Business Week Alumni Speakers, March 27

Succeeding in business, the global business environment and entrepreneurship will be some of the topics covered by Illinois State University College of Business alumni on Thursday, March 27.  The presentations are part of Illinois State’s Business Week 2008, March 24-27.

At 7 p.m. that evening, featured alumni presenters, hosted by College of Business student organizations, will speak at various locations in the College of Business Building and other in other campus locations.  All presentations are free and open to the public.  For a complete listing of Business Week 2008 events visit www.cob.ilstu.edu/businessweek

James S. Cardwell ’81, accounting, will present “Succeed By Just Showing Up?” in Capen Auditorium, Edwards Hall Room 235.  Cardwell is CFO/COO, board member, Sibling Entertainment Group Holdings, Inc. and has combined business expertise with a love for the performing arts to build a successful career in the entertainment industry.  His producing career began with the hit musical Nunsense in 1985.  After joining Sibling in 2001, Cardwell quickly advanced to the executive offices.  Sibling’s current shows include Dean & Me by Jerry Lewis, WHITE NOISE and Hats!, developed with the Red Hat Society.  Cardwell’s presentation is hosted by Beta Alpha Psi, Student Accounting Society and the Sports Marketing Association.

“Leading Through Change” will be the topic of a presentation by Sakuntala Ganason MBA ’04, in the College of Business Building Room 357.  Ganason is an organization capability consultant for Microsoft Corporation where she is responsible for the human resources management excellence initiative.  Her job involves coordinating programs that enable managers worldwide to share their experiences and shape best practices.  She also partnered with the MSN marketing and finance and Windows marketing teams in talent management, aligning leadership and organizational capability for the launch of Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system in January 2007.  Ganason’s presentation is hosted by the MBA Association, Society for Human Resources Management, Business Information Systems Club, Gamma Iota Sigma and Toastmasters.                                                      

Alan J. Medina Jr. ’92, international business/ French, will speak on “Living, Working and Doing Business in a Global Environment” in Schroeder Hall Room 238.  Medina is a senior trader and logistics manager for Bunge Deutschland GmbH and Bunge Austria GmbH.  Bunge is a leading global agribusiness and food company with operations in 32 countries.  Medina began his career with Bunge as an export trader in New York City in 1996 and relocated several times in the U.S. and Germany before beginning his most recent assignment in Mannheim, Germany.  Medina’s presentation is hosted by the International Business Club, Delta Sigma Pi, Beta Gamma Sigma and Organizational Leadership Club.

“Building a Finance or Accounting Career at a Global Company” will be the topic of a presentation by Scott R. Schumacher ’85, accounting, in the College of Business Building Room 139.  Schumacher is finance director for Coca-Cola’s flavor manufacturing group.  He is responsible for supporting global supply chain operations including business process optimization, supply chain strategy development, financial analysis and reporting and management systems development.  His job also includes leading finance teams at corporate headquarters and at global manufacturing plants.  During his career with Coca-Cola, he has worked in Brazil, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Japan and Germany.  His presentation is hosted by the Financial Management Association, Business Administration Association and Sigma Iota Epsilon.

Keith A. Wakeman ’86, marketing, will speak on “Entrepreneurship: Creating New Businesses in Large and Small Companies” in Room 366 of the College of Business Building.  He is president of Pilot Therapeutics, a company that specializes in nutritional therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.  Wakeman has more than 20 years of experience in the food and nutrition industry having held positions with Nabisco, Leaf and Procter & Gamble.  He serves on boards of several entrepreneurial companies including a startup organic beef business and big Boing, a product innovation and brand launch company.  His presentation is hosted by the American Marketing Association, Pi Sigma Epsilon, and the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization.