2008 Speakers Included:
Dr. Rosabeth Kanter, Harvard Business School
Ernest L. Arbuckle Professor of Business Administration
Rosabeth Moss Kanter holds the Ernest L. Arbuckle Professorship at Harvard Business School, where she specializes in strategy, innovation, and leadership for change. Her strategic and practical insights have guided leaders of large and small organizations worldwide for over 25 years, through teaching, writing, and direct consultation to major corporations and governments. The former Editor of Harvard Business Review (1989-1992), Professor Kanter has been named to lists of the "50 most powerful women in the world" (Times of London), and the "50 most influential business thinkers in the world" (Accenture and Thinkers 50 research). In 2001, she received the Academy of Management's Distinguished Career Award for her scholarly contributions to management knowledge, and in 2002 was named "Intelligent Community Visionary of the Year" by the World Teleport Association.
Jim Micali, Michelin North America, Inc.
Chairman and President
Jim Micali was appointed chairman and president of Michelin North America in 1996.
Mr. Micali received his legal degree from Boston College Law School in 1973. After practicing law with Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney in Providence, R.I., he joined Michelin in 1977 and held a number of positions in the legal department, including two assignments in France, through 1984. He was named general counsel and secretary for Michelin North America in 1985, and became executive vice president of the North American legal and finance functions in 1990.
Robert Stephens, The Geek Squad
Founder and Chief Inspector
A native of Chicago, Robert left a scholarship at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1990 to pursue a degree in computer science at the University of Minnesota. While attending the University, he landed a job fixing computers for the Human Factors Research Laboratory. Over a three year period, he rose to become head engineer of the lab while earning scholarships from the U.S. Navy and the FAA building flight and driving simulators. It was also during this time he started a computer consulting business. In April 1994, after three years at the University, he formed The Geek Squad with $200. In 2002, The Geek Squad was acquired by Best Buy and opened The Geek Squad precincts in all Best Buy US and Canadian stores. With over 17,000 Agents , The Geek Squad is now North America's largest technology support company offering phone, in-store, and in-home support. It also has operations in Shanghai and the UK.
Bart Thompson, Michelin North America, Inc.
Innovation Engineer
Mr. Bart Thompson received his BSME in 1983 from Louisiana Tech University (Magna cum Laude), then his MSME from Virginia Tech in 1985. His graduate work centered on structural modeling, specifically Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
Upon graduation, Mr. Thompson joined Michelin Americas Research and Development Corporation in Greenville, SC. From 1985 to 1987 he worked towards developing and validating predictive tools for radial tire design and analysis. From 1988 to 1992 his work centered on applying these tools for systematic design of speed rated high performance tires. Since 1993 much of his work has involved concept projects related to both process and product innovation.
Ari Weinzweig, Zingerman's
Co-Founder
Ari Weinzweig moved to Ann Arbor from his hometown of Chicago to attend the University of Michigan. After graduating with a degree in Russian history, he went to work washing dishes in a local restaurant and soon discovered that he loved the food business. Along with his partner Paul Saginaw, Ari started Zingerman's Delicatessen in 1982 with a $20,000 bank loan, a staff of two, a small selection of great-tasting specialty foods and a relatively short sandwich menu. Today, Zingerman's is an Ann Arbor institution-the source of great food and great experiences for over 500,000 visitors every year. Each day the Deli serves up thousands of made-to-order sandwiches with ingredients like corned beef and pastrami, homemade chopped liver and chicken salad. The Deli stocks an array of farmhouse cheeses, smoked fish, salamis, estate-bottled olive oils, vintage vinegars, whole bean coffees, loose leaf teas and much more.
Jack Bass, College of Charleston
Professor of Humanities and Social Science
Jack Bass is widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on the history of Southern politics. He has conducted scholarly research and taught at major universities across the region, including serving as director of American South Special Projects at the University of South Carolina. Producer of the PBS documentary, "A Different Dixie: Portraits of Change," Bass is also a prolific writer, having contributed to such publications as The Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Constitution, Washington Post, The New Republic, The Nation and The New York Times.
Nathalie Dupree
Nathalie Dupree's 10 cookbooks have sold over half a million copies, and the 300-plus television shows she's hosted have aired on PBS, The Learning Channel and The Food Network for over 15 years.
But this two-time James Beard Award winner is best known for her approachability and understanding of Southern cooking, having started the New Southern Cooking movement now found in many restaurants throughout the South.
Coppy Holzman, Charitybuzz.com
Founder and CEO
S. Coppy Holzman is the founder and ceo of charitybuzz.com with over twenty-five years of experience as a senior level Internet and consumer products executive. charitybuzz works with the top celebrities on the planet and successfully raises millions of dollars annually with its upscale global clientele who are socially conscious and truly doGOOD and liveWELL. As a result of his work with charitybuzz and prior, he is credited with developing the upscale cause marketing fundraising niche that is now gaining such momentum. Mr. Holzman was also one of the founders of webvan.com, where he defined the brand, helped raise capital and wrote and executed the business plan that ultimately resulted in the largest e-commerce launch in United States history. Under his leadership, following its initial IPO, webvan had a market cap exceeding 7 billion and had raised in excess of 750 million dollars to finance its expansion plans. Mr. Holzman's responsibilities included all merchandising, buying and marketing activities including supervision of content management and all website publishing. He also spent many years in senior level corporate retail positions serving as Senior Vice President for Federated Department Stores responsible for Global Sourcing and Production. Mr. Holzman has a B.S. in Economics and International Business from the Wharton School of Business.
Sean Brock, McCrady’s Restaurant
Executive Chef
Sean Brock, executive chef of McCrady’s Restaurant in Charleston, S.C., is passionate about food and its ingredients in a way that few can imagine. His creative and unique culinary style blends the classic Southern ingredients and preparations he learned from his grandmother with techniques that are truly on the forefront of modern dining. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Johnson & Wales University, Brock began his culinary career as chef tournant at the acclaimed Peninsula Grill, one of Charleston’s finest restaurants. Two years later he was appointed executive sous chef at the five-diamond Lemaire Restaurant in Richmond, Va. His success in Richmond led to him being named executive chef at the newly remodeled Capitol Grille in Nashville, which earned a Mobil Four-Star Award under his direction. He has been invited to prepare two dinners for the James Beard Foundation, and was recently named a finalist for the James Beard Rising Chef of the Year Award.
Steven Greene, Devereaux’s
Executive Chef/Partner
Prior to opening Devereaux's in 2005, Steven Greene's brief culinary resume was peppered with the kind experience typical of a much more seasoned chef: sous chef at Charleston's 82 Queen; chef de cuisine at the five-star Dining Room at Woodlands Resort & Inn; Alex's at the Wynn Resort and Joel Robuchon, also in Las Vegas; and a stint in France that brought exposure to such world-renowned restaurants as Guy Savoy and Pierre Garnier. His "no boundaries" approach to cooking, which features a mix of new age and Southern classics, earned him the privilege of cooking a James Beard House Dinner in 2007, and an invitation to participate in the Culinary Vegetable Institute's Fifth Annual Food & Wine Festival.
Baba Shetty, Hill Holliday
Chief Media Officer
Baba Shetty leads the media and digital groups at Boston-based Hill Holliday, one of the nation's leading advertising agencies and a member of The Interpublic Group of Companies. With a focus on emerging media, Shetty brings a unique perspective, having managed the Interactive unit of Fallon Worldwide, including the BMW, Nordstrom, Sony, Lee, Citi and United accounts. He served as the group account director on the U.S. BMW account, leading efforts on strategy, advertising and interactive solutions. Prior to that, he was a research director and principal analyst on interactive topics at Forrester Research in Cambridge, Mass., and spent the preceding decade in client-side marketing including U.S. director of marketing communications at BMW's North American headquarters.
Steve Driggs, STRUCK
Executive Creative Director
Steve Driggs is executive creative director at STRUCK, an independent, full-service creative boutique in Salt Lake City. Previously he spent over a decade at heavy-hitting agencies such as Chiat/Day, Saatchi & Saatchi and Fallon, creating work for numerous accounts including Sports Illustrated, BMW, United Airlines, Lee Jeans, Holiday Inn and more. As Group Creative Director at Fallon, Driggs helped create the “Live Richly” campaign for Citibank as well as the highly-acclaimed “Identity Theft” TV commercials. His trophy case includes Clios, Cannes Lions, One Show pencils and even an Emmy. His commercials have been named campaign of the year by Adweek as well as one of the best spots of the year by Time Magazine, and his work has also been recognized in Communication Arts, Archive and Print magazines.
Jane Quigley, Zeta Interactive
Senior Director - Emerging Technologies and Social Media
Jane Quigley has a true passion for all things Social Media. She has developed a number of new technology applications for marketing and media schedules, including wikis, corporate blogs, social media applications, mobile campaigns and a Second Life Conference Center. As social media guru at Zeta Interactive, a fully integrated interactive service agency, she leads the charge in educating clients on this newest of the New Media. Jane has designed integrated programs for clients and prospects including Qiagen (formerly Digene), AchieveGlobal, Pitney Bowes and Foxwoods. She has also worked on initiatives with the Morgans Hotel Group, Allergan and Kaplan, including their search-engine marketing and optimization programs. Before joining Zeta, Jane was Director of Interactive Client Services for Posner Advertising, a full-service ad agency in lower Manhattan whose clients included Trump, Rose Associates and AvalonBay Communities.
Suzanne Hagins, Lutea Wine Cellars
Owner/Winemaker
Originally from South Carolina, owner and winemaker Suzanne Hagins started Lutea in 2004 to specialize in organically grown pinot noir. After working for the Elliot Group of restaurants in Charleston, S.C., in 1998 she left to work at Comte Armand in Pommard, Burgundy. In 2000, Hagins moved to California and continued her education in pinot noir by working for the some of the state’s finest producers: DeLoach Vineyards in the Russian River Valley, David Bruce Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Goldeneye in the Anderson Valley. In founding Lutea, Hagins wanted to promote organic viticulture, which she believes produces wines of greater distinction, while caring for the environment. Lutea currently produces 550 cases of pinot noir from California’s cool North Coast regions.
Chris Condos, Vinum Cellars
Owner/Winemaker
Chris Condos is co-owner and winemaker for Vinum Cellars, a "boutique" winery in Napa, Calif., focusing on alternative varietals. Growing up in a large Greek family -- both grandfathers made win, and his father sells it -- he was naturally drawn to a career in the business. After graduating with a Plant Ecology degree, Chris went on to study Viticulture & Enology at UC Davis. In 1995 he went to work for Pine Ridge Winery in Napa as their enologist, mainly making Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and, of course, Chenin Blanc. Currently Chris is a winemaking consultant for Kathryn Kennedy Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
John L. S. Simpkins, Center for a Better South
Founding Director
John L.S. Simpkins is a founding director of the Center for a Better South, a pragmatic, nonpartisan think tank dedicated to developing progressive ideas, policies and information for thinking leaders who want to make a difference in the region. Simkins teaches constitutional law and other topics as a member of the faculty at the Charleston School of Law, and is also is associate director of the Richard W. Riley Institute at Furman University. Prior to joining academia, he was in private practice in Washington, D.C. Simpkins has a law degree from Duke University and did his undergraduate work at Harvard University.