The Carlson School of Management kicks off its 1st Tuesday Speaker Series today, featuring executives as keynote speakers addressing topics in business and leadership.
The event, which began in 1992, represents the strong ties between Carlson and the Minneapolis business community, said Todd Gordon, director of alumni relations for the school.
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and Minnesota State Economist Tom Stinson spoke Tuesday at the McNamara Alumni Center.
Ritchie is responsible for administering Safe at Home, Minnesota's address confidentiality program, in additon to organizing elections on behalf of the state's 3.7 million eligable voters.
Stinson, a professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota, is responsible for preparing revenue forecasts for the Governor and Legislature.
The event is held on the first Tuesday of every month at the McNamara Alumni Center and attracts alumni and business leaders from the corporate community, a press release said.
Gordon said the event is designed to bring in high level business executives from the Twin Cities and country, representing a variety of topics that are deemed beneficial to students. The dean makes the ultimate decision of who will speak at each event, he said.
Speakers include both business and university leaders including Jerry Kill, who spoke last August, and president Eric Kaler, who spoke last December, Gordon said.
Three additional speakers are scheduled this spring. April 3 will feature Dr. Marie Johnson, founder and CEO of AUM Cardiovascular, Inc., a medical device start-up company associated to the eradication of needless death due to coronary artery disease. She created and led the Medical Devices Center Innovation Fellows program at the University, helping disclose more than 30 medical device provisional patents that resulted in two licensing deals and two start-up companies, the Minnesota Technical Symposium said. She has 25 years of experience in product development and manufacturing in both university and Fortune 500 companies.
May 1 will feature Jeff Ettinger, Chairman, President and CEO of Hormel. He currently oversees all functions and operations at the $6.53 billion multinational business. Ettinger has been with the company since 1989 and was most recently appointed CEO in 2005.
Charles and Paul Mooty, Chief Executives of Faribault Woolen Mill Company, will speak on June 5. The two men reopened the 144-year-old mill in September. Charles was previously President and CEO of International Dariy Queen, Inc. and Paul is a University alumnus.
Lunch is included in the cost of the $28 event and parking options are available for an additional fee. Registration for the upcoming events is required in advance.