Mr. Deepak M. Advani is responsible for building the Lenovo brand globally, and for strengthening the ThinkPad brand. His scope includes brand development, demand generation, product marketing, channel marketing, product design and seller enablement. He is also responsible for activating the sponsorship for the 2006 Torino Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Mr. Advani was with IBM for 13 years and was a member of the senior leadership team which is comprised of the top 300 worldwide executives within IBM. Mr. Advani was Vice President, Marketing and Strategy for IBM’s Personal Computing Division. He was also on the IBM Global Marketing Board which is responsible for driving marketing across IBM. Prior to that Mr. Advani was responsible for running the High End Intel Server business for IBM. Under his leadership, IBM became the #1 provider of High End Servers. Prior to that Mr. Advani was the Vice President for IBM’s worldwide Linux strategy and market development, where he designed some of the early strategies and tactics around Linux and open source. Mr. Advani was a key part of the leadership team that built a billion dollar SP systems business in 5 years. Mr. Advani has an MBA from the Wharton School of Business. He has an MS in Computer Engineering from Wright State University. He has a B.S. in Computer Science from Michigan State University.

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Richard 'Sandy' Alderson was named CEO of the San Diego Padres in 2005. Alderson, who previously served as Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for Major League Baseball (MLB), is responsible for the club’s daily business and baseball operations. In Sandy’s first two seasons with the Padres, the team has reached the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time in franchise history, winning the National League West title in 2005 and 2006. The Padres also surpassed the 2.6-million mark in attendance for the third straight season in 2006, and continued to make strides in their community and military outreach. Alderson was instrumental in the creation of MLB Academies in Australia and Italy, and, domestically, the Urban Youth Academy in Compton, California. He was also influential in the development of the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Alderson left a private law practice in 1981 to become the A’s General Counsel. He then served as Oakland’s General Manager and then President. The A’s won four American League West Championships during his tenure, participated in three consecutive World Series (1988-90) and captured the World Series Championship in 1989. Alderson holds degrees from Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, and also served four years as a Marine Infantry Officer with a tour of duty in Vietnam. He and his wife, Linda, have two children.

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John Batcher is the President of Fat Brain Toy Co., a Midwest based toy company specializing in development, wholesale, and distribution of educational toys. Batcher was born and raised in Lexington, NE, a rural farm community in the western part of the state. Upon graduating from Lexington Senior High School he attended Nebraska Wesleyan University earning his undergraduate degree in Political Science and Business. Batcher began his business career as an investment advisor with Smith Hayes Financial Services, a regional investment firm. During this time he earned his MBA from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and attended Vanderbilt University’s Executive Management Program. Eventually his passion for business and proven ability to innovate landed him at the helm of several business start-ups and turnarounds. His work has allowed him to lead business development efforts throughout the Midwest furthering his commitment to improving regional economic opportunities. Focused heavily on opportunities in manufacturing and the ever-growing fulfillment and distribution arena Batcher partnered with long-time friend and business associate Mark Carson to create Fat Brain Toy Co. As President, Batcher also maintains operational oversight of Fat Brain Toys, a sister company involved in online specialty toy retail. With customer and vendor relationships in more than 100 countries he continues to find success in reaching out to the global toy industry. Blending work and play, John is a private pilot, an avid motorcycle rider, and enjoys traveling, scuba diving, and the outdoors. He continues to volunteer his time promoting a number of local and regional not-for-profit organizations and currently serves on the board of two privately held companies in the banking and manufacturing sectors.

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Gregory H. Boyce has been President and CEO of Peabody Energy since January of 2006. Greg was elected to the Board of Directors in 2005 and chairs the Executive Committee. Greg joined Peabody in October 2003 as President and Chief Operating Officer. He has extensive U.S. and international management, operating and engineering experience. Under Greg’s leadership, Peabody achieved record safety, productivity and production results in 2004 and 2005. Greg is a member of the National Coal Council and the Study Chair of NCC’s 2006 report, 'Coal: America’s Energy Future.' He is also Co-Chairman of the Coal-Based Generation Stakeholders’ Group and a member of the Coal Industry Advisory Board of the International Energy Agency. He is a Board member of the Center for Energy and Economic Development and the National Mining Association. Peabody Energy is the world's largest private-sector coal company, with $4.6 billion of revenues in 2005. Its coal products fuel approximately 10 percent of all U.S. and 3 percent of worldwide electricity. Peabody Energy is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol BTU. Greg holds a B.S. Degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Arizona, and the Advanced Management Program Degree from the Harvard University’s Graduate School of Business.

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Cento has more than 29 years of experience in the air cargo and express transportation ‎industry. He previously worked with the Flying Tigers Line and transitioned to FedEx in 1989 ‎when the two companies merged. He was immediately promoted to Managing Director for ‎South and Central America, based in São Paulo, Brazil. Prior to his current position, Cento ‎was based in Mexico City, where he was Vice President of Mexico and Central America. ‎ In 2003, 2004 and 2005, Cento was recognized as one of the 50 Most Powerful Hispanics ‎by Hispanic Engineer & Information Technology Magazine, and was also named one of the ‎‎100 Most Influential People in South Florida by South Florida CEO Magazine. In 2003, ‎Cento received the International Air Cargo Achievement Award and the Florida ‎International Trade Award from the Florida Council for International Development, and in ‎‎2005, the World Trade Center of Miami presented him with Florida’s International ‎Achievement Award. ‎ Cento is a Cuba native, raised and educated in Miami. He attended Miami-Dade Community ‎College and Florida International University College of Business Administration. ‎

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Over the past two decades, Amy Coen has earned a reputation as an international leader in the area of reproductive health and population issues. Under her presidency, Population Action International has strengthened its position as one of the world's leading independent research and advocacy organizations, at the forefront in tracking resources that flow to population-related activities worldwide, and highly respected for its role in articulating the linkages between population, reproductive health, the environment, and development. Ms. Coen has served on numerous non-profit boards and official U.S. delegations, including the delegation to the 1999 Hague Forum on Population and Development. She is a frequently requested speaker, media guest and commentator, and was one of 14 women profiled in the PBS/BBC program "People's Century", where her work in starting the women's movement in the U.S. and helping to launch it onto the global scene was chronicled alongside that of other early leaders of the international women's movement in the1960s. In addition, she was a founder of the Women's Crisis Center, an organization that supported rape victims through counseling and help with the legal system, and that also worked to provide women with access to safe abortions before it was legal in the U.S. Prior to joining PAI, Ms. Coen served for 13 years as President and CEO of Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area, which provides family planning and related medical services to more than 55,000 women and men each year.

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Dr. Gary Cohn has been the superintendent of the Port Angeles School District since September 2001. Since joining the School District, Dr. Cohn has been focusing his energy on implementing the district’s strategic plan and reinvention efforts, and taking an active role in the community. He serves on the boards of United Way of Clallam County, the Clallam Business Incubator, the Lincoln Center Association, the Peninsula Development Association, the Haller Foundation, the K. O. Erickson Trust, and the Port Angeles Education Foundation. Governor Chris Gregoire appointed Dr. Cohn to serve on Washington State’s Professional Educator Standard Board. He served as VP of Lake Washington Technical College, where he also served as interim president. Dr. Cohn taught marketing and business education and coordinated cooperative education sites for five years in the Northshore School District, and served in administrative positions with the Lake Washington School District, where he founded and served as principal of a technical high school. Dr. Cohn completed a doctor of philosophy degree in education at the University of Washington. He earned his MBA from Seattle University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Puget Sound.

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Kathy Cox joined the Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club Foundation team in September of 1999 and has managed all outreach and support of Wal-Mart’s active duty military, guard and reserve on behalf of the company since Sept. 11, 2001. In 2005, Kathy represented the Foundation as Wal-Mart became the nationwide corporate leader providing relief assistance following Hurricane Katrina. Currently, Kathy manages the Wal-Mart Corporate giving team that supports the company’s Public Affairs team in their philanthropic and community relations efforts across the country. She continues to support all military outreach. . Prior to joining Wal-Mart, Kathy worked for 23 years at the Rogers Medical Center, acquired by the Sisters of Mercy in the spring of 1997. As Clinic Manager, she managed all aspects of integrating the largest medical group practice in Rogers, Arkansas into the Mercy Health System. Kathy and her husband Ken have two children, Sarah and Melissa.

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Steve Crosby manages Vulcan Inc.’s Corporate Communications which encompass public, media, community and government relations on a local and national level. Vulcan is the umbrella company for investor and philanthropist Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. His current business interests range from chairman of Charter Communications, real estate development and technology to investments in more than 50 companies including DreamWorks animation and feature films. Steve has been successful in improving Paul Allen’s corporate and personal image on a local, national and international level. He also oversees the overall direction of the government/community relations efforts as it relates to Vulcan Real Estates’ billion dollar land development project in the South Lake Union area of Seattle. Previously, he worked in public affairs and public policy at AT&T Wireless and predecessor, Los Angeles Cellular Telephone Company in their LA office. He is a graduate of Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and Santa Clara University.

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James Dicks is the president and CEO of PremiereTrade, LLC. He is an author, teacher and CEO of a growing network of international companies focused on helping investors diversify their portfolios and practice good money management. Mr. Dicks has inspired and founded the fastest-selling financial software, PremiereTrade® AI, for trading stocks, options, mutual funds and the FOREX and is the leading trainer in the world for international currency trading and investing. Trading for more than 15 years, James has witnessed markets of all types and started trading the FOREX as a way to better diversify his portfolio, the same way big banks and Fortune 1000 companies do. He is the author of the best selling book FOREX Made Easy … Six Ways to Trade the Dollar and his most recent book from McGraw-Hill, Operation Financial Freedom. The newest book, released in April 2006, centers on a tremendously hot topic today, Real Estate, How to Buy and Sell Real Estate for Financial Freedom. His newly developed trade recognition software, PremiereTradeAI, is generating interest and sales on an international level. James is a dynamic trainer and motivator, speaking on nationally syndicated radio shows and appearing nationally before thousands of people educating them on personal finance, real estate and investing. He and his wife, Deborah, have two children.

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Jay Elmore represents plaintiffs and defendants at the trial and appellate levels in a variety of areas including real estate, contract and partnership disputes, environmental, hospital law, personal injury, business torts and class actions. He also has considerable experience representing clients in alternative forums, such as mediation and arbitration. Jay has served as lead counsel in class actions throughout the United States and has been successful in defeating class certification in trial and appellate courts in both the state and federal court systems. He acts as chair of Georgia's ICLE Class Action Seminar. A full time trial lawyer for 28 years, he has served as President of The Lawyers Club of Atlanta, Chair of the Emory Law School Council, Chair of the Board of Consultants of Emory Law Journal and has served as Chair of numerous national, state and local bar association committees. He is a frequent lecturer at law school and continuing education seminars and has published numerous articles on a variety of topics relating to litigation. He has also been selected by his peers as a Georgia "Super Lawyer."

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Richard D. Fain is Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., the global cruise company operating 34 ships under the Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Pullmantur brands. Fain joined Royal Caribbean in 1979 as an outside director on the company’s Board of Directors. He became the cruise line’s Chairman and CEO in 1988. Prior to joining Royal Caribbean, Fain spent 13 years with Gotaas-Larsen Shipping Corp., a London-based owner and operator of cargo ships. Fain serves as chairman of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). In 2004, Fain received the Ultimate CEO Award from the South Florida Business Journal and accepted the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition Organization. He was inducted into the South Florida Business Hall of Fame in 2004.Fain was presented one of France’s most distinguished awards, the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (French Legion of Honor), and was named Commander, First Class, of the Order of the Lion by Finland. Fain has a B.S. degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business. Fain and his wife, Colleen, have four children.

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Bill Geppert has headed Cox Communications’ San Diego system since 1996. Serving more than 1 million customers throughout 19 communities and employing 2,300 individuals in the San Diego region, Cox Communications, a privately owned company, is the largest telecommunications company in Southern California and the fourth largest in the nation. Geppert has 27 years of operating experience in the telecommunications industry. Geppert is past chairman of American Heart Walk 2003, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the California Cable & Telecommunications Association. In 2001, he was honored by the National Cable and Telecommunications Association with the Vanguard Award. In 2002, he received the Starcom Award as San Diego’s Businessperson of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal and was recognized in 2003 as the YMCA Civic Leader of the Year. Most recently, Geppert was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the California Broadband Task Force Committee. He received a BA from the University of South Florida in Tampa and completed Stanford’s Executive Program. He and his wife, Amy, have been married for 26 years and have two children: Katie and Will.

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Robert Gomez is a second generation Latin Chamber of Commerce (LCC) member. His mother, Ophelia Gomez, served as president from 1989 to 1990. Gomez has served on the LCC board of directors for the past five years. He has served as secretary treasurer and vice president. In late 2005, he was elected to serve as chairman. Gomez chaired the LCC’s Business Development Committee, where he helped start numerous programs, including the successful La Oportunidad Business Expo. Gomez was also responsible for the start-up of a business education series that focused on increasing the capacity and reach of LCC members. Gomez has represented the chamber at a variety of events of prominent organizations including the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Leadership Institute, the Nevada Leadership Summit, the Small Business Administration and the Department of Energy. Gomez is the general manager of Magic Brite Janitorial, a leader in the janitorial industry in the valley. Under his leadership, the company has obtained important contracts with small and large national and local clients. Gomez was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year award by the LCC in 2003. Gomez, a resident of Las Vegas for over 38 years, received his BA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He and his wife, Susan, have three children, Cabrina, Giana and Jewelena.

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Mr. Hagestad is one of three Managing Partners of the SARES•REGIS Group, a real estate development company focused on the West Coast. The company has over 6 million sq. ft. of commercial property and over 2,000 residential units under development. SARES•REGIS Group has a combined portfolio of property and fee-based management contracts valued in excess of $4.0 billion, including 15 million sq. ft. of commercial properties and 13 thousand units of apartments. They are headquartered in Irvine, CA, with regional offices in Oxnard, San Mateo and Sacramento, CA; Phoenix, AZ and Denver, CO. Mr. Hagestad is a CPA and holds a BBA and Masters in Finance from the University of Southern California. He is a Member of the Real Estate Roundtable, The Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics, The National Association of Industrial and Office Parks and he is a Member and Trustee of the Urban Land Institute. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Sage Hill School, the Board of Trustees of the UCI Graduate School of Management, and is past Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Orangewood Children’s Foundation.

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Derek Hildebrandt is President of Hilltop Entertainment, an entertainment advertising and new media production company. His career began with Amazing Discoveries led by Mike Levey, where he helped develop over 30 infomercials with revenues of over $750 million dollars. Derek was then a Producer and Executive Vice President of 3Oh!5 Creative, overseeing the production of DVDs and movie advertising campaigns for Disney, Universal & Warner Bros. including: Sin City, Hostage, The Incredibles, Cinderella, Finding Neverland, Disney Princess, Miracle, Mulan 2, Aladdin, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lion King, Chicago, Alamo, Bambi 2, Monsters Inc., Gangs of New York, Beauty and the Beast, Brother Bear, Piglet’s Big Adventure, Spy Kids and Spy Kids II. Derek completed a graduate level Professional Program in Film and Television Producing at UCLA. He graduated from University of Wisconsin, Madison. Derek was born in Staten Island, NY and grew up in Waunakee, WI. He is active with the following organizations: American Film Institute; President Elect 2007, Big Ten Club of Southern California; President, Wisconsin Alumni Association – Los Angeles Chapter; Founder and President, Greater Bucky Open annual charity outing held in Wisconsin raising money for the UW Children’s Hospital and student mascots. Derek entertained UW Badger fans as UW’s mascot, Bucky Badger. He enjoys movies, sports, playing fetch with Vince, his 3 year old yellow lab, and clinging to a 14 handicap in golf.

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Bob Husband is President and CEO of Heritage Golf Group, LLC., founded in late 1999. Heritage owns 22 private and resort golf clubs in the U.S., and recently purchased 4 PGA Tour clubs and formed a strategic alliance with PGA Tour properties to provide reciprocal access between the clubs owned by the PGA Tour, Heritage and select other resorts. Prior to Heritage, Bob was Founder and CEO of Cobblestone Golf Group, Inc. Cobblestone grew to 49 properties, making it the 3rd largest golf ownership company in 1998, when the company was sold. Mr. Husband was a PGA TOUR member from 1978-79 and a Class A Member of The PGA of America since 1976. Husband was presented in 1998, the 'Entrepreneur of the Year' award by Ernst and Young and NASDAQ. Husband was also named by Golf, Inc. as one of 'The 25 Most Powerful People in Golf' each year from 2002 through 2007. In 2004, he received an Honorary Doctorate from the California State University system in recognition of lifetime achievements.

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Diane DeMell Jacobsen, Ph.D. is a successful business executive, International Affairs Scholar and community leader. After graduating from City University of New York in 1965, she joined IBM, progressing through a succession of senior executive management positions, including mid-Atlantic regional manager, covering seven states and $1 billion in revenue. Dr. Jacobsen moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1986, becoming first a health care executive and then president and CEO of an insurance company. A family move to St. Louis allowed her to turn her energies to foreign policy and Washington University in St. Louis. She earned two master’s degrees and a doctorate in international affairs and sponsored conflict resolution/peace negotiations in Northern Ireland and Cyprus. She was also the driving force in creating the undergraduate International Leadership Program in Arts & Sciences at the University. A member of the Advisory Group of the Council on Foreign Relations, a trustee of the Saint Louis Art Museum, 2003 recipient of the Allison Atlas Award recognizing her extraordinary efforts on behalf of the National Marrow Donor Program, and the 2005 Distinguished Alumna for Washington University in St. Louis, Dr. Jacobsen also lends her experience, expertise, and commitment to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Cummer Museum in Jacksonville, Florida and serves on the board of the World Affairs Council.

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Dean Jernigan has served as Chief Executive Officer, President and a member of the Board of Trustees of U-Store-It since April 2006. Previously, Mr. Jernigan was a founder, Chairman and CEO of Storage USA, from its founding in 1985 until its sale in 2002, at which time it had a total capitalization of $2.4 billion and a portfolio of 565 self-storage facilities. Storage USA was traded on the New York Stock Exchange from 1994 until 2002. Prior to Storage USA, Mr. Jernigan was President and Chief Operating Officer of Fogelman Properties, Inc., a Memphis based real estate company that owned, developed and managed apartment communities. Mr. Jernigan currently serves as a director at Thomas and Betts, a New York Stock Exchange listed electrical components and equipment company. He previously served as a member of NAREIT's Board of Governors from 1995 to 2002 and as a member of its Executive Committee from 1998 to 2002. Mr. Jernigan is founder and owner of the Memphis Redbirds Baseball Club, the AAA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Redbirds have operated as a 501C3 charitable organization since its founding in 1998.

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Kellie graduated from USC in 1982 with a B.A. in International Relations joining the family business in 1984. Kellie was promoted to President in 1989 and by 1995 she had doubled annual sales to over 20 Million dollars, with current (2006) projections at 28 Million. Specializing in complex formed and welded assemblies, Industry Week recognized ACE Clearwater as “One of Americas Top 25 Small Manufacturers” in 1999. In 2002 Kellie completed her companies acquisition of the Honeywell metal forming business, which has led to a nearly 20% increase in revenues. She has positioned ACE Clearwater as the full service manufacturing facility of choice for Lockheed Martin, G.E., Honeywell, Textron and a host of primes. Kellie Johnson was Chairman of the Board of Directors for the CMTC (California Manufacturing Technology Consulting) in 1995 and served as a Board Member for 12 years. Kellie also sits on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Manufacturers, and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Manufacturing Institute. She is also on the NAM Executive Committee. In 2005 Kellie accepted the position of Chairman of the South Bay Economic Development and is a member of the Technical Advisory Board for City National Bank. Kellie was nominated to the Manufacturing Council by Assistant Secretary of Commerce Al Frink in 2005, and was accepted by Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez in March of 2006.

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Chris Kanazawa is the President and CEO for Parker Ranch, Inc., located in Waimea, Hawaii. With approximately 150,000 acres and a total herd size of 33,000 head of cattle, Parker Ranch, established in 1847, is presently the fifth largest ranch in the United States. In addition to its livestock operations, Parker Ranch is involved in real estate development, retail, tourism and natural resource management. Prior to joining Parker Ranch, Mr. Kanazawa, with over 25 years of experience in the real estate development industry, has held positions of President and CEO for Amfac/JMB Hawaii, Coldwell Banker Commercial Properties and Kanazawa & Associates. Mr. Kanazawa is proficient in the formulation of land use strategies, master planning for residential, commercial, and resort projects, financial analysis and in consensus building between government, community and business interests. He has provided leadership in securing over $100 million in project financing, directed over $100 million in construction activity and has generated over $375 million in real estate transactions. Mr. Kanazawa holds a B.A. degree in Economics from the University of Hawaii and a M. B.A. degree in accounting and finance from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business. He is involved in a number of business, government and community organizations in Hawaii.

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Richard Karelitz serves as General Counsel to The Kraft Group, which includes the New England Patriots (NFL) football club, New England Revolution (MLS) soccer team, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA, and the International Forest Products group of companies. He also is a member of the board of directors and chairman of the audit committee of Carmel Container Systems in Israel. He has been a close personal advisor to the Kraft family for over 30 years. Mr. Karelitz holds a bachelors degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia and juris doctor and master of laws degrees from Boston University School of Law. He is an active community volunteer, serving as a trustee at Caritas Norwood Hospital in Norwood, MA and vice president of the Executive Committee of Boston University School of Law. He is a member of the Massachusetts and U.S. Supreme Court bars and a recipient of Boston University’s Silver Shingle Award for distinguished service to the legal profession. Mr. Karelitz lives with his wife, Jini, in Sharon, MA, and they have two adult sons.

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Keith Krach is currently the CEO of 3Points, Inc., an investment holding company based in Los Gatos, CA. Krach co-founded Ariba in 1996, serving as CEO for the first 5 years of Ariba’s history and Chairman of the Board for 7 years. As CEO, Ariba not only pioneered B2B, but also grew rapidly to become the dominant global player in the ever-evolving business-to-business e-commerce industry. During his tenure as CEO, Krach took Ariba public, ultimately achieving a market capitalization of $34 billion and becoming one of the fastest growing software companies in history. In honor of his accomplishments in e-business, Ernst & Young named Krach the 2000 National Entrepreneur of the Year, the same year in which he was honored at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with the Technology Pioneer Award. He earned a B.S. degree in industrial engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Harvard University. Krach worked at GM’s Cadillac Division, New York Treasurer’s Office, and GM’s Technical Center before being named as GM’s youngest-ever vice president at the age of 26. After 10 years with GM, Krach headed out to Silicon Valley to join the founding team of Rasna Corporation as the Chief Operating Officer. Krach helped lead Rasna to be recognized as #3 on the Inc. 100 list of Fastest-Growing Companies. Krach has lectured at Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley and IMD in Switzerland. He is committed to numerous philanthropic endeavors, including co-founding the Children’s Autistic Network.

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Named Chief of Staff by Governor Tim Kaine in January 2006 and by Governor Mark Warner in January 2002, William (Bill) H. Leighty is the senior member of the Governor’s Cabinet. Using his wide-ranging experience from nearly 30 years of state government service, Bill essentially serves as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Chief Operating Officer. Bill oversees the day-to-day operations of the Governor’s Cabinet, Governor’s office, and state agencies. His alma mater, Mary Washington College, awarded him the James Monroe Medal in 2004 for his contributions to the education community. Additionally, Bill was selected as a recipient of the 2002 William R. Snodgrass Distinguished Leadership Award. This award was in recognition of the leadership he provided in improving Virginia’s financial management practices, policies, and systems. After completing a tour of duty with the U.S. Marine Corps in 1975, Bill graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Economics from Mary Washington College in 1978, and an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University in the same year. Bill has been appointed by both Republican and Democratic governors, serving as Director of the Virginia Retirement System, Deputy Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, and Deputy Secretary of Transportation.

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Sen. Marrache started her political career as a city councilor in 1999. She then won a seat in the Maine House of Representatives where she served for 6 years representing the City of Waterville. She was elected to serve in the Maine Senate in 2006. During her first term in the House, she was the first person in the nation to serve while still a medical resident in training at the Maine-Dartmouth Family Practice Residency in Augusta. She was also part of the first father/ daughter duo to serve in the State’s history. She is an active practicing physician working with her husband at their private practice of Elm City Medical Associates. She still does home visits as needed and has a large nursing home patient population. She is a lifetime alumni member of the American Council of Young Political Leaders. She was a delegate to China in 2002 and hosted a delegation from Australia in 2004. In 2002, she was class member of the Foreign Policy Institute hosted by the Center for Women’s Policy studies. In her local community, she founded the Franco American Heritage Society of the Kennebec Valley. In this capacity she helped invigorate the French language and culture of the local community. She was awarded the REM community service award for her work in putting together the Museum in the Streets walking tour that showcases the accomplishments of early Franco Americans who settled in Waterville.

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Bill Masters is an entrepreneur, whose accomplishments span more than thirty years of inventing, building, designing, manufacturing, and developing consumer products. He holds thirty plus Patents in boat design, plastics manufacturing, computers and heat transfer. He is President and owner and/or partner, in several companies. At least two that concern kayak manufacturing and several that are primarily developing and building homes in the mountains and lake front homes and clubs on Lake Jocassee. He was owner and founder of Perception Kayaks in Easley, SC (1974-1998) during which time Perception became the largest kayak manufacturer in the US. Bill has always believed in educating, developing entrepreneurial skills, and mentoring others. He dedicates his time to numerous Committees and Boards. He is currently involved with the SC Council on Competitiveness Composites Cluster, Liberty Fellows, Board of Directors for SC Launch, Furman University Foundation Board and The Governors Map Commission, Higher Education Task Force Chairman. He is currently a member of Young Presidents Organization and the World Presidents Organization. He has served on the Board of Directors for both YPO and WPO and the WPO International Forum Advisory Board. Bill and his wife, Dr. Anne Graham Masters, MD, reside in Greeneville, SC and have two sons, Nathan and Adam, and one daughter, Allyson. He attended public school in Easley, SC, attended Tri-County Technical College, and obtained a B.S. Degree in Engineering from Clemson University.

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Denis graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from The Catholic University of America in 1990 where he excelled in academics, sports, and other extra-curricular activities. Denis met his wife, Kathleen, in 1991 while both were working at Accenture. They have been married for 11 years and have four children: Aidan (8), Malley (6), Burke (4), and Darcy (2). Kathleen was working full time to enable Denis to start Infinitive. Infinitive would not be the company it is today if it were not for the sacrifices that Kathleen made while working full-time, raising their children, running their household, and supporting Denis as he focused on growing the company. Denis founded Infinitive in 2003 and grew the company to almost $20M in revenue in 2006, its third full year of operations. Infinitive currently has 80 employees. Infinitive was named Washington Smart CEO's Future 50 list in January 2007. In 2006, Denis created the Infinitive Foundation for Families to support family-related charities and activities. He has been a three year supporter of the 2nd Ranger Battalion Assistance Foundation. Denis is a frequent visitor to the Pentagon during the Wounded Warriors Welcome. Denis has consulted for Fortune 50 clients, as well as promising start-ups for over fifteen years. He is recognized for his ability to solve complex problems in challenging business environments.

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Ed Meachen received a Ph.D. in History and Literature from Emory University in 1976 and an M.A. in Library Studies from the University of Chicago in 1983. He has worked at the Newberry Library in Chicago, served as Library Director at North Central College in Naperville, IL, and worked as Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Services at University of Wisconsin-Parkside before becoming Associate Vice President of Learning & Information Technology and CIO at the Fourteen Institution University of Wisconsin System in March 1998. His current responsibilities include wide area networking, System-wide IT planning, library automation, Web-based learning systems, common administrative systems, and emerging technology analysis. He is the chair of the governing body of the Academic ADL Co-Lab, and has line responsibility for the Academic ADL Co-Lab Executive Director.

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As Senior Vice President of Event Marketing and Sales – North America, Jeff Meyer oversees ticket sales, advertising and promotions for all North American engagements of Feld Entertainment’s touring spectaculars, which include 3 tours of Ringling Bros. and Barnum &Bailey ®, 2 tours of Disney Live SM and 8 tours of Disney On Ice SM. His career at Feld Entertainment began in 1987 as a Regional Marketing Director responsible for more than 40 markets spanning from Augusta, Georgia, to the San Francisco Bay area and parts of Canada. In 1994, he was promoted to Director of Sponsorship and Strategic Alliances and managed a number of relationships with fortune 1000 companies. In 2002, Jeff was promoted to Senior Vice President and has been in his current position since. A native of Denver, CO, Meyer received his Bachelor of Science in Commercial Recreation as an Eisenhower Evans Scholar from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He resides in Leesburg, VA with his wife and three children.

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John began his career in pharmacy as a cashier at Lahr’s Pharmacy in Phoenix, Arizona. He always had known he would be a pharmacist, and his studies took him to the University of Arizona where he graduated with a Doctorate of Pharmacy in 1994. Upon graduation, he took a position as a clinical pharmacist at Georgetown University Medical Center. After working in the Washington D.C. area for a year, an opportunity came available to be a managing director of a community based pharmacy in Scottsdale, Arizona. After managing the pharmacy for fourteen months, the owner made him an offer to purchase the practice, and the Apothecary Shops was born on May 1, 1996. Dr. Musil speaks to medical practitioners regularly about individualized care that pharmacists can provide and was recognized by the National Community Pharmacist’s Association as the Willard B. Simmons 2003 Independent Pharmacist of the Year and the American Pharmacist’s Association with the 2004 Albert B. Prescott Award for pharmacy leadership. Dr. Musil resides in Scottsdale with his wife, Caroline, and their four children; Grant, Grace, Nicholson and Emmeline.

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The man who secured Tampa Bay’s long-awaited Major League Baseball franchise on March 9, 1995, continues to work as hard as anyone to build a championship team. In 1991 Naimoli accepted the challenge of bringing the national pastime to the region. Summoning the grit and problem-solving savvy that took him from a humble start in Paterson, N.J., to an NROTC scholarship at Notre Dame (U.S.M.C. option), two master’s degrees, the engineering and business worlds, and legendary status as a corporate turnaround specialist, he rallied civic and financial backers to the baseball cause. Naimoli had the ticket-buying public behind him, too, and on March 31, 1998, a $250-million-a-year economic entity began play at Tropicana Field. In 1999 he joined former First Lady and current Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John Glenn and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court William Rehnquist in receiving the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. One of four children of a second-generation Italian immigrant, Naimoli graduated from Notre Dame in 1959. He still attends Fighting Irish football games with his wife, Lenda, who retired as an Eastern Airlines flight attendant after 24 years. He has four daughters; Christine, Tory Ann Jarvis, Alyson, and Lindsey, and three grandchildren.

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John F. O'Reilly is Chairman and CEO of the O’Reilly Law Group, LLC , a firm providing legal services regarding business and personal legal matters, with a focus on gaming and related real estate, business, entertainment and litigation matters. Mr. O'Reilly is also Chairman and CEO of the O’Reilly Gaming Group. Mr. O’Reilly has served as Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, a member of the Nevada Gaming Policy Committee and was formerly employed in the audit and tax departments of a leading international public accounting firm. Mr. O'Reilly serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Sierra Pacific Resources and as a member of the Audit Committee and Pricing Committee and as Chairman of the Planning and Finance Committee. Mr. O'Reilly is an entrepreneur who has been active in many community organizations in Nevada, including the Nevada Development Authority, the University of Nevada Las Vegas Foundation, the Greater Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, the Boulder Dam Area Boy Scout Council, the Air Force Association, and the United Way and the Boys and Girls Clubs. John O'Reilly is an author and recognized public speaker. He is a cum laude graduate of St. Louis University where he earned a Juris Doctor degree and a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in accounting. He is also a cum laude graduate of the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a Masters Degree in Business Administration. He has been married to his wife René for 38 years, and they are the proud parents of four adult children.

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Sterling P. Owen, IV was sworn in as the 24th Chief of Police of Knoxville, Tennessee on September 1, 2004. Prior to becoming Police Chief, Owen was the owner of Sterling Owen & Associates, which was a consulting company specializing in corporate investigations, security planning and Counterintelligence Operational oversight. Domestic clients have included the Department of Justice, the Department of Energy, and others. Chief Owen retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 1995. At that time he was serving as a Supervisory Special Agent in the Knoxville, Tennessee field office. His prior experience included assignments in Jacksonville, Florida and Chicago, Illinois. During his approximately twenty-three year tour with the FBI, he investigated or supervised both property and personal crimes. Chief Owen served in an undercover capacity both as an operative and administrator and served as the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team Leader and Coordinator in the Chicago and Knoxville field offices. Among his accomplishments, Chief Owen received the National Criminal Investigator of the Year award in 1985. Chief Owen voluntarily serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley Corporate Board. Chief Owen is married, the father of two daughters and a grandfather of three grandsons.

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Pedro (Pete) Pizarro currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Telefonica USA, Inc. Mr. Pizarro is responsible for designing and executing Telefonica’s strategy and the full P&L responsibility of its 3 US-based strategic business segments. Mr. Pizarro has extensive international business experience in managing organizations, including start-ups and turn-around's throughout the US and Latin America. He is actively involved with and provides leadership to a number of local and national organizations, including the Beacon Council (Chair Elect, Board Member and Executive Committee); Board Member and Past co-Chair of the International Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and Past Board Member of The Miami Dade County International Trade Consortium (ITC). In addition, Mr. Pizarro serves on Northwestern University’s, Kellogg Alumni Advisory Board, the Advisory Board at the University of Miami School of Engineering. Mr. Pizarro has been recognized by Miami Today as South Florida’s Top Communications Leader and by South Florida CEO magazine as one of the 101 Top International Leaders in South Florida. He was recently inducted into the Miami-Dade College Hall of Fame, and has appeared on television as a guest on multiple English and Spanish speaking TV programs. Mr. Pizarro holds a bachelor of business degree in accounting from the University of Miami and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

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After growing up on the family farm in upstate New York and working in local television, Mr. Reed moved to Los Angeles where he received degrees in Philosophy and Film Production from the University of Southern California. In 1995, after a brief stint in freelance physical production, he was hired as an executive at Hollywood Pictures. When Hollywood Pictures reorganized in 1996 he moved down the hall to Touchstone Pictures. He is currently the Executive Vice President of the Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group which oversees both Walt Disney and Touchstone Pictures. As well as serving as an executive overseeing individual film projects, Mr. Reed manages the day to day administrative functions of the creative group along with the studio’s long term relationship with producer Jerry Bruckheimer. During his tenure at the Walt Disney Company he has overseen a wide range of projects, including Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, Bringing Down the House, Shanghai Knights, Under the Tuscan Sun, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Glory Road, King Arthur and the Tony Scott, Denzel Washington thriller Deja Vu. His next film to be released is the Jerry Bruckheimer, Jon Turtletaub sequel National Treasure 2.

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Steven Roberts is recognized as one of St. Louis’s most dynamic entrepreneurs. Educated in the St. Louis public school system, he worked his way through college at Clark University and law school at Washington University. Along with his brother, Michael, Mr. Roberts has worked to bring jobs and economic opportunity to the African-American community from which he came. Locating his headquarters in the heart of this community, his endeavors over the last twenty-nine years have created thousands of jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities, raised the level of economic activity and enhanced the quality of life for the African-American community. As a St. Louis Alderman from 1979 to 1993, Mr. Roberts specialized in development of legislation for the City’s major redevelopment projects—St. Louis Union Station, St. Louis Centre, Cervantes Convention Center Expansion, and the new Sports Stadium. Mr. Roberts serves on the following Boards of Directors: Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission-Blue Ribbon Panel on Accountability, Credibility and Efficiency, MERS/Goodwlll Industries, Pres., Regional Business Council, Vice Chair, Counsel National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC/LEO), American Youth Foundation, St. Louis Sports Commission, Logan University, St. Augustine’s College, Children’s Hospital Foundation, BJC Hospital Foundation.

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Landon H. Rowland is Director and Chairman Emeritus of Janus Capital Group. Prior to July, 2000 he was Chairman, President and Chief CEO of Kansas City Southern Industries (KCSI) (NYSE: KSU). In July 2000, the transportation and financial services operations of KCSI were separated and the financial services operations were incorporated in Stilwell Financial Inc. (NYSE: SV) of which Mr. Rowland was Chairman, President and CEO. In September 2003 all of Stilwell Financial subsidiaries were merged into Stilwell and the name changed to Janus Capital Group, where Mr. Rowland continued as Chairman until January 2004. Mr. Rowland joined KCSI in 1980, became President and Chief Operating Officer in 1983 and CEO in 1987, continuing in that capacity until 2000. Mr. Rowland is Chairman of the Garden City Bank and Ever Glades Financial. Prior to joining KCSI, Mr. Rowland was a partner in the law firm of Watson, Ess, Marshall & Enggas of Kansas City, Missouri and professorial lecturer in antitrust law at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Mr. Rowland is Chairman of the Local Investment Commission, Swope Ridge Geriatric Center, and a member and Vice Chairman of the Kansas City Health Commission. He is also Chairman of the Metropolitan Performing Arts Fund. Mr. Rowland received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College and a bachelor of laws degree from Harvard Law School.

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M. Susan Savage serves as Oklahoma’s Secretary of State. Prior to her appointment, Savage was a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma College of Architecture. Savage also served three times as Mayor of Tulsa, making her the most tenured and the first woman mayor in Tulsa’s history. Her term of office ended April 2002. As Mayor, Savage served as Tulsa’s chief executive officer, responsible for a $500M budget and 4K employees. During her tenure, Tulsa prospered with unprecedented job growth, neighborhood revitalization, public safety improvements and government efficiency. Savage implemented more than one billion dollars in infrastructure investments. During Savage’s tenure as mayor, the Reason Public Policy Institute of Los Angeles ranked Tulsa third among 44 U.S. cities for how well it delivered government services. In 1996, Newsweek magazine feature Savage as one of the nation’s 25 'mayors to watch'. Savage currently serves on the National Advisory Board of Riley Institute for Urban Affairs at the College of Charleston; Executive Board member, Southern Regional Education Board; Advisory Board member, Oklahoma Academy for State Goals; Advisory Board member, Oklahoma City United Way; Trustee, Oklahoma Nature Conservancy Board of Directors; Trustee, Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence; Board member, Creative Oklahoma, Inc. Savage also is a past recipient of the Oklahoma Human Rights award.

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Jim Schmitt became the 41st Mayor of the City of Green Bay on April 1, 2003. Prior to his election, Schmitt was President of Famis Manufacturing Inc. that manufactures and markets disposable products to the health and beauty industries. Schmitt received the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Entrepreneurial Award, and the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Growth Award. Jim Schmitt became active in local government and served two consecutive terms on the Brown County Board of Supervisors before being elected as Mayor. As Mayor, Schmitt brings enormous energy to his job and has a strong vision for the City of Green Bay and its downtown. Under Mayor Schmitt’s leadership, Green Bay has become one of the fastest growing Class 2 cities in the State of Wisconsin and was recently named the top city for entrepreneurs by both Inc. and Entrepreneur Magazines. The City has found great success in strengthening neighborhoods, reducing crime, filling business parks and improving services while controlling spending during Schmitt’s tenure. Jim Schmitt earned a BBA degree in marketing from St. Norbert College. Jim and his wife Dona live on Green Bay’s near Eastside, where they raise daughters Anna, Greta, Laura and Eva (who died as an infant). Besides being Mayor, which he says is the best job in the world, he enjoys family activities, travel, biking and reading.

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Ann Brownell Sloane has specialized in counseling, operating and directing nonprofit organizations, both grant makers and grant seekers. She has been a chief executive officer, a chief operating officer, a board member and chair, at educational institutions, service agencies, and foundations. She has worked organizations in Great Britain, France, Latin America, the Middle East, the Russian Federation and The Peoples Republic of China. Before forming Sloane & Hinshaw in 1979 to provide planning, administrative and counseling services to U.S. and overseas grant making foundations and individual philanthropists, she was Executive VP of the International Development Foundation, where she served also in several professional program positions. She earned her B.A. in history at Swarthmore College and did graduate work in economics at the National University of Venezuela. She is fluent in the Spanish language. She studies the Chinese language. As a trustee of Swarthmore College, she chaired the board’s finance committee for ten years while a member of the investment and executive committees. As a director of The Investment Fund for Foundations, a mutual fund cooperative with over a billion dollars under management, she served as Board Chair and on the Executive Committee. She is married to Dr. Robert B. Sloane and lives in New York City; they have two adult children, Margaret and Robert Douglas.

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Christopher Stewart is the Global Brand Manager for The Gallup Organization. In this capacity he is responsible for the promotion and the protection of the Gallup brand and its intellectual property on a global basis. Mr. Stewart is also responsible for Gallup’s domestic and international Legislative and Executive branch government relations activities. Mr. Stewart advanced into his current role in early 2004 after a ten year period as Regional Managing Partner of the Asia Pacific Division for The Gallup Organization. He was responsible for managing Gallup’s seventeen offices in the Asia Pacific region. Mr. Stewart has consulted with many of the world’s leading financial service firms, telecom companies and travel and leisure businesses, as well as governments in the area of management and marketing strategy. He has been widely published and broadcasted with both domestic and international organizations. He is a Board Member of the Center for International Business and Education Research (CIBER) at his alma mater, San Diego State University. Mr. Stewart is also active through his committee membership with the International Trademark Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Coalition for Intellectual Property Rights. He is a 1996 recipient of the Congressional Gold Award.

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Mr. Sudler was born in South Orange, New Jersey and graduated from Columbia High School. He attended the University of Virginia, graduating with honors with a BA in English Literature. He attended New York University School of Law and graduated in with a Juris Doctorate Degree. He is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, and D.C. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Sudler served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard Owen, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York. He was then appointed Special Attorney with the U.S. Dept. of Justice Organized Crime Strike Force for the Southern District of New York. During his tenure as a Strike Force Attorney, Mr. Sudler prosecuted major organized crime cases. In 1977, he was appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. In that position, Mr. Sudler continued to prosecute organized crime cases. Among his noteworthy prosecutions are US v. Joseph Gambino; US v. Carmine Galante; and US v. Rubell and Schrager ("Studio 54"). Mr. Sudler is a partner in the law firm of Sudler & Barth in Morristown, NJ. In 1994, Governor Christine Todd Whitmann appointed Mr. Sudler Commissioner of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority - the largest entertainment and sports complex in North America.

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From 2004 through 2006, Mr. Thomson was Chairman and CEO of Citigroup Global Wealth Management, comprised of The Citigroup Private Bank, Citigroup Investment Research and Smith Barney. Citigroup Global Wealth Management ranks as one of the largest wealth management businesses in the world with $1.4 trillion in client assets. Citigroup Investment Research is one of the leading research firms on Wall Street with more than 300 research analysts and strategists covering nearly 3,000 stocks globally. Mr. Thomson also led the re-branding effort for Smith Barney, launching the Working Wealth campaign. From 2000 through 2004, Mr. Thomson was CFO and Head of Operations, Technology and Strategy for Citigroup. In this position, he built one of the leading global finance organizations. Prior to joining Citigroup in 1998, Mr. Thomson held senior positions at GE Capital, Barents Group and Bain & Co. He is a member of the Board of the World Resources Institute, the Board of Trustees of Davidson College and the Wharton Graduate Executive Board, as well as a member of the Economic Club of New York. He is Chairman of the Wharton Leadership Advisory Board and of the Board of Directors of the NYC Academy of Finance. Mr. Thomson received his M.B.A., with distinction, from the Wharton School of Business and his B.A. in economics from Davidson College.

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Terrence M. Tierney is CEO of All American Beverage Corporation, a manufacturer of specialty soft drinks, most notably, The All American Shirley Temple. Mr. Tierney is also President of Profesco Solutions, Ltd., a business management consulting firm he started in 2001. Mr. Tierney is the co-founder and Secretary/Treasurer of the AOH Charitable Gift Corp., a 501(c)(3) charity located in New York City. He is the chairman of the charity’s Friends of the Fighting 69th sub-committee. The charity provides funding for children of New York and New Jersey National Guardsman who have been wounded or killed in action while serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. On May 7, 2006 he was awarded the Distinguished Center of Influence Award by the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry during the unit's Freedom Salute. He is a past president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Tomas Cardinal O’Fiaich Division 7 in New York City. Mr. Tierney posses a Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics/Professional Pilot from St. Louis University. He lives in mid-town Manhattan with his wife Beatrice Stark, a Managing Director with Bear Stearns & Co.

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John Turner is an Associate Principal in the Dubai/London offices of the management consulting firm, McKinsey & Company. John works with the major media companies of the Middle East and Europe on operational and strategic issues facing senior management. In addition, John has worked with governments of the region on economic reform and growth strategies. Recently, John took a leave of absence from McKinsey after receiving the prestigious International Affairs Fellowship from the Council on Foreign Relations in the United States. As part of this fellowship, John served as the Special Assistant for the Middle East to the U.S. Under Secretary of State, Alan Larson. Central to his role in this position was helping with the implementation of the BMENA (Broader Middle East and North Africa) initiative launched by the G8 countries focusing on economic, political, and educational reform for the region. John holds a MS from the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, an MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. At Harvard, John received the John Whitehead public sector fellowship and served time immediately after graduation in the US Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam.

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Dr. Craig D. Uchida is President of Justice & Security Strategies, Inc. (JSS), a consulting firm that specializes in issues related to criminal justice, homeland security, children and youth violence, public health, and public policy. He oversees contracts and grants with cities, counties, criminal justice agencies, foundations, and foreign nations. Dr. Uchida is an affiliate professor in the Administration of Justice Program at George Mason University. He has taught courses at the Naval Post-Graduate School’s program in Homeland Security in Monterey, CA and was an assistant professor at the University of Maryland. He is currently a Senior Advisor to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. Dr. Uchida was a senior executive within the US Department of Justice. He is the former Assistant Director for Grants Administration and Senior Policy Adviser for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. He has received two major U.S. Department of Justice Awards; the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award in 1995 and the JustWorks Award for innovation in government in 1997. As a community leader, Dr. Uchida is active in numerous Asian American organizations locally and nationally. Dr. Uchida received his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University at Albany and holds two Masters degrees, one in Criminal Justice and one in American History.

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Linda Zecher is vice president of U.S. Public Sector for Microsoft. She is responsible for all of Microsoft’s business in federal government, state and local government, and education markets, including K–12 and higher education. Zecher was appointed to the position in October 2003. In this role she supports the efforts of nearly 500 personnel across the United States. For more than 25 years, Zecher has had a distinguished career providing management expertise and leadership to some of the market leaders in technology. Following seven years as a geophysicist with Texas Instruments Inc., Zecher joined Bank of America Corp. in 1984 as vice president of product management and technical services. In 1989, she joined PeopleSoft as the ninth employee in the role of vice president of sales and marketing and was responsible for building a worldwide sales and marketing presence for the company. Following a two-year sabbatical, Zecher became senior vice president at Oracle Corp. and was responsible for sales of Oracle’s Application Suite in the public sector, higher education, healthcare, telecommunications, financial services and utilities markets. Upon leaving Oracle, Zecher was named CEO of Evolve Corp., holding that position for more than a year until the company was acquired.

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