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National Council

The CBA's National Council is composed of women and men who are exceptional leaders in their fields. They provide the Dean with expertise, advice, and useful critique about the college's programs, mission, and direction. The National Council meets twice yearly and CBA students often have an opportunity to meet these important decision makers.

GARY A. BEU ’73
Chief Human Resources Officer
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Gary A. Beu is the chief human resources officer at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He earned his B.S.B.A. with a major in accounting from Valparaiso University in 1973. Beu, who is active in civic and church activities, currently serves on the board of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Midwest Chapter, where he was president from 1996 to 2000. He has served on the executive committee for the Arthritis Foundation, Illinois Chapter, from 1997 to the present. Beu also is active in the Society for Human Resource Management. His wife, Carol (Menning), is a 1972 graduate of Valpo.

F. WILLIAM BOELTER ’61
President and Chief Executive Officer
Boelter Companies Inc.
William Boelter is president and chief executive officer of The Boelter Companies Inc. He has served the food service industry as president of the Food Equipment Distributors Association and as president of Allied Buying Corp. Boelter also was president of Supply America. In 1990 he received the National Dealer of the Year Award, and is a two-time recipient of Miller Brewing Company’s Partner in Excellence Award. Boelter earned his B.A. degree from Valparaiso University and his M.B.A. from The Wharton School. He is active in civic, church and community groups, including Lutheran Home and YMCA Camping Services.

JAMES R. ECKSTAEDT ’76
Executive Vice President and CFO
Sage Software
James R. Eckstaedt is the executive vice president and chief financial officer for Sage Software. He manages the areas of finance, treasury, tax, legal, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, facilities and production. He has extensive experience in managing foreign currency risk, treasury management, financing arrangements in foreign countries, and managing the legal, accounting and tax aspects of foreign locations. Eckstaedt is a frequent speaker on topics of foreign exchange management, how to complete successful mergers, and the effects of government legislation on high-tech industries.

JAMES L. FITZPATRICK ’68
COE and Publisher
San Diego Magazine Publishing Company Inc.
James L. Fitzpatrick is the owner of San Diego Magazine Publishing Company Inc. He also has served as publisher of Entrepreneur Magazine and as president of the City and Regional Magazine Association. Fitzpatrick earned his B.S.B.A. from Valparaiso University in 1968, and his M.B.A. from Golden Gate University. He is a member of the boards of directors of the Salvation Army, San Diego Opera, San Diego International Sports Council, and the National Board of the International Spirit of Life Foundation.He was the recipient of the 1992 Personal Achievement VU Alumni Award and the 2000 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

GARY M. GILBERT ’62
Attorney
Countess Gilbert Andrews, PC

Gary M. Gilbert is an attorney who earned his undergraduate degree in economics and finance along with his J.D. degree from Valparaiso University in 1962.  He has served in the Pennsylvania National Guard, and as assistant district attorney for York County.  Gilbert is past president of the York County Bar Association and a member of the House of Delegates of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Professionalism Committee (past vice-chairman), founding board member of the Susan P. Byrnes Health Education Center, and legal counsel for the National Kidney Foundation - York Chapter.

RICHARD C. GOZON ’60
Retired Executive Vice President
Weyerhaeuser Company
Richard C. Gozon received his B.A. degree from Valparaiso University in 1960. He also is a 1978 graduate of the Harvard Advanced Management Program. He is retired from his position of executive vice president for Weyerhaeuser Company. Gozon is the winner of the 2002 Personal Achievement Valparaiso University Alumni Award. He is a member of the boards of directors of the Amerisource Bergen, UGI Corp., Amerigas Partners L.P., Triumph Group, Supply One Inc. and Thomas Jefferson University.

WALTER F. HOEPPNER III ’77
Director, Human Resources - Center of Expertise
TAP Pharmaceutical Products, Inc.

Walter F. Hoeppner was appointed to the position of director, human resources – Center of Expertise at TAP Pharmaceutical Products in 2006.  Formerly he served as director of Human Resources for Global Processes at Federal Signal Corp.  Prior to joining Federal Signal, he held senior human resources management positions with BP Amoco Corp., ACCO Brands Corp. and Zebra Technologies Corp.  He received his B.S. degree in business administration from Valparaiso University in 1977, and his M.B.A. degree from DePaul University in 1979.  He has been involved in civic activities including the Boy Scouts of America.  He also is active in the Society for Human Resource Management, Human Resources Management Association of Chicago, and the Chicago Compensation Association – Senior Compensation Executive Forum.

COLETTE IRWIN-KNOTT ’81
Partner

Umbaugh

Colette Irwin-Knott is the managing partner for the Indianapolis office
of Umbaugh, a certified public accounting adviser to local governments. She joined the firm in 1981 and has provided financial advisory services for issuing municipal bonds  for libraries, schools and counties, as well as cities and towns throughout Indiana. She serves on several professional and charitable boards, and has been named by the Indianapolis Business Journal as a "Woman in the Lead" for financial services. She received her B.S. degree from Valpo in 1981.

BRUCE R. LANING ’81
Partner and Portfolio Manager

Marietta Investment Partners, LLC

Bruce R. Laning received his B.S. degree in business administration from Valpo in 1981.  He earned a master of management degree in 1988 from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University.  He earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1992.  Laning manages customized and diversified investment portfolios for individuals and institutions for Marietta Investment Partners.  He is an active leader in a wide variety of civic and community activities including the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Ozaukee Family Services, Lutheran Home Foundation, and the Investment Analysts Society of Milwaukee, with past participation on the United Way Investment Committee and Junior Achievement of Wisconsin.  Laning serves on the Valparaiso University Board of Directors.

JILL LONG THOMPSON ’74

Jill Long Thompson was undersecretary of agriculture for rural development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1995 to 2001. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (Fourth District, Indiana) from 1989 to 1995, she served on the committee on agriculture and also chaired the rural caucus. In addition, Long Thompson has served with the Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; Indiana University, South Bend; Manchester College; and Valparaiso University. She holds a Ph.D. degree in business and an M.B.A. degree from Indiana University, Bloomington. She also holds a B.S. degree in business from Valparaiso University.

PHILIP W. MENZEL ’67
President and CEO
German Mutual Insurance Company
Philip W. Menzel received his B.A. degree from VU in 1967. He serves as president and chief executive officer for the German Mutual Insurance Company. He is active in various civic and professional organizations and serves on the boards of trustees of the Ohio Insurance Institute and the Neighborhood Housing Services of Cleveland. Menzel is chair of the Personal Lines Subcommittee of the National Association of Independent Insurers.

MARIAN J. MOON ’72
Senior Vice President
Devon Energy Corp.

Marian J. Moon was elected to the position of senior vice president, administration for Devon Energy Corp. in 1999.  Moon has been with Devon for 22 years serving in various capacities, including manager of corporate finance and corporate secretary. Prior to joining Devon, Moon was employed for 11 years by Amarex Inc., an Oklahoma City-based oil and natural gas production and exploration firm. Her last position with Amarex was as treasurer. Moon is a member of the Society of Corporate Secretaries & Governance Professionals. She received her bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University in 1972.

DAVID A. PRICE ’84
President and Owner
RPS Imaging

David A. Price is the president and owner of RPS Imaging, the fourth largest radiology equipment sales and service distribution company in the United States.  He serves on the board of directors for National Healthcare Distributors and is a past board member of Vision Health Partners.  Price is active in civic organizations, including serving as the president of the Harris Baseball-Softball Organization from 2004-2006.  He has been the manager for various youth sports leagues since 1997.  Price received his B.S. degree in business administration with a management concentration from Valparaiso University in 1984.

JOHN T. RUDY ’81
President
Harris Community Banking, Indiana Region

John T. Rudy serves as regional president for the Harris Community Banking, Indiana Region. He is responsible for overseeing the successful integration of Mercantile Bank into Harris, as well as guiding business development strategy. Rudy joined Harris in 1981.  He holds a bachelor's degree from Valparaiso University and an M.B.A. from DePaul University. He is a member of a host of organizations, including the Lake Area United Way Board of Directors, the Times Board of Economists, the Legacy Foundation, the Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council and a member of the editorial board of the Times in Business.

KATHI P. SEIFERT ’71
Retired Executive Vice President
Kimberly-Clark Corp.
Kathi P. Seifert is the former executive vice president for the Kimberly-Clark Corp., overseeing the company’s $5.7 billion global personal care business. Seifert was named to Fortune magazine’s list of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” in 2002. She also was named to Forbes.com’s annual “America’s Top Businesswomen” list in 2001. She is a member of the boards of directors of Eli Lilly and Company, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, ThedaCare Health Care Group, the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center and Albertsons and Appleton Papers. Seifert earned her bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University in 1971.

ROBERT T. WARSTLER ’64
Retired President, Global Sales
Lucent Technologies
Robert T. Warstler, as president of Global Sales for Lucent Technologies, was responsible for worldwide revenue production. Highlights of his previous professional experiences include branch manager for IBM, vice president of sales for AT&T, executive vice president of marketing for Northern Telecom, vice president of marketing and planning for U.S. West, and president and chief executive officer for ATG. In addition to the B.A. degree he received from Valparaiso University in 1964, Warstler has participated in non-degree executive programs at Harvard, Wharton, University of Minnesota, and University of Michigan, Aspen. He is active in the United Way and other civic and church activities.

RONALD H. ZECH ’65
Retired Chairman and CEO
GATX Corp.
Ronald Zech served as chairman and chief executive officer for GATX Corp. from 1996 to 2005. Other positions held at GATX include president, chief operating officer and vice president, finance. Before joining GATX in 1977, he held positions of responsibility at the First National Bank of Chicago. Zech also served as a member of the faculty of Valparaiso University’s College of Business. He received his B.S. degree from Valpo in 1965, and his M.B.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin. Zech is affiliated with many academic, professional and civic organizations, including the boards of trustees for the John G. Shedd Aquarium, The Chicago Urban League, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies Inc.

MEMBERS EMERITI

JAY W. CHRISTOPER '99H

Chairman

Thatcher Technology Group, Inc.

TIMOTHY P. DUERR '77

NASCAR Marketing Manager

Ford Racing Technology

JAMES R. EFFNER, JR. '89

Managing Partner, Owner and CEO

Insurance/Financial Services

LEONARD J. KOCH ’64

Consultant
Koch Consulting

RICHARD W. PEHLKE ’75

CFO, Executive Vice President and Director
Hudson Highland Group, Inc.