Executive MBA Program

The Executive MBA program, which now numbers 800 alumni, celebrated its 20th anniversary with a three-day symposium, "Focus on the Future," in April. Alumni, faculty, current and prospective students, and corporate sponsors gathered to celebrate two decades of success and to talk about the changing face of business, leadership, and globalization.

Joan and Jim Stukel (right) talking with Terry Ruprecht at the Executive MBA anniversary reception.

Festivites began with a reception at President and Mrs. James Stukel's home. Joan Stukel, is an alumna of the EMBA program (1982).

The five speakers at the seminar - Frederick Wenzel, executive director of Medical Group Management Association; Irving Wladawsky-Berger, General Manager, Internet Division at IBM; Lynn Martin, former Secretary of Labor; Dan Smith, chief executive officer of First American Bank; and J. E. (Jim) Despain, vice president, track-type tractors, Caterpillar, Inc. - gave an overview of where their industry stands today, factors that shaped the present, and where the future opportunities and challenges lie. The focus was on tools, skills, resources, and the mindset required in a global environment.

AT THE BANQUET, THE WINNING MANAGEMENT 2000 GROUPS for the last four years were announced. Management 2000 represents a partnership between community non-profit organizations and EMBA students. The non-profit supplies the problem to be worked on and the EMBAs provide the management expertise to solve the problem. This has been a mutually beneficial and rewarding enterprise where everyone is a winner.

MANAGEMENT 2000 WINNERS Peoria Area Children's Home - class of 1993. (Susan Huen, Mark Hexum, Mike McLees, Jim Roppa, and Mel Rozeboom) Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois, Inc. - class of 1994. (Lita Capati, Don Daly, Tom Frank, Merle Giles, Scott Hillstead, and Jim Lemon) Big Brother/Big Sister of Macon County - class of 1995. (Kevin England, Steve Marada, Mike Miller, Dave Seadler, and Richard Thomas) Community Recycling Center - class of 1996. (Marie Cote, Jane Eades, Dave Johnson, Mike Lyon, Joseph Weideman, and Chuck Welsh)

Inspired by a $10,000 challenge grant offered by the Eades Family Foundation, the EMBA class of 1996 has raised almost $30,000 in personal and corporate gifts to be used to enhance the EMBA program.