Dennis Bakke
Encyclopedia
Dennis W. Bakke is an American CEO
and business entrepreneur. He is currently president and CEO of Imagine Schools
, the largest commercial manager of charter schools in the United States. In 1981 Bakke co-founded AES Corporation
, a global energy supplier which earned $8 billion in revenues and employed up to 50,000 employees in a highly unusual, decentralized
business model. Bakke was president and CEO of AES from 1994 to 2002. Bakke is a Christian evangelist and proponent of social responsibility
; he outlines his business philosophy in his 2005 best-seller Joy at Work: A revolutionary approach to fun on the job.
, Tacoma, Washington
. He received his MBA from Harvard Business School
, and also attended the National War College
.
From 1974 to 1976 Bakke served as Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Federal Energy Agency (the predecessor of the United States Department of Energy
) under President Jimmy Carter
. From 1978 to 1981 he was Deputy Director of the Energy Productivity Center at Carnegie-Mellon University. He also worked in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare
.
Bakke and Sant expanded AES at a breakneck pace, building power plants in 29 countries and expanding its staff from 1,400 to 50,000 employees. At the same time, they advocated a decentralized management system, promoting social responsibility over profits. During his tenure as president and CEO, Bakke was widely considered to be one of the most successful corporate leaders.
After the fall of Enron, another energy giant, AES faced a liquidity crisis and Bakke resigned.
, and an honorary doctorate in Humanitarian Service from the University of Puget Sound.
In April 2005, the Northwest Graduate School of Ministry in Seattle, Washington, renamed itself Bakke Graduate University
in honor of the Bakke family, including Dennis, his two brothers and a sister whom it regarded as leaders in multinational business, global urban ministry, and Christian leadership.
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
and business entrepreneur. He is currently president and CEO of Imagine Schools
Imagine Schools
Imagine Schools is the largest commercial manager of charter schools in the United States, operating 71 schools in 11 states and the District of Columbia. Imagine Schools was founded by Dennis and Eileen Bakke with $155 million of the fortune Dennis had earned as Chief Executive Officer of AES...
, the largest commercial manager of charter schools in the United States. In 1981 Bakke co-founded AES Corporation
AES Corporation
AES Corporation is a Fortune 500 company that generates and distributes electrical power. The company was founded on January 28, 1981, as Applied Energy Services by Roger Sant from the US Federal Energy Administration and Dennis Bakke from the Office of Management and Budget. AES Corporation is...
, a global energy supplier which earned $8 billion in revenues and employed up to 50,000 employees in a highly unusual, decentralized
Decentralization
__FORCETOC__Decentralization or decentralisation is the process of dispersing decision-making governance closer to the people and/or citizens. It includes the dispersal of administration or governance in sectors or areas like engineering, management science, political science, political economy,...
business model. Bakke was president and CEO of AES from 1994 to 2002. Bakke is a Christian evangelist and proponent of social responsibility
Social responsibility
Social responsibility is an ethical ideology or theory that an entity, be it an organization or individual, has an obligation to act to benefit society at large. Social responsibility is a duty every individual or organization has to perform so as to maintain a balance between the economy and the...
; he outlines his business philosophy in his 2005 best-seller Joy at Work: A revolutionary approach to fun on the job.
Biography
Bakke grew up in Saxon, Washington. He is a graduate of the University of Puget SoundUniversity of Puget Sound
The University of Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college located in the North End of Tacoma, Washington, in the United States...
, Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
. He received his MBA from Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
, and also attended the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
.
From 1974 to 1976 Bakke served as Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Federal Energy Agency (the predecessor of the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
) under President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. From 1978 to 1981 he was Deputy Director of the Energy Productivity Center at Carnegie-Mellon University. He also worked in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
.
AES
Bakke and Roger W. Sant, who met in the Carter Administration, co-founded a consulting firm called Applied Energy Services in 1981. That company turned into AES Corporation, which went public in 1991. Bakke held various positions in the corporation, serving as Executive Vice President from 1982 to 1986, Treasurer from 1985 to 1986, Chief Operating Officer from 1987 to 1993, President from 1987 to 2002, and Chief Executive Officer from 1994 to 2002.Bakke and Sant expanded AES at a breakneck pace, building power plants in 29 countries and expanding its staff from 1,400 to 50,000 employees. At the same time, they advocated a decentralized management system, promoting social responsibility over profits. During his tenure as president and CEO, Bakke was widely considered to be one of the most successful corporate leaders.
After the fall of Enron, another energy giant, AES faced a liquidity crisis and Bakke resigned.
Imagine Schools
Bakke invested $155 million of the fortune he had made as CEO of AES into co-founding, with his wife Eileen, a charter school network called Imagine Schools. By 2010 Imagine had 71 schools in 11 states and the District of Columbia, making it the largest commercial manager of charter schools in the United States.Honors
Bakke received an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from Eastern UniversityEastern University
Eastern University is a private university in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, United States affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA, with an interdenominational student body...
, and an honorary doctorate in Humanitarian Service from the University of Puget Sound.
In April 2005, the Northwest Graduate School of Ministry in Seattle, Washington, renamed itself Bakke Graduate University
Bakke Graduate University
Bakke Graduate University is a US accredited graduate school for leaders who are seeking to facilitate positive social transformation of urban areas...
in honor of the Bakke family, including Dennis, his two brothers and a sister whom it regarded as leaders in multinational business, global urban ministry, and Christian leadership.