the World Business Academy and the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF).  Seminars and congresses are planned with these organizations.  For example, in May 2007, the World Business Academy in cooperation with Chateau Mcely will stage its International Global MindChange—Europe Forum at the Chateau (see Global MindChange Forum - Transforming Business, Santa Barbara Conference 2004)

World Business Academy

The World Business Academy was established in the late 1980s with the understanding that business is the dominant institution in society today and the one most capable of responding to rapid change. As such, it promotes the concept that business must adopt a new tradition of responsibility for the whole. It must do this by defining business interests within the wider perspective of society to create a positive and sustainable future. The Academy’s mission is to explore and clarify the fundamental paradigm shifts underway globally. Its goal is to enable Academy Members to integrate this knowledge into their lives and business practices and to disseminate it into the world to rekindle the human spirit in business (www.worldbusiness.org).

The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum IBLF

The IBLF is an international educational organization that promotes responsible business practices that benefit business and society.  Its mission is to help achieve social, economic and environmentally sustainable development, particularly in new and emerging market economies.  The organization has a particular interest in Eastern and Central Europe as new members of the European Union.

Potential visiting lecturers include: Deepak Chopra (World leader in mind-body medicine with more than 36 best-selling books), Lester Brown (President of Earth Policy Institute), Stephen Covey (World-renowned author—“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”), Hazel Henderson (Futurist, Syndicated Columnist), Rosabeth Kanter (Professor, Harvard Business School and world-renowned author—“The Change Masters”), Amory Lovins (CEO, Rocky Mountain Institute, energy futurist), Peter Senge (World-renowned author—“The Fifth Discipline,” among many others.  It is our goal that these activities bring important skills and experience to the European business community.