Strategic Energy and Power (STEP)

[MONEYMADE]

Taylor's Response Statement:

(NOW DON CAN FOCUS ON STEP)



"Taylor's attorney said his client will respond to the complaint and looks forward to telling his side of the story."

http://ih.advfn.com/p.php?pid=nmona&article=52041109

http://media.nbcphiladelphia.com/documents/Ephren_Taylor_Response.pdf



Wall Street Connected CEO That Wants to Get it Right
One of the great things about my job as the leader of a company was that I had the
opportunity to create dozens of jobs, help people start their own businesses, finance
entrepreneurs dreams and visions, provide an inspirational message in a bestselling book,
and even share the stage with world leaders.
While I was able to accomplish quite a bit, some of the challenges I faced as a leader
were a changing regulatory environment, a global recession, declining share price, loss of
capital backing and even mounting corporate debt. As I review my tenure, however, I
also have some things that, as with any executive decisions that are made, I am not proud
of. I set out on a global mission to change the world for the better, make an impact, but,
despite having the best intentions, I realize now in hindsight that for a variety of reasons
my tenure led to a great personal costs even still today..
Now, it’s been over a year since I hung up my suits and ties as a CEO with connections to
Wall Street. In my post-CEO life, it’s been interesting to watch the changes unfolding
across America with corporations, government, and citizens. The one thing that seems to
be a constant is the ongoing blame game as economic and financial conditions get worse
instead of better.
Politicians are blaming the government and Wall Street, others are blaming banks, banks
blaming politicians, and even now a global movement started with Occupy Wall Street is
blaming just about anyone in power. One thing I don't see a lot of is people taking
responsibility, owning up to what went down, and stepping up to proactively start
changing things for the better.
In having this as the backdrop, recent media coverage, along with blogs that accuse me
all types of things, has generated an image of someone that is not really who I am as a
person. In addressing the negative coverage and the name calling, I can say it is easy to
play the blame game and point fingers. However, that does not accomplish anything. Just
like my other colleagues from Wall Street who are currently enduring the same thing, we
are constantly being crucified but are not being provided with an opportunity to set the
record straight.
It is true that many people lost a lot of money, including myself, over the last few years in
failed ventures, stocks, and market transactions, but this is part of investing. What I
realize now more than ever is that sometimes people will participate in a game they don't
have a stomach for, and when it goes south, they put the blame on those that led that
game. In my case and that of my former company, some of the negative effects of a
situation with very complex economics impacted businesses, individuals and families
despite our best intentions.
I wrote about this in a blog post on my blog at ephren.com when I spoke about leadership
and being able to take responsibility for whatever happens under your command. This
brings me to the point of this editorial. In speaking as Ephren Taylor, not as an executive


or a finger-pointer, I am here to say that if there was something I did wrong in terms of
judgment of character of those I had around me or my own decision making at the time,
then I can accept that I made mistakes. And, as a person of integrity and fortitude, I want
to make it right and take responsibility. None of the accusations of fraud or deception will
accomplish anything but drive further emotion into a situation that is not helped by it.
What is needed now is action, and that is what I intend to take immediately. Over the next
few months, I personally strive to step up and make those who feel as though they were
negatively impacted receive assistance to the best of my ability and the resources that I
have at my disposal. While many others continue to wallow in their blame games, I will
be one of the first to step up and go beyond what's "legally" right to simply doing the
"right" thing. With the assistance of a legal team, this means that I plan to give back any
compensation while I was CEO and any remaining stock bonuses.
So, while I speak up and humbly acknowledge that in the transition from becoming a
Midwest, heartland of America business leader in Kansas to a Wall Street connected CEO
mistakes were made, I ask that you focus on the fact that I am walking the talk. Don’t
assume that I am just another greedy businessman. I am taking action to make things
right. This is not the time to work against me and create conflict for personal game, or
fame. Instead, join me and we’ll get through this together. Thank you.
Ephren W. Taylor Jr