Past Executive Speakers (2006-2007)

Dan Roling - Chief Executive Officer, National Coal Corporation

After serving as an influential financial analyst in the metals and mining industries for more than 25 years with Merrill Lynch, Mr. Roling assumed the Chief Executive Officer position at National Coal Corporation in late 2006. He leads an organization that is less than 5 years old and employs more than 250 people. Mr. Roling holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from The University of Iowa.

David Grove - President of Furniture Division, Corporate Express

Dave Grove joined Corporate Express in 1996 and served as President of the Ohio Division where he led the acquisition of several companies, and started the Ohio Valley Division for Corporate Express. Mr. Grove's career began in 1987 at Boise Cascade where he worked in merchandising, marketing, and sales. He has also held positions at Associated Stationers and United Stationers. Grove earned an MBA with an emphasis in marketing and organizational behavior from Benedictine University, and he holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Iowa.

Chris Anderson - Insurance Industry Investment Specialist for Merrill Lynch

Chris Anderson has focused on investment strategies for insurance companies in North America for more than 15 years. With an MBA from the University of Chicago, Mr. Anderson has extensive experience with fixed income and derivative instruments.

Lawrence A. Zimmerman - Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Xerox Corporation

Lawrence A. Zimmerman is responsible for all finance, treasury, risk management, tax, and audit operations at Xerox. Zimmerman joined Xerox in 2002 after retiring from International Business Machines Corporation where he held senior executive finance positions. A 31-year employee of IBM, Zimmerman was vice president, finance and planning for the company's multibillion-dollar Server and Technology division from 1996-1998. Prior to this position, he was vice president, finance of IBM's Europe, Middle East and Africa operations, headquartered in Paris, from 1994-1996. He served as corporate controller at IBM from 1991-1994, assistant general manager in finance and planning for the Enterprise System division from 1989-1991, and director of budgets from 1988-1989. Zimmerman received a bachelor of science degree in finance from New York University in 1965 and a master's degree in business administration from Adelphi University in 1967. He is a member of the board of directors of The Stanley Works and Brunswick Corporation.

Laura Desmond - CEO of MediaVest USA

After a stellar career with Leo Burnett, in which she worked on such accounts as Heinz, McDonalds, and General Motors, Ms. Desmond joined MediaVest in 2000. Now the CEO of one of the largest media communications organizations in the world, Desmond leads a workforce of almost 2,000 people worldwide with 110 offices in 67 countries.

Dr. Clifford L. Stanley - Retired Major General with the U.S. Marine Corps & CEO of Scholarship America

After a distinguished 33-year career with the U.S. Marine Corps, Dr. Stanley became the president of Scholarship America in July 2004. Expect to hear exceptional examples of leadership from Dr. Stanley as he recounts his experiences in the Corps and in the boardroom.

Erik Lie - Associate Professor of Finance at The University of Iowa

Dan Laird - President, CFA Society of Iowa

Keith Chiavetta - Director with Grant Thornton's Office of Strategy Management

Keith has experience in a variety of different industries including financial services, technology, retail, communications, avionics, government, not-for-profit and temporary staffing. Keith began his career as an entrepreneur. While at the University of Iowa, he founded, owned and operated a CD-ROM development and multimedia production firm, which was eventually sold to a Midwest REIT. Keith subsequently served in technology management roles at Apple Computer, Rockwell Collins and Hewlett Packard.

Maggie Wilderotter - CEO of Citizen Communications

As CEO of Citizen Communications (CZN), an industry leader in rural telecommunication services with 2006 revenues of $2B, Maggie Wilderotter has extensive experience in the communications industry. Prior to working with CZN, Ms. Wilderotter was COO of the cellular and paging businesses within AT&T and then CEO of a startup in the San Francisco area called Wink Communications.

Erwin Martens - Executive Vice President for Risk Management at TIAA-CREF

Nancy Heller- Senior Managing Director and Head of Institutional Relationships at TIAA-CREF

Tim Oswald - Piper Jaffrey

Manny Villafana - Chairman & CEO at Kips Bay Medical

Mr. Villafana is a founding partner of Kips Bay Partners, LLC, an early stage medical technology venture capital firm created by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. Named “Master Entrepreneur of the Year” by Inc. Magazine in 1991, Mr. Villafana has founded several companies over the years that went on to employ over 2,500 people.

Steve Magnino - Senior Vice President of Marketing Research at Zurich North America

Mr. Magnino, an alum of the Michigan State MBA program, has extensive experience at Kraft, Inc. and several financial services firms. Now in a senior leadership role at Zurich North America in Schaumburg, IL, he will discuss a variety of topics surrounding the marketing of financial services, including the extension of portfolio management tools and the difference between B2C and B2B approaches in the financial services industry.

Jeff Noddle - Chairman of the Board and CEO, SUPERVALU, INC.

Noddle, who heads one of the largest grocery retailers and food distributors in the U.S., will speak to students. Noddle received his BBA in 1969 from The University of Iowa.

Bill Blackburn - Founder of William Blackburn Consulting and Author of the Sustainability Handbook

Mr. Blackburn will share with us the intricacies of sustainability in the new economy. A former VP and Chief Counsel for environment, health, and safety at Baxter International, Mr. Blackburn brings a unique and in-depth understanding of sustainability issues in the business and nonprofit communities.

David Pryor - Vice President of Marketing at Porsche Cars North America (PCNA)

Mr. Pryor will kick off the leadership series by making connections between the expansion of the Porsche brand and the strategic leadership that is practiced at PCNA. Prior to serving with PCNA, Mr. Pryor worked with Deloitte Consulting and received his MBA from MIT.

John Rice – Vice Chairman of GE & President & CEO of GE Infrastructure

GE Infrastructure includes Entergy, Aviation, Rail, Oil & Gas, Water, Energy Financial Services, and Aviation Financial Services. Prior to his current position, Rice served as Vice Chairman of GE and President & CEO of GE Industrial. Rice earned a BA in economics from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY and currently serves on the Board of Trustees there.

Rogelio Rebolledo – Chairman, Pepsi Bottling Group, Mexico

Rogelio Rebolledo served as President and Chief Executive Officer of PBG Mexico from January 2004 until being named to his current position in June 2006. Mr. Rebolledo was appointed President and CEO of Frito-Lay International in 2001, his last assignment prior to his retirement from PepsiCo at the end of 2003. Mr. Rebolledo is a Mexican national, with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the National University of Mexico and an MBA from the University of Iowa. Mr. Rebolledo currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Applebee's International, Inc. and Best Buy.

Bob Driessnack - Vice President and Controller of HNI
Don Shapiro – President and CEO of Foresite Realty Partners
John Everhart – 1st Vice President/Senior Research Analyst of Baird Investment Management

Mark R. Warner – Former Governor of Virginia

Mr. Warner served as the Governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006.  Governor Mark R. Warner worked hard to restore Virginia's fiscal integrity, build the foundation for a stronger economy, and improve education in Virginia.

Steven Tonsfeldt – Chair of corporate practice at Heller Ehrman LLP

Mr. Tonsfeldt is the chair of the corporate practice at Heller Ehrman LLP, a 700-lawyer firm with offices throughout the US and Asia. Mr. Tonsfeldt has worked with some of the country's leading emerging growth companies and has advised on transactions in the technology and life sciences sectors with an aggregate value of more than $50 billion.

Stuart Hart – Cornell University

As part of the Engineering for a Sustainable World National Conference, Stuart Hart will present his view on business solutions for a sustainable world. Professor Hart is one of the world's top authorities on the implications of sustainable development and environmentalism for business strategy.

Clay Jones – CEO of Rockwell Collins

Clay Jones has been President and CEO of Rockwell Collins since 2001.  Rockwell Collins is a worldwide leader in the design, production, and support of communication and aviation electronics for commercial and government customers.  The company's 17,000 employees in 27 countries deliver industry-leading communication, navigation, surveillance, display, flight control, in-flight entertainment, information management, and maintenance, training and simulation solutions.

Mel Haught – President and CEO of Pella Corporation

Mr. Haught is President and CEO of Pella Corporation, a position he has held since December 31, 2002. Prior to assuming this position, Mel was the executive vice president and Pella Division president and chief operating officer. Mel was appointed to the Pella Corporation Board of Directors in May 1999.  Pella Corporation is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of premium-quality windows, entry door systems, storm doors and patio doors, producing these unique brands of products: Pella, ThermaStar by Pella® and Viking®.

David Sokol – CEO of Mid-American Energy

David L. Sokol is chairman and chief executive officer of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company. MidAmerican has $34.4 billion in assets and is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.  In February 1991, Sokol joined the company as chairman, president and chief executive officer. At that time the company owned and operated one geothermal power project, which it had developed and constructed. Today, the company has grown into a thriving worldwide energy services provider with 17,800 employees and annual revenues of approximately $10.4 billion.

Kim Korn – Founder of Business Architecture Inc.

Mr. Korn has been involved with consulting in business transformation and new business development for over 25 years.  His company Business Architecture Inc. helps organizations produce and sustain competitive advantage.

Geir Stokke – President of Stokke USA
Kathy Hollenhorst – Senior Vice President of Marketing for Caribou Coffee
Joe Bourland – Vice President of Category Development for Conagra

Dan Houston – Executive VP of Retirement and Investment Services for the Principal Financial Group

Daniel J. Houston is Executive Vice President with the Principal Financial Group. He is responsible for the company's retirement and investor services business, the largest segment of the company. In addition, he oversees Principal Trust Company and Professional Pensions, Inc.  The Principal Financial Group is a leader in the offering of financial products and services including retirement and investment services, life and health insurance, and banking.  The Principal has $205 billion in assets and serves 16 million customers worldwide in 11 countries throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

Jake Brace – Executive vice president, UAL Corporation and United Airlines

Mr. Brace is currently executive vice president, chief financial officer and chief restructuring officer of UAL Corporation and United Airlines. He is responsible for treasury, tax, the controller function, budgets, financial planning and analysis, internal audits, accounting, and external financial reporting. He is also responsible for corporate real estate, mergers and acquisitions, fleet planning, and restructuring activities. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Mark Krivoruchka – Senior Vice President, Whirlpool/Maytag Integration

Mark Krivoruchka joined Maytag in April 2002.  He was responsible for all of Human Resources and Shared Services for Maytag Corporation. Since the approval of the Whirlpool/Maytag merger in March, 2006 Mark has been the lead senior executive of all transition matters. He also assessed the general management responsibilities of the Hoover Floorcare business representing Whirlpool as they attempted to sell Hoover operations. The purchase of Hoover is expected to close in February 2007. Mark's previous work experience with major corporations include stints within Pillsbury in Human Resources and General Management; General Electric in Operations and Labor Relations.  Mark also was involved with two start-up companies as their President. Mark brings a wide variety of work experiences coupled with his educational background (MSBA, BSBA) from Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, VA.

Steve Sedita – CFO of General Electric Consumer & Industrial division

Mr. Sedita has held several financial assignments with GE, starting with GE Plastics in Europe and the U.S. in 1985.  In 1993, he joined the global headquarters for GE Appliances as the finance manager and has served as an officer in the company since 1996.  In 2002, he was appointed CFO of GE Consumer Products and in 2003, he became the CFO of GE Consumer & Industrial division. He was appointed CFO of GE Industrial in July 2005.