C&BA’s Lowder Lecture Series Brings Business Leaders to Campus
Five business leaders have visited or will visit The University of Alabama campus this spring as part of the Spring 2008 Lowder Lecture Series.
The Lowder Lecture series provides the Culverhouse community an opportunity to access executives’ perspectives on leadership, management, competition, professional development and trends in the business world. The series is a major ingredient of a Culverhouse education, and enables students to draw from existing leaders’ past and present challenges and business dilemmas. Through this forum, both local and international business leaders and pioneers provide insights into current topics and issues affecting the international business environment.
The program is possible through the generosity of Robert E. and Charlotte Lowder, the namesakes of the Endowed Executive Professor Program.
Scheduled to visit are:
March 27 - Rubin L. Hanan, president and chief executive officer, Champs Sports.
Champs Sports, part of Foot Locker, Inc., is the world’s leading athletic specialty retailer. Hanan is responsible for all North American operations including 582 Champs Sports’ retail stores in the U.S. and Canada.
Hanan received his bachelor’s degree in marketing from The University of Alabama in 1989. While a student at The University of Alabama, Hanan was a member of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity from 1985 – 1989.
March 27 - Jeffrey W. Cooke, president & CEO, Access Marketing Inc.
Access Marketing, Inc., specializes in point-of-purchase and direct mail marketing programs. Clients include Nike, Converse, adidas USA and Foot Locker Inc. divisions (Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Champs Sports and Foot Action.) The Access Marketing sales office is located in Birmingham, with the primary manufacturing facility in Atlanta.
Cooke received a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Alabama in 1990.
Cooke is a former trustee with the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and a current member of the Entrepreneur Round Table Program. He is a member of the American Marketing Association and the Birmingham Advertising Federation.
April 25 - Cathy Leonhardt, managing director, Mergers and Acquisitions Group, Peter J. Solomon Company
Peter J. Solomon Company (PJSC) is a leading independent investment banking firm headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1989, the firm provides owners, chief executives, and senior management of public and private companies with strategic and financial advice that generally results in a financial transaction.
Ms. Leonhardt joined the company in 2003 and has more than 10 years experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and licensings. Most recently, she advised Phillips-Van Heusen in its acquisition of Superba Inc., Kate Spade LLC in its sale to Liz Claiborne, the J. Jill Group Inc. in its sale to The Talbots, Inc. and Citizens of Humanity in its sale to Berkshire Partners.
She began her career at Wachovia as an officer in the US Corporation Banking Group. Ms. Leonhardt received her bachelor’s degree from The University of Alabama in 1990 and her M.B.A. from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
She is a member of the Cosmetic Executive Women and the Fashion Group International.
Executives who have already been on campus this year are:
Gary P. Fayard, executive vice president and chief financial officer, The Coca-Cola Company, visited the campus Jan. 22. Fayard, a native of Atmore, Ala., received his bachelor’s degree from The University of Alabama College of Commerce and Business Administration in 1975. While a student at the UA, he was a member of Beta Alpha Psi Fraternity, was a Student Governor Association Senator and was the social chairman of Sigma Nu Fraternity.
C. Reynolds Thompson, III, chief executive officer, Colonial Properties Trust, was on campus February 21. Thompson is responsible for providing the vision, strategy, leadership and management that keep the company profitable and consistently achieving its goals and objectives.
His 20-year real estate background includes acquisitions, development, leasing, and management of office properties.
Thompson serves on the Board of Visitors for The University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, and holds a bachelor of science degree from Washington and Lee University.