Dr. Benjamin Ola. Akande is Professor of Economics and Dean of the George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology at Webster University. Dr. Akande is the Chief Academic Officer of the Walker School of Business & Technology. Dr. Akande also serves as Chief of Webster University's Office of Corporate Partnerships. Dean Akande serves on the board of Rx Outreach, is Vice Chair of Beyond Housing and is a director of Ralcorp Corporation. Dean Akande holds a Masters in Public Administration, Masters of Arts in Economics and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Oklahoma. He has also completed post-doctoral studies at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and executive programs in leadership at Harvard University. Dean Akande has been recognized as one of St. Louis' Most Influential Leaders from 2007-2011.
Raymond H. Bayer, Jr. is the executive director of the Members of the Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri (MOHELA) which is one of the largest nonprofit student loan secondary markets in America and the leading holder and servicer of student loans with more than $5.2 billion in assets and a loan purchase activity in excess of $1.2 billion per year. Mr. Bayer has been with MOHELA for more than 21 years and previously served as director of MOHELA's School and Lender Relations efforts for 17 years and as MOHELA's Associate Director of Business Operations. Mr. Bayer has both a MBA and MS in Finance from Webster University and was the Walker School of Business 2004 Outstanding Alumnus.
As Chairman of The Bryant Group Inc., Mr. Cammon oversees a company which is dedicated to helping families deliver wealth or family businesses from one generation to the next and serves as the chief liaison between his company's clients and the business' professionals. Mr. Cammon's civic work includes service on the Advisory Board of Directors for Children's Discovery Institute, as a Board of Trustees member of the St. Louis Children's Hospital Foundation and as a Board of Trustee member for Webster University. Mr. Cammon received his BA from the University of Illinois and JD from Washington University School of Law. He also holds the CLU designation from The American College.
Omar Danial is the President and major shareholder of Finial Capital for which he lays the company's vision and directs its overall strategy. Mr. Danial is an active board member and former president of Manotel Group and currently sponsors The Hub at the Webster University, an entrepreneurial creativity centre and focal point for entrepreneurs to exchange knowledge and receive in-sight on their start-up projects. He is also shareholder and Board director of the Compagnie Generale de la Navigation which is dedicated to the restoration/preservation of historic paddle steamers. Mr. Danial holds an MBA from the Webster University in Geneva. He also holds a BSc in business, marketing and sociology from the same university.
Mr. Dill is Managing Partner of Two Rivers Associates LLC, a private equity firm which is the successor to Gateway Associates LP where Mr. Dill was a General Partner since 1995. From 1990-1995, he served as CEO of Bridge Information Systems, Inc. (a provider of online data to institutional equity investors). Prior to that, Mr. Dill was President of AVX Corporation (a NYSE global manufacturer of electronic components). His earlier career was spent in a number of executive positions with Emerson Electric, where he led the international growth and globalization of the company. Mr. Dill serves as a director of three public companies; Stifel Financial, Zoltek, and TransAct Technologies. He also serves as a director of four private companies and the John Allan Love Charitable Foundation. Mr. Dill received his BS with Honors from Yale and his MBA from Harvard.
Alyn V. Essman is a civic leader and head of the Essman Family Charitable Foundation, a philanthropic organization based in St. Louis and dedicated to supporting various educational institutions and initiatives throughout the region. Mr. Essman is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CPI Corp., the leading portrait studio operator in North America offering photography services in approximately 3,100 locations, principally in Sears and Wal-Mart stores.
Chuck Feltz has been the president or CEO of five companies `ranging from an international start-up to a Fortune 500 organization. Today he is the CEO/ Managing Partner of Feltz & Associates, LLC and president of Lominger International, a Korn/Ferry company. Mr. Feltz is a highly sought after lecturer and is the co-author of the book, Never By Chance - Aligning People and Strategy Through Intentional Leadership (John Wiley and Sons, February 2010). In 2005, he co-founded Kids To The Rescue, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering children to leverage their collective voice and power on issues affecting children. Their work was cited in Bill Clinton's book, Giving. Mr. Feltz received his BS degree from Missouri State University and his MA from Webster University.
Bob Fischer is the Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of St. Louis which connects citizens of the region with the world and promotes understanding, engagement, develop relationships and inspire leadership in World Affairs. From 1995 through 2001, Bob served as Senior Vice President, International with Policy Management Systems Corporation (PMSC) located in Columbia, South Carolina; a publicly traded company that was the largest supplier of insurance industry software in the world. Prior to 1995, Bob held executive management positions at IBM, Dun & Bradstreet, McDonnell Douglas, Prime Computer, and Structural Dynamics Research Corporation. Bob is a graduate of Washington University with a B.S. in Business Administration. He also served two years on active duty as a Captain in the United States Army. He is married and has five children and six grandchildren.
As Executive Vice President, Information Technology, and Chief Information Officer for Home Box Office (HBO), Michael Gabriel is responsible for overseeing the network's systems development and information management, computer center, communications and office systems. Before joining HBO, Gabriel was chief information officer for the National Basketball Association; vice president, information technology for EMI-Capitol Music Group, NA; and head of IT at NBC for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Mr. Gabriel is a member of the Pace University Computer Science Advisory Board and is a graduate of University, where he earned a BBA degree, cum laude, in MIS.
Dr. Neil George assumed the role of chancellor of Webster University in 2009 after serving as the chief executive officer. Since joining Webster in 1972, Dr. George has served in a number of roles including University Academic Dean, Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs and interim President in 2008. His civic service includes work with the Board of Trustees of the World Affairs Council, the Webster Groves/Shrewsbury Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Institutions for Military Education Services and the Missouri Political Science Association, just to name a few. He sits on the boards of the St. Louis Repertory Theatre, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association. Dr. George received his BA in government from King's College, a MA International Relations from Georgetown University, and a Ph.D. in political science from Case Western Reserve University. He also completed postdoctoral studies at Harvard University's Institute for Education Management.
Neil George is an investor, an investment advisor, educator, philanthropist and editor of The Pay Me Strategy. He is also editor of By George, a long-standing financial and news advisory and former editor of Personal Finance, Inner Circle, The Yield Letter and The Partnership. Mr. George has worked in six continents with a select group of financial institutions founding and/or building successful enterprises in investment banking, bond trading, brokerage and asset management. Mr. George also co-founded and built the International Markets Division of Mark Twain Bank, now part of US Bank and served as chief economist to institutions including Mark Twain Bank, Mercantile Bank, and Guinness Flight. Mr. George earned an undergraduate degree in economics from Kings College and a Master's degree in international finance from Webster University.
Gilbert L. (Gil) Hoffman, who has been named by ComputerWorld magazine as one of the top 100 chief information officers in the United States, started his Maritz career in the Data Processing and Computer Operations Division in 1973. He has since served as vice president of Data Processing and Computer Operations, corporate officer and Director of Information Systems for Maritz Performance Improvement Company and was named in 1998 as the corporation's first Chief Information Officer and Director of Maritz Global Technology Services. In this position, he oversees the development and deployment of information technology throughout the corporation, in the United States and abroad. Mr. Hoffman holds a master's in Computer Resources and Information Management from Webster University, St. Louis and is a founding member of the St. Louis CIO Board.
Debra Hollingsworth has held numerous management positions at AT&T since joining the company in 1979. As vice president external affairs, AT&T-Missouri, she is currently charged with managing community relations programs for AT&T and directing public affairs functions for the president of AT&T-Missouri. She also oversees AT&T Foundation grants and charitable giving programs in Missouri. Ms. Hollingsworth's many honors include the 2009 Hellenistic Spirit Athena Award, Zonta Yellow Rose Leadership Award and the 2008 St. Louis YWCA Business Leader of Distinction. Ms. Hollingsworth earned a bachelor's degree in communications and journalism from West Texas A&M University and a master's degree from Webster University.
Michael R. Holmes serves as president of Rx Outreach, a non profit organization that makes medicine affordable to people in need. Prior to this, he served executive vice president of strategy, human capital and emerging markets at Express Scripts. Before that he was a partner and the chief human resources officer for Edward Jones in St. Louis. Mr. Holmes is a member of the Board of Directors of BJC hospital system, the St Louis College of Pharmacy and the United Way of Greater St. Louis. He is a cum laude graduate from Washington University and earned a MA in Business from Webster University in 1993.
Don Huonker is senior vice president of process improvement for Walgreens. Mr. Huonker began his Walgreen career in 1995 and has since served in a variety of management positions from store manager and district manager to director of store operations and vice president of store operations. In 2005, he was named vice president of pharmacy services, was promoted to corporate vice president of pharmacy services in 2006, and to senior vice president in 2007. He was named to his current position in 2010. Mr. Huonker received his B.S. degree from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1984, an MBA degree from St. Louis Webster University in 1999 and was named the Walker School of Business Outstanding Alumnus in 2008.
Allan D. Ivie, IV has served as President/CEO of Reliance Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") and Chairman/CEO of Reliance Bank since June 2010. Mr. Ivie joined the Company from the PrivateBank, which he co-founded in 2000 and where he served as President and COO. Prior to the PrivateBank, he held various executive positions at NationsBank, N.A., The Boatmen's National Bank of St. Louis, and Sovran Bank, N.A. of Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Ivie's civic work includes serving on the boards of several groups including St. Louis County Economic Council, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc., Beyond Housing/Neighborhood Housing Services, Regional Housing and Community Development Alliance (RHCDA) and The Backstoppers. Mr. Ivie is a graduate of the University of Virginia.
Katherine Lintz began work in the financial industry in 1978 at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City where she helped to develop one of the first financial education and planning centers in the country. She founded Financial Management Partners (FMP) in 1990 with two employees providing fee-only financial planning and advisory services to 22 families around the country. Today, FMP has 21 employees, offices in St. Louis and Denver, and serves as a multi-family office to more than 100 families - including business owners, corporate executives, and multigenerational family groups - offering independent, objective financial guidance on family wealth totaling more than $3 billion, with direct management responsibility for over $1.5 billion of investment assets. Ms. Lintz chairs the St. Louis Zoo Endowment Trust, serves on the board for the St. Louis Children's Hospital Foundation and is on the Finance Committee for the Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club of St. Louis. Ms. Lintz received her BA from Duke University.
Kathy Mazzarella joined Graybar in 1980 and since then, she has advanced through key roles in sales, marketing, strategic planning and human resources. In 2010, Ms. Mazzarella was appointed to the position of Executive Vice President and COO. In this position, she oversees all of the sales and marketing operations for the St. Louis-based Fortune 500 distributor, which provides electrical, data networking and security equipment and supply chain management services to companies across North America. Ms. Mazzarella is a graduate of the Walker School of Business and recipient of the 2011 Outstanding Alumna of the Year.
Rodger Riney founded Scottrade (Scottsdale Securities) in 1980 and has since grown the brokerage firm into a 500 branch business and one of FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For". Mr. Riney has been named regional Financial Services Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young and has also been a national finalist for the award. Mr. Riney's Scottrade continues to innovate the industry and in 2011 released the Scottrade Mobile app allowing traders to research, trade and management their accounts on their smartphone. Mr. Riney holds a bachelor of science in civil engineering and a masters in business administration, both from the University of Missouri - Columbia.
As Provost and Senior Vice President, Dr. Julian Z. Schuster serves as Webster's chief academic officer and chief advisor to President Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble and has direct involvement in the strategic and day-to-day leadership of the institution. Prior to joining Webster University, Dr. Schuster served as the founding dean of the Hamline School of Business at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Dr. Schuster currently serves on the Board of Governors of the University Avenue Business Association, the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Pluralism and Economic Education and is the author of two books and more than 50 articles in scholarly publications. Dr. Schuster received a bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in Economics from the University of Belgrade.
James Theiss entered into the Centric Group family of companies in sales at SNI Sports from 1993-1995. He continued with advancements at Centric Group into management positions starting first as Regional Vice President at Keefe Group and then as President of the Eastern Region for Keefe from 2000 until 2007. During this time, Mr. Theiss developed the Keefe Group's system of sub warehouses or mini-distribution centers and in the spring of 2007, he was promoted to Executive Vice President Operations for Centric Group Corporate Headquarters in St. Louis. Mr. Theiss began serving as President and Chief Operating Officer of Centric Group in 2008 and has since overseen the sale and/or acquisition of four businesses. Mr. Theiss is President of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation-St. Louis and is on the Executive Committee of The Regional Business Council of St. Louis. Mr. Theiss received his BA from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Anthony (Tony) Thompson is President/CEO and founder of Kwame Building Group, Inc. (KWAME), a leading program management/construction management firm headquartered in St. Louis with offices in eight states. Mr. Thompson is active in numerous civic, charitable and professional organizations and serves on the boards of Webster University, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, FOCUS St. Louis, Teach for America, the Regional Business Council, the St. Louis Community Foundation, the St. Louis Regional Crime Commission and the St. Louis Gateway Chapter for Multiple Sclerosis, just to name a few. Mr. Thompson earned a MS in Civil Engineering from Washington University and a MBA from Webster University. He also holds a BS in Architectural Engineering from Webster University and a BA in Environmental Design from the University of Kansas.
Ambassador George Herbert Walker III is former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, Chairman Emeritus of Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., Inc. and one of Webster University's Life Trustees. The Ambassador has served Webster University since 1974 in various roles including that as Chairman of this Advisory Board. In 2010, Webster named this business school the George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology to honor the longtime supporter and philanthropist. Ambassador Walker is a graduate of Yale University, Harvard Law School, and has received honorary degrees from Webster University, Harris-Stowe State University, and two Hungarian universities, the University of Pecs and St. Istvan University.
Pat Whitaker, CEO of Arcturis, has grown from a one-person business in 1977 to a company with more than 60 professionals. Arcturis is a firm that specializes in designing the best places to work and learn for business organizations and institutions of higher education. Actively involved in the community, Ms. Whitaker serves on the Board of Directors for St. Louis Children's Hospital, United Way, Contemporary Art Museum, Commerce Bank, Boy Scouts of America, Regional Business Council, and the Webster University Board of Trustees. Ms. Whitaker is also active the Missouri Women's Forum and will serve on the 2012 Executive Leadership Team for the Go Red For Women Luncheon.
