NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management has established a Board of Visitors, an advisory group of leading corporate executives, to further strengthen its connection and ensure relevance to the national and international business communities, Dean Jim Bradford announced.
Representing diverse industries, geographic locations and management expertise, the new board will function like a strategic partner to the Owen School, providing insights on curricular issues in relation to the needs of business, participating as guest speakers and opening new doors for mentoring and career opportunities.
The formation of a board of advisers is another in a series of initiatives aimed at propelling the institution forward undertaken by Jim Bradford, who became dean in March 2005, including the successful launch of three new market-driven degree programs and a nearly 400 percent increase in annual giving.
“The Board of Visitors is an essential component in ensuring that Owen is providing the most relevant, meaningful education for the next generation of business leaders,” said Bradford. “That means combining the real-world business perspective of these accomplished individuals with the cutting-edge research and knowledge by our renowned faculty to offer a truly unique and valuable educational experience. I am honored that these distinguished executives have agreed to play a vital role in our program and become dynamic members of our close-knit community.”
For several members, joining the new Board of Visitors builds on many years of significant contributions to the Owen community, including financial support. Each member of the board will serve a three-year term, with two meetings per year in Nashville or other cities across the country. Under the leadership of board chair David Ingram, the group‘s inaugural meeting took place in October in Nashville.
In addition, the Owen School also has a program-specific Health Care Advisory Board. Founded in 2005, it comprises executives from all facets of the industry, and has played a key role in guiding the development of Owen‘s groundbreaking and highly successful Health Care MBA program. As planned for the new Board of Visitors, Owen‘s Health Care Advisory Board and long-standing Alumni Board provide ongoing support and counsel to Bradford, the program‘s directors and faculty.
The 28 founding members of the new Owen Board of Visitors are:
* David B. Ingram, chairman and president, Ingram Entertainment Inc.
* Nancy S. Abbott, vice president, Human Resources, GE Financial Commercial
* James H. Amos, chairman, Sona MedSpa
* Thomas U. Barton, partner, White Rock Capital
* Robert A. Bourne, president, CNL Financial Group Inc.
* John F. Brock, president and CEO, Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.
* Patrick M. Byrne, global managing partner – Supply Chain Service Line, Accenture
* Thomas G. Cigarran, chairman, Healthways
* Bret E. Comolli, chairman and CEO, Asurion
* Greg S. Daily, chairman and CEO, iPayment Inc.
* Mark A. Emkes, chairman, president and CEO, Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc.
* Adena T. Friedman, executive vice president, NASDAQ
* Josue C. Gomes da Silva, president, Coteminas
* Debora A. Guthrie, CEO, Capitol Health Management Corp.
* Bruce A. Heyman, managing director, Goldman Sachs
* Norman E. Johnson, chairman and CEO, CLARCOR Inc.
* Scott A. LaPorta, president and general manager, Levi Strauss Signature
* Carl C. Liebert, CEO, 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide Inc.
* Sarah L. Meyerrose, president, Emerging National Businesses, First Horizon National Corporation
* William M. Mounger, CEO, TriStar Communications
* M. Gregory O‘Hara, partner, One Equity Partners
* W. Douglas Parker, Jr., chairman, president and CEO, US Airways Group Inc.
* David A. Perdue, Jr., chairman and CEO, Dollar General Corporation
* Neil P. Ramsey, president and CEO, Ramsey Quantitative Systems
* Barry Salzberg, managing partner, Deloitte & Touche USA LLP
* Wade L. Smith, treasurer, Dollar General Corporation
* James M. Sohr, president, Aim Health Care Services
* David T. Vandewater, president and CEO, Ardent Health Services
Ingram, Abbott, Barton, Friedman, Gomes da Silva, Guthrie, Heyman, LaPorta, Liebert, Meyerrose, Mounger, O‘Hara, Parker, Ramsey, Smith and Sohr are Vanderbilt alumni.
The Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt is ranked as a top institution by Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, Financial Times and Forbes. For more news about Owen, visit www.owen.vanderbilt.edu.
Media Contact: Princine Lewis, (615) 322-NEWS
princine.l.lewis@vanderbilt.edu