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November 1, 2006
Purdue announces 2006 Old Masters lineup
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Ten prominent leaders in their fields, ranging from a company president to a former NFL player, will take part in Purdue University's 2006 Old Masters program on Nov. 5-7.
Sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Students, the Old Masters program is an annual event that gives students the chance to meet and interact with professionals who have risen to the top of their fields. Since its inception in 1950, the program has brought more than 500 successful alumni back to campus.
"To Purdue students and faculty, an Old Master is someone who has made significant contributions to his or her own field," said Bridget Williams Golden, assistant dean of students and Old Masters adviser. "There is no typical Old Master; all walks of life are represented. One trait they all possess is the same desire to share their philosophies and experiences with Purdue students."
During their stay on campus, the Old Masters will visit classrooms and residence halls and share informal meals where they will talk with students.
"The energy and inspiration that these individuals have is just staggering," said Laura Phillips, a senior in the College of Liberal Arts from Carmel, Ind., who is serving as a directing co-chair of the program. "I think their focus and drive for success really motivates everyone who talks with them."
One Old Masters event is open to the public — an all-campus reception at 8 p.m. Monday (Nov. 6) in Hillenbrand Hall.
"The all-campus reception is a great opportunity for students and the public to connect on a personal level with individuals who have become 'masters' in their field," said Thomas Jeschke, a junior majoring in construction engineering from Mazon, Ill., who is a directing program co-chair.
The 2006 Old Masters are:
• Allen Alley, co-founder of Pixelworks, of which he currently serves as president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board. Pixelworks is a semiconductor company that is a leading provider of system integrated circuits for advanced televisions, multimedia projectors and flat-panel monitors. Alley contributes his time to many organizations, including the Oregon Council for Knowledge and Economic Development, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and the Mechanical Engineering Industrial Advisory Council at Purdue University.
• Vanita Banks, president-elect of the National Bar Association, the oldest and largest national association of predominately African-American lawyers and judges. Her professional career includes the Chicago office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a faculty position with DePaul University's School of Law and Chicago-based law firm of Caldwell & Hubbard, representing clients in state, federal and bankruptcy courts and before the Internal Revenue Service. In 1985, Banks accepted a counsel position with Allstate Insurance Co., where she specializes in insurance, employment and class action law and litigation. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Purdue and a law degree from Valparaiso University.
• Steve Bishop, who joined Procter & Gamble in 1986, first working in purchasing for the foods division. From 1989-94, he worked as an assistant brand manager before being promoted to brand manager. In 1999, he was named general manager for global strategic planning and design for a division in Brussels. In 2001, Bishop returned to Procter & Gamble headquarters in Cincinnati and has advanced to the position of vice president for the North American Fabric Care Division. In this capacity, he oversees all aspects of product supply, marketing and product development for a multibillion-dollar division. Bishop graduated from Purdue in 1986 with a degree in agricultural economics.
• John Branigan, who is a senior vice president at the William Morris Agency in Beverly Hills, Calif. As an agent, Branigan works with such artists as the Eagles, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Simon & Garfunkel, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Bob Weir & Ratdog, Godsmack, Staind, Stone Temple Pilots, Goo Goo Dolls, Scott Stapp, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 30 Seconds to Mars and the Professional Bull Riders. Branigan has twice been nominated for Agent of the Year by Pollstar Magazine. He also has been involved with the long running Lollapalooza Festival. Branigan is a 1983 graduate of Krannert School of Management.
• David Butz, who was inducted into the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004 and named to the Purdue All-Time Team for the first 100 years of football. Butz was drafted to play in National Football League, eventually playing for the Washington Redskins, where he became an all-pro defensive tackle. Butz played in three Super Bowls — winning in 1982 and 1987 and finishing as a National Football Conference Champion in 1983. After retiring from football, he and his wife became active in real estate development. Butz is on the board of directors for the YMCA and the National Board of Infectious Diseases. He received his bachelor's degree from Purdue in physical education/health and safety with a minor in speech.
• Michael Eskew, who serves as chairman and chief executive officer of UPS, the world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply-chain services. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Eskew is a trustee of the UPS Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the country's largest foundation dedicated to disadvantaged youth. He also serves on the President's Export Council, the board of directors for 3M Corp. and IBM, and presides as the chair of the Business Strengthening America's Steering Committee. Eskew graduated from Purdue in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering and later completed the Advanced Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business.
• Patricia Galloway, who is chief executive officer of the Nielsen-Wurster Group. She holds a doctorate in civil engineering from Kochi University of Technology in Japan, a master's of business administration from New York Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1978 from Purdue. She is currently a member of the National Science Board and a past president of American Society of Civil Engineers. She has received several awards, including the Society of Women Engineers' Upward Mobility Award and Purdue's Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award.
• John Hager, who serves as the assistant secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the U.S. Department of Education. Prior that appointment, Hager was the lieutenant governor of Virginia and later served as the state's homeland security director, initially overseeing security while serving under Gov. James Gilmore after Sept. 11, 2001. He also served in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserves, where he rose to the rank of captain. He earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue in 1958 and his master's degree in business administration from Harvard University.
• Anne Herrold, who works with Eli Lilly and Co. on the "ground floor" in research. She has been responsible for the manufacturing and marketing of several products, including the development of an antimicrobial testing program for cosmetics and several patented cosmetics (Visible Difference, Millennium). As the medical information administrator for Prozac in customer services, she answered questions posed by both health-care professionals and patients. Herrold also served as the medical information administrator for insulins, Humatrope and Evista. Herrold has received several awards for her work, including the Quality Advocate Award and the Quality-Speed Manufacturing Award. She received a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Purdue, and a master's degree in business administration from Indiana University.
• Don Thompson, president of McDonald's USA. In this role, he is responsible for the entire McDonald's system in the United States that includes 13,700 restaurants. Prior to his current position, he served as executive vice president and chief operations officer for McDonald's. He also has served as the executive vice president and innovation orchestration leader for McDonald's Restaurant Solutions Group, president of the West Division for McDonald's, president of the Midwest Division for McDonald's, senior vice president, restaurant support officer of the Midwest Division, and also is a former member of the San Diego Ronald McDonald House Charities board of directors. Thompson earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1984 from Purdue.
Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu
Source: Bridget Williams Golden, (765) 494-9756, bwgolden@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: To arrange interviews with any of the Old Masters, contact Bridget Williams Golden, assistant dean of students and Old Masters adviser, (765) 494-9756, cell (765) 404-0144, bwgolden@purdue.edu
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