Monday - March 26
Professional Development Dinner
Tuesday - March 27
Wednesday - March 28
Thursday - March 29
Leadership Perspectives Registration
Friday - March 30
McDonald's Headquarters & Hamburger University Site Visit
Saturday- March 31
Business Week 2013 Application
From senior-level executives at top corporations to highly successful entrepreneurs, we are proud to welcome our 2011-2012 College of Business Hall of Fame inductees back to Illinois State University to interact with students, faculty, alumni and industry partners. Their accomplishments and commitment to excellence not only reflect their professional dedication and service to others, but also add value to our programs and the Illinois State brand for all of our graduates.
Sue G. Brody ’79 is President and CEO of Bayfront Health System Inc., a conglomerate of health services, distinguished by its hallmark hospital, Bayfront Medical Center - a private, not-for-profit 480-bed teaching hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Over the last two decades Brody’s leadership and vision have significantly increased the system’s market share, transformed its facilities and enhanced its programs. The Florida Medical Business newspaper called Brody Florida’s “Best Hospital CEO.” Bayfront has been named one of Thompson’s Top 100 Hospitals and one of Working Mother magazine’s 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers nine times, thanks to its family-friendly culture and benefits.
Defined by more than a century of service, Bayfront operates Pinellas County’s only trauma center and a wide range of award-winning services that span obstetrics to rehab. Brody’s vision cements the hospital’s special role as a mission-driven community asset that answers the call-to-care with a tremendous response, as underscored by an annual community benefit commitment of more than $30 million, including nearly $27 million in charity care.
Before joining Bayfront, Brody worked as a VP at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in North Carolina and a consultant with Arthur Young & Company. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, past chair of the Florida Hospital Association and served as a gubernatorial appointee on Jeb Bush’s Health Insurance Task Force and Lawton Chiles’ Workforce Development Initiative.
Brody, who also earned a Master’s in Health Administration from Duke University, is the proud mother of two daughters, Nora and Emma.
Kenneth Glover ’73 recently retired after 35 years with the ExxonMobil Corporation. His last position was as president and CEO of Univation Technologies, a joint venture between ExxonMobil Chemical Company and Union Carbide Corporation, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.
Univation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a global petrochemical technology licensing company and supplier of related catalysts. Its activities are focused on innovation through leading edge R&D, licensing proprietary technologies, and developing and selling related catalysts. Nearly a quarter of the world's polyethylene is produced by companies using Univation’s proprietary process technology.
Glover’s career covered a range of functions within ExxonMobil including accounting/finance, strategic planning, global marketing, line management, and vice president positions in varying businesses including specialty chemicals, coal and uranium mining, packaging related plastics, and petrochemicals. An experienced international executive, Glover held positions in several locations in the United States and Europe and managed business initiatives throughout the world.
In addition to Mr. Glover’s professional achievements, he was a member of the St. John Fisher College Advisory Board (Rochester, NY), Treasurer and Board member of the International School of Brussels (Brussels, Belgium), and he is currently a member of the Illinois State University College of Business Advisory Council. Other community support activities include the United Way, school fund raising and coaching.
Ken and his wife Deborah (Hypke) Glover ’73 have three children and three grandchildren.
Patti S. Hart ’78 has been CEO of International Game Technology (IGT) since April 2009, where she leads one of the most innovative and profitable gaming companies in the world. With a market capitalization over $5 billion, nearly 5,000 employees and offices on six continents, IGT is a leader in the design, development, and manufacture of gaming machines and systems products, as well as online and mobile gaming solutions for regulated markets. Ms. Hart has served on IGT’s board of directors since June 2006.
Prior to joining IGT, she was the Chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Systems Inc. from 2004 to 2005 and of Excite@Home Inc. from 2001 to 2002. Ms. Hart was previously Chairman and CEO of Telocity, Inc. and held various executive positions at the Sprint Corporation from 1986 to 1999, including President and COO of Sprint’s Long Distance Division where she graced the inaugural Fortune list of “Most Powerful Women” in 1998.
Hart is on the Board of Visitors at the Public Policy School at Duke University. Her past service includes the Illinois Task Force for Literacy, the Southern Methodist University Meadows Art School Board and the Steppenwolf Theatre Board in Chicago. The latter boards reflecting her love for the arts and her dedication to furthering their missions.
In addition to her community involvement, Ms. Hart currently serves on the Board of Directors of Yahoo! Inc. and the American Gaming Association. She resides in Las Vegas, NV.
Diane Irvine '81 serves on the Board of Directors of Yelp, Inc., a user review and local search website. Diane previously served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Blue Nile, Inc., the leading online retailer of diamonds and fine jewelry. Diane joined Blue Nile as Chief Financial Officer in 1999 and also served on Blue Nile’s Board of Directors from 2001–2011. Prior to Blue Nile, Diane was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Plum Creek Timber Company, a timberland management and wood products company from 1994-1999. From 1981 to 1994, Diane served in various capacities at Coopers & Lybrand LLP, an international accounting firm, in Chicago and Seattle. As a tax partner, Diane served clients in a variety of industries, including oil & gas, transportation, manufacturing and retail.
Diane served on the Board of Directors of Davidson Companies, a leading regional financial services firm, from 1998-2009. She served on the Board of Directors of Ticketmaster from 2008-2010. Diane is a founding Board member of the Fulcrum Foundation, an organization that provides financial support for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle. She is a Trustee of Holy Names Academy, an independent Catholic school for young women. Diane holds a B.S. in Accounting from Illinois State University and a M.S. in Taxation from Golden Gate University.
A married mother of three, Irvine grew up on a farm near Libertyville, the second of five children. Her family raised cattle, as well as chickens that produced some 4,000 eggs daily. Irvine believes that background of hard work has been invaluable to her career success.
Bill Kirkendall ’75 is the CEO of D.A. Weibring/Golf Resources Inc., a worldwide golf course design, management and consulting firm. Prior to joining Golf Resources, Kirkendall was CEO of Pure Motion Inc., which develops and markets technology-based training aides for recreational sports.
Kirkendall’s executive experience and in- depth knowledge of the athletic retail, sporting goods and golf industries has enabled him to provide several companies with valuable guidance in management, brand building, operational issues and assessment of business and industry trends.
From 1999 through 2002, he was CEO of Orlimar Golf, a manufacturer and distributor of golf equipment worldwide. For 18 years he held various senior management roles at Etonic Inc. (Etonic/Tretorn/Puma USA), a manufacturer, distributor and licensee of athletic footwear and apparel brands worldwide, including serving as President from 1991 to 1998. During his tenure Kirkendall was a driving force in developing these worldwide brands into industry leaders within their respective fields. He has served on the Board of Directors of the public company, Finish Line, a 665 store mall-based specialty retailer of athletic footwear and apparel since 2001, was Chairman of the Audit Committee and currently serves as the Chairman of the company’s Compensation Committee.
Kirkendall, who attended Illinois State on a golf scholarship, was inducted into the Illinois State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996. A native of Galesburg, he lives in Frisco, Texas with his wife Corinne ‘74. They have two daughters, Molly and Maggie, and two grandchildren.
John Blackburn was recently named the 21st president of Lincoln College, a two-year, private, liberal arts college located in Lincoln, Illinois. He will assume that role in August, 2012. Blackburn served as CEO of COUNTRY Financial from 2001 until his retirement in January, 2012. Under his leadership COUNTRY Financial assets grew from $8 billion to $14 billion, while annual revenues increased from $2 billion to $3.3 billion. The company has been listed on the annual Fortune 1000 list since 2004, registering at No. 624 in 2011. While CEO, Blackburn also served as chairman of the board of COUNTRY’s four strategic partners: Cotton States Insurance Group, Atlanta, GA, Holyoke Mutual Insurance Company, Salem, MA, Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company and MSI Preferred Insurance Company, Middletown, CT.
Blackburn first joined COUNTRY in 1982 as an agent and held multiple positions in the agency and marketing division of the company prior to becoming CEO. During his career as CEO, COUNTRY was active in many Illinois State University College of Business initiatives and its extensive intern program is heavily populated by ISU students.
As part of his commitment to service to others, Blackburn has been on and chaired several industry and community boards including The Board of Governors of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (Past Chair); the Board of Trustees of Lincoln College (Past Chair); and the Board of Directors of Memorial Health Systems (1st Vice Chair). A graduate of Western Illinois University in English, Blackburn also holds a master’s in educational administration from the University of Illinois, Springfield. He spent twelve years as a teacher, basketball coach, athletic director and assistant principal before joining COUNTRY.
He and his wife Barbara have three married children and six grandchildren.
Ron Greene is president and CEO of Afni, a premier provider of end-to-end customer lifecycle contact solutions. Previously he served as the president, COO and CFO of this privately-owned company which is headquartered in Bloomington.
Greene joined Afni in 1992, and has been a driving force in leading the company’s successful growth from 50 employees to more than 6,000 employees in seven states today. His strategic vision has also led to the evolution of the company’s core solution set.
A member of the Illinois State University College of Business Advisory Council, Greene also serves on the Governing Council and as chair of the Finance Committee for Advocate BroMenn Medical Center. Additionally, Greene is a board member of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Business Round Table, Commerce Bank, and the McLean County Economic Development Council. He is a long-time supporter of the McLean County United Way, serving as chair for the finance committee and as a member of the board.
Greene’s own community involvement has inspired Afni’s employees to become community ambassadors, and today the company and its employees contribute thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in support of a number of local events and organizations, including Illinois State University, The United Way, St. Jude Midwest Affiliate, Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure, and many others.
Greene earned a BS degree in Accounting from University of Illinois. He began his career in public accounting, and was a partner with Dunbar Breitweiser & Company, LLP before joining Afni. He is an avid runner and has participated in several marathons and triathlons.
