Economic Club of Minnesota: Recent Episodes
Economic Club of Minnesota
The Economic Club of Minnesota (ECOM) provides a high-profile, non-partisan platform for national and international leaders in business, government and public policy to present their ideas on how Minnesota can better compete in the global economy and how America can most effectively provide world leadership on economic and strategic issues.
George Mason University economist Don Boudreaux took the stage at the Economic Club of Minnesota on May 11, 2026, as a myth-buster with a simple but powerful challenge: compared to what? In his presentation on Trump's second-term tariffs, Boudreaux cut through the political noise by stacking 2025's economic performance against hard benchmarks, including 2024 and Trump's own first term in 2017. The numbers told a sobering story. Nonfarm employment grew at just 0.5% in 2025 versus 1.6% in 2017, manufacturing employment actually declined, unemployment rose, and all three major stock indices trailed their 2017 post-election performance.
Boudreaux also shed light on a broader truth that rarely makes headlines: by historical standards, American households are dramatically better off than they were decades ago, with real net worth 80% higher than in 2001 and more than double what it was in 1994. His message was clear and grounded in evidence rather than ideology. Whether tariffs get credit or blame, the facts demand more than talking points. For an audience of Minnesota business leaders, policymakers, and students, Boudreaux delivered exactly what the Economic Club is known for: a speaker who moves the conversation well beyond the soundbites.
Against a backdrop of surging tariffs, fracturing alliances, and rising protectionist sentiment on both sides of the Atlantic and the Pacific, the Economic Club of Minnesota gathered to celebrate someone who has spent her entire career swimming against that current. Dr. Mari Elka Pangestu, economist, former cabinet minister, World Bank managing director, and now Indonesia's Special Envoy for International Trade and Multilateral Cooperation, received the Bill Frenzel Champion of Free Trade Award.
The honor could not have come at a sharper moment. As Minnesota companies navigate the whiplash of new U.S. tariffs and retaliatory measures reshaping global supply chains, Pangestu offered something rarer than policy prescriptions: a long view, anchored in decades of experience navigating trade negotiations from Jakarta to Geneva to Washington.
On March 30, the Economic Club of Minnesota hosted "The Geopolitical Power of Agriculture," bringing together CHS President & CEO Jay Debertin and CoBank CEO Tom Halverson for a candid conversation about the pressures facing American farmers. The verdict was sobering: row crop producers, particularly soybean and corn growers here in the Midwest, are caught in a perfect storm of depressed commodity prices, trade-driven uncertainty, and surging competition from Brazil. As the Minnesota Star Tribune reported, Halverson noted that the Midwest is the "epicenter" of struggles for row crops, while farmers raising livestock are faring comparatively well.
Adding urgency to the discussion was the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which both leaders warned could structurally reshape global ag markets. "There's not a producer in agriculture around the world that won't be impacted," Debertin said of the continuing conflict. Halverson cautioned that any short-term price bump from the disruption shouldn't be mistaken for stability, and that reopening key shipping routes won't happen overnight. Still, both leaders remained measured in their outlook. "We've had low commodity prices before. We've had high commodity prices before. Those are the cycles of agriculture," Debertin said — a reminder that while the headwinds are real, Minnesota's farmers and agribusinesses have weathered hard seasons before.
The Economic Club of Minnesota welcomed retired General Paul Nakasone, former head of U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, for a conversation that was equal parts sobering and inspiring.
Nakasone opened with a stark reality check: unlike physical borders that can be patrolled and defended, cyberspace offers no natural boundaries. There are no oceans, no walls, no checkpoints standing between America's critical systems and those who wish to disrupt them. The threat is constant, it is evolving, and it arrives without warning.
So, what separates the United States from its adversaries in this invisible battleground? According to Nakasone, the answer isn't hardware or budget, it's people. Talent is the decisive advantage. The nations that invest in developing skilled, thoughtful, principled individuals will be the ones that prevail in the conflicts of the 21st century.
That leads to perhaps the most grounding message of his remarks: national security begins at home, and it begins with the individual. Security isn't just a government function or a Pentagon priority, it's a shared responsibility that starts with each of us, in our communities, our organizations, and our daily choices.
For young people entering the workforce, Nakasone's prescription was refreshingly timeless. Three things matter above all else: the ability to think critically, the ability to communicate clearly, and good character. In an era dazzled by technical credentials and AI-powered tools, a general who spent decades at the intersection of intelligence and technology made the case that these enduring human qualities remain the foundation of everything.
It was a powerful reminder that the most sophisticated cyber defense in the world still runs on people and that building those people starts now.
We were delighted to welcome U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to the Economic Club of Minnesota on January 8, 2026, for an engaging and timely conversation that drew more than 325 attendees from across the Twin Cities business and civic community. Secretary Bessent shared thoughtful insights on the state of the U.S. economy and the Treasury Department's priorities, touching on topics such as economic growth, fiscal responsibility, financial market stability, and expanding opportunity for Americans nationwide.
In the discussion with moderator Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, he highlighted the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors and reflected on how local and national leadership can work together to strengthen long-term economic resilience. The robust turnout and lively Q&A underscored our members' strong interest in economic policy and leadership, making the event a memorable and energizing gathering that advanced the Club's mission of fostering informed, civil dialogue on issues that matter most to our economy and communities.
On November 17, 2025, the Economic Club of Minnesota hosted a captivating fireside chat between Ecolab CEO Christophe Beck and Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari, drawing a packed house of business leaders, policymakers, and curious Minnesotans eager for a pulse on the state's—and the nation's—economic trajectory. As head of Ecolab, a St. Paul-based global giant in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions, Beck brought a practitioner's lens to the discussion, sharing how the company is viewing and engaging with AI to improve Ecolab's performance. Christophe also discussed the deep commitment Ecolab has in the state and in the local economy and well-being of Ecolab's neighbors. Just that morning, at a separate event, Christophe and the Ecolab Foundation announced a collaborative investment to increase safe, stable, and affordable housing. Christophe Beck believes in "growing the pie" rather than taking the existing pie and trying to share more. Beck is an inspirational and energetic force.
On October 9, 2025, Federal Reserve Governor Michael S. Barr took the stage at the Economic Club of Minnesota's luncheon, to discuss the U.S. economy amid rising inflation and policy challenges. In his speech, "The Economic Outlook and Monetary Policy," Barr highlighted how recent tariffs have driven inflation up, with the PCE index hitting 2.7% in August and core PCE nearing 3%. These pressures, he warned, could push inflation above 3% by year-end, complicating the Fed's 2% target. Barr gave a personal nod to his Minnesota roots by sharing that his grandmother's family ran a clothing store in Eveleth during the 1906 iron ore boom.
In a candid Q&A with Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, Barr addressed the Fed's delicate balancing act between curbing inflation and supporting a softening labor market. With unemployment creeping up and consumer spending showing a split between robust high-income households and struggling lower-wage workers, he urged caution on further rate cuts after September's 25-basis-point reduction. The looming threat of a government shutdown added to the uncertainty, though Barr noted its economic impact remains unclear. Governor Barr was especially engaged with the students in the audience and discussed his journey and important mentors he relied on to advance in his career.
The Economic Club of Minnesota (ECOM) wasted no time diving into the pressing economic conversations that shape our global landscape. On Thursday, September 25, 2025, the Club launched its 2025-2026 season with “Trade and Tariff Tales,” a timely forum that unraveled the complexities of international trade policies amid a backdrop of escalating U.S.-China tensions, supply chain disruptions, and the ever-present shadow of protectionism. The event drew a crowd of over 200 business leaders, policymakers, young professionals, and students, eager to dissect how tariffs aren’t just headlines but real forces rippling through Minnesota’s economy from manufacturing floors to farm fields.
Entrepreneur, Beth Benike, of Busy Baby, kicked off the luncheon event by telling the story of her journey as inventor and business owner, and how she is navigating the tariffs.
Drawing on ECOM’s storied legacy of non-partisan discourse, “Trade and Tariff Tales” featured a powerhouse lineup of panelists from valuable U.S. trading partners who blended storytelling with hard data. Sri Zaheer, Dean Emerita of the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota moderated the discussion with Consuls General Beth Richardson, Canada, Richard Hyde, U.K., and Alejandra Bologna, Mexico
On May 20, 2025, St. Louis Federal Reserve President Alberto Musalem delivered a compelling speech titled “Economic Conditions and Monetary Policy” at the Economic Club of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Addressing a diverse audience of business leaders, policymakers, and community members, Musalem shared his insights on the U.S. economic outlook and the implications for monetary policy. His visit included a moderated Q&A session, fostering engaging discussions on pressing economic issues.
Musalem highlighted the resilience of the U.S. economy, noting a strong labor market and supportive financial conditions despite recent tightening in some sectors. He cautioned that higher tariffs could exert inflationary pressure in the near term while potentially dampening economic activity. Emphasizing the Federal Reserve’s commitment to price stability, he suggested that the current modestly restrictive monetary policy remains appropriate, especially if trade tensions de-escalate, allowing inflation to align with the Fed’s 2% target. However, he warned that persistent inflation could necessitate prioritizing price stability over other goals if public expectations shift.
On April 10, 2025, the Economic Club of Minnesota hosted Professor Exequiel "Zeke" Hernandez from The Wharton School for a compelling discussion on the economic impact of immigration. Known for his extensive research on global networks and the movement of people, ideas, and businesses, Professor Hernandez provided valuable insights into how immigration influences economic prosperity.
For those interested in exploring Professor Hernandez's work further, his book, The Truth About Immigration, delves deeper into the topics discussed and offers a comprehensive look at how immigration shapes economic and social systems.
Sheletta Brundidge, an award-winning media personality, author, and autism advocate, is making waves in the conversation about neurodiversity in the workplace. Her recent podcast episode on autism workers is an eye-opener for businesses, parents, and individuals on the spectrum, highlighting the need for inclusion and support.
Championing Autism Awareness in the Workplace Brundidge, a mother of three autistic children, knows firsthand the challenges and triumphs that come with navigating a neurodiverse world. In her podcast, she explores the unique strengths that autistic employees bring to the workforce—sharp focus, attention to detail, and innovative problem-solving skills. However, she also sheds light on the barriers that often prevent them from thriving in traditional work environments.
Breaking Stereotypes and Building Opportunities One of the most powerful aspects of Brundidge’s podcast is its ability to challenge misconceptions. Too often, autistic individuals are overlooked for jobs due to outdated stereotypes. But as Brundidge points out, many companies, especially in tech, finance, and creative industries—are discovering the immense value of hiring neurodiverse employees.
A Call to Action for Employers Brundidge doesn’t just talk about problems—she offers solutions. She encourages businesses to rethink their hiring practices, offer training on neurodiversity, and how to foster an inclusive culture. The message is clear: when autistic workers are given the right support, they don’t just succeed, they excel.
Why You Should Listen Whether you're an employer looking to build a more inclusive team, an autistic individual seeking workplace advice, or an advocate for neurodiversity, this podcast is a must-listen. Brundidge’s candid, insightful discussion makes it clear that hiring autistic workers isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a smart business move.
The Economic Club of Minnesota celebrated the annual Bill Frenzel Champion of Free Trade Award event on March 12, 2025. Devry Boughner Vorwerk, chair of the award advisory committee, presented the award to the Honorable Kevin Brady, former congressman and former Chairman of the Joint Ways and Means Committee. Chairman Brady was chosen based on his dedication and consistent advocacy and leadership in advancing policies that promote free trade and economic growth.
The audience was fortunate to hear perspectives on trade agreements, tax, and tariffs during a fireside chat between Chairman Brady and the Honorable Erik Paulsen, former congressman from Minnesota. Some key quotes were, “America first does not mean America alone, and America needs to get back on the trade field.” Chairman Brady’s comments were very timely!
The Economic Club of Minnesota kicked off the second half of the 2024-2025 season on Wednesday, February 26th. The audience was treated to a riveting conversation between Brian Sikes, Chairman, President and CEO of Cargill and Sri Zaheer, Dean Emerita, Carlson School of Management.
Brian offered some wonderful advice to students and young professionals in attendance. “Do your job really, really, well, there are no shortcuts, there are no magic pills that you can take, treat people really, really well, and just say yes.” In addition to advice, Mr. Sikes discussed some topics that are top of mind, free trade and tariffs. Everyone in attendance was grateful to be present for this event!
On December 18, 2024, Major Garrett, Chief Political Correspondent, CBS News, returned to the stage at the Economic Club of Minnesota. Major provided the audience with an interesting historical perspective by comparing two non-consecutive seated Presidents, Grover Cleveland and Donald Trump.
While President Grover Cleveland’s term was during the Gilded Age, President Trump’s terms are both happening during the Digital Age. Both are animated by massive economic shocks and high expectations, both internally and externally. Major has vast experience and knowledge from covering 5 presidents in his career. He concluded his remarks, leaving the audience with this thought, “History tells us, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. One thing we know, the Gilded Age and the Digital Age have a lot to tell us about where we’re headed.”
The Honorable Tim Penny moderated Q & A with Major. Tim posed a few questions about Major’s books, the recent presidential election, the transition, and the change in candidates from Biden to Harris. Major addressed some poignant questions from the audience. It’s worth taking the time to listen to or watch the recording of this event!
On Thursday, November 21st, the Economic Club of Minnesota welcomed Maya MacGuineas, President of The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget in a discussion with Chris Farrell, Marketplace Senior Economics Contributor at American Public Media. The audience was treated to an insightful and entertaining discussion.
Maya talked about how the burning issues like Medicare and Social Security reforms are crucial to getting the fiscal house in order in the U.S. Maya’s assertion is that voters do not connect to the big issues on a visceral level, therefore, the can is getting kicked down the road. Chris Farrell and audience members alike asked wonderful questions. It’s worth watching or listening to the podcast version of this great conversation.
The healthcare ecosystem in Minnesota is a dynamic and complex network that influences the well-being of its residents and impacts the state’s economic landscape. As one of the most health-conscious states in the nation, Minnesota has long been a leader in healthcare innovation, access, and quality. On October 9, 2024, the Economic Club of Minnesota hosted a discussion centered on the Economic Ecosystem of Minnesota Healthcare. The discussion featured Andrea Walsh, President and CEO of HealthPartners and Dr. Rahul Koranne, President and CEO of Minnesota Hospital Association and was moderated by retired EVP UnitedHealth Group; Director & Secretary, Economic Club of Minnesota, Jeannine Rivet.
The conversation was informative and robust. Andrea Walsh emphasized the current state of healthcare versus actual wellness. Dr. Koranne talked about how community infrastructure is critical to being able to release patients from hospitals to either home or a care facility. Boarding patients in hospitals is not a sustainable model. Another discussion point was staffing. The nursing shortage that was exacerbated during and following the COVID pandemic has been eased slightly. Dr. Koranne explained that the shortage of Primary Care Physicians and Pediatricians is a challenge facing the state of Minnesota.
The Economic Club of Minnesota kicked off the 2025-2026 season on September 12, 2024, with a compelling discussion between Michael Sheldrick and Angelina Amérigo. Michael joined us as a stop on his worldwide book tour for his new book From Ideas to Impact.
Michael did a wonderful job explaining policy entrepreneurism and giving the audience some solid takeaways and a call to action.
No matter the industry or location of the respective companies in the room, Michael provided relevant information for each and every person to take back to their workplace or school. He held the attention of everyone in attendance, especially with his stories. We are all saying to ourselves, “We are not going away, we’ll give it a go…we are not going away, we’ll give it a go.”
The Economic Club of Minnesota concluded the 2023-2024 season on May 10th with a lively conversation between Austan Goolsbee, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Steve Liesman, Senior Economics Reporter for CNBC.
One of the focal points of the interview was the examination of various economic indicators and what they signify for the overall health of the economy. Goolsbee and Liesman dissected metrics such as GDP growth, employment figures, inflation rates, and consumer spending, providing nuanced interpretations of their implications.
The interview with Austan Goolsbee and Steve Liesman on CNBC provided a compelling glimpse into the multifaceted world of economic analysis and policymaking. Through their insightful commentary and probing questions, they illuminated key trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the global economy. The conversation also ventured into the realm of economic policy, with Goolsbee and Liesman offering insights into the efficacy of current policies and the challenges facing policymakers. They analyzed the impact of fiscal stimulus measures, monetary policy decisions, and regulatory changes on economic outcomes.
Everyone in the Economic Club of Minnesota audience felt so fortunate to hear Consul General, Alan Gogbashian’s perspectives on UK/US trade, the Great Lakes Shipping Corridor, leadership, and business on April 23rd. Consul Gogbashian spent time reviewing his past 4 years in his post at the British Consulate-General Chicago. His next post has not yet been revealed publicly. Tom Hauser, Senior Political Reporter for 5 Eyewitness news moderated an engaging discussion on BREXIT, trade, protectionism, and future opportunities such as Memorandum of Understanding in many business verticals, most especially Medical Alley.
Devry Boughner Vorwerk presented Senator Pat Toomey with the 2023 Bill Frenzel Champion of Free Trade award on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. The audience was treated to a lively conversation between former Senator Toomey and former Congressman Mark Kennedy. Toomey aptly explained how protectionism and nativism will ultimately undermine prosperity in the United States.
The award recognizes national and international leaders who have made significant contributions to the expansion of international trade. The award highlights the importance of free trade for global prosperity and security.
Pat Toomey was chosen due to his consistent advocacy and leadership in advancing policies that promote free trade and economic growth.
On February 12th, the Economic Club of Minnesota was fortunate to hear Ginni Rometty in conversation with Neel Kashkari. Ginni shared wisdom on life, career, leadership, and business. Neel and Ginni covered multiple topics, including workforce development, work from home, addressing conflict, and the subject of generative AI. The audience was fascinated. Her book, Good Power, is worth reading.
Hundreds of members, sponsors and guests of the Economic Club of Minnesota gathered Friday, December 15th to listen to a crucial discussion regarding U.S.- China Strategic Competition. Experts Zongyuan Zoe Liu and Sahra English were joined by former Congressman, Mark Kennedy to discuss the dynamic situation in China regarding the economy, supply chain changes, and trade. The audience was rapt with attention as the trio navigated this challenging yet important subject. We look forward to discussing a number of the topics in further detail in the future.
On Friday, November 3rd, the Economic Club of Minnesota welcomed Bill George and Neel Kashkari in conversation with CNN’s Poppy Harlow. Harlow moderated a discussion on Leadership in Uncertain Times with Bill and Neel. The large audience were treated to lessons and stories about leaders who have gone astray as well as how to maintain one’s “True North”, a nod to Bill’s book by the same name. Poppy also dug into why leaders become leaders and their decisions to get involved in social matters. There were some great audience questions and Poppy concluded the event with a few questions for Neel on the recent jobs report and asked his thoughts on the comments made by Stan Druckenmiller about the U.S. Treasury leader, Janet Yellen.
The Economic Club of Minnesota hosted industry experts on October 18th to discuss the balance between returning to in-person and remote work. The panel was moderated by Jeanne Crain, President & CEO, Bremer Financial Corporation. Steve Cramer, President & CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council, Doug Fulton, Principal at Avison Young, and Kelly Baker, CHRO at Thrivent, had a lively discussion about the current state of commercial real estate, how companies are managing back to the office mandates, and the mental health considerations of employees. The conversation touched on several factors regarding full-time return to the office and the future of work.
On September 22nd, the Economic Club of Minnesota kicked off the 2023-2024 season with a fireside chat between Corie Barry, CEO of Best Buy and Neel Kashkari, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Over 200 audience members got an inside glimpse of various topics; from how Best Buy handled the pandemic to the economy, to Corie’s path to leadership. A large percentage of the audience were college students. Corie’s message was inspiring for all levels of leaders and students alike.
Minnesota’s Future Economy: a Post Legislative Session discussion On Wednesday, June 21st, the Economic Club of Minnesota convened a panel of legislative leaders in a discussion moderated by Blois Olson. Representative Lisa DeMuth, Representative Aisha Gomez, Senator Eric Pratt, and Senator Nick Frentz began the conversation by each giving a letter grade to the economy of Minnesota. The results were wide-ranging. Blois posed several questions of his own and weaved in audience questions. Topics included the budget surplus that was present and the beginning of the session, and how it was spent by lawmakers. Each weighed in on the potential effects of new taxes, the restrictions on charitable giving, and school funding. Blois questioned the panel on the effort to grow the population of Minnesota while retaining jobs.
In our final event of the season, a capacity audience was treated to a wonderful fireside chat between Jim Bullard, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and Neel Kashkari, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. The discussion centered around labor, recent bank failures, digital currency and the viability of the US dollar. President Bullard said, “Rumors of the great demise of the economy are overexaggerated.” The audience asked some poignant questions regarding the Chinese and the relationship to the world’s reserve currency, the fitness of commercial real estate, and AI.
On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, International Women’s Day, The Economic Club of Minnesota honored the 2022 Bill Frenzel Champion of Free Trade award winner, Arancha González Laya. Devry Boughner Vorwerk, chair of the selection committee presented the award before a capacity audience. Minister González Laya accepted the award and made remarks centering around how free and open trade is the basis for economic prosperity.
Ms. Boughner Vorwerk and Minister González Laya had a fireside chat discussing the current landscape of the World Trade Organization, how protectionist measures can cause a fracturing of international trade. Minister González Laya would like to see all players at the table; the EU, China, the US, and other members of WTO to set out a framework for fair trade and to support climate policies to reduce carbon emissions.
Ambassador Marc Nathanson, U.S. Ambassador to Norway, made a stop at the Economic Club of Minnesota during his recent visit to Minnesota. Ambassador Nathanson spoke to a full house during a luncheon on February 3rd. Senator Amy Klobuchar was in attendance and was honored to introduce the Ambassador. He discussed the strong ties between Norway and Minnesota, including his own family. Minnesota is home to the highest number of Norwegians, second only to Norway.
The purpose of Ambassador’s visit to Minnesota was to celebrate the collaboration between the National Guard and the Norwegian military. The audience had some wonderful questions for the Ambassador, including an inquiry about the Seed Vault, the transition to the Green Economy, and Norway’s economy.
The Economic Club of Minnesota was honored to host Hiroyuki Nemoto, Chief Executive Director, Japan External Trade Organization Chicago, and Ralph Inforzato, Special Advisor, Japan External Trade Organization Chicago, to discuss the Current Business Conditions and Impact of U.S. Based Japanese Investment. Hundreds of attendees were surprised by the data the duo shared on Japanese investment in the U.S. and specifically, in the Midwest. Ralph also talked about Expo 2025, enticing audience members to attend this exciting event in Osaka.
On December 8, 2022, Major Garrett addressed a large group of sponsors, members, and invited guests at the Economic Club of Minnesota. Major talked about the recent release of Brittany Griner, the mid-term election, and some topics he covers in his new book, The Big Truth. Garrett has an esteemed career and has a way of boiling down the facts so no matter your political leaning, you understand what he’s saying. The audience had a chance to participate in Q&A, moderated by Tim Penny. Major is a well-respected journalist and author, and we look forward to hosting him again!
A large audience had the pleasure of hearing from national experts on energy on November 18th. Emma Bishop of Venn Strategies, Jim Bowyer a former professor and researcher at the University of Minnesota, and Brittany Zwierzchowski Tisler of Conservative Energy Network had a lively discussion led by Blois Olson of Fluence Media. The panel helped the audience think about energy issues and the future of energy in some new and interesting ways. We stretched our perspective on how to replace current modes of energy and how to safely and economically move in the direction of clean energy.
October 27, 2022, we hosted a panel of global experts about food insecurity and the Global Food Crisis. Hundreds of sponsors, members, and guests joined us in person while dozens joined the livestream as moderator Devry Boughner Vorwerk led a discussion with Peter Ceretti of Eurasia Group, Ambassador Ertharin Cousin, and former Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman. The audience learned where things stand today with global, national, and local food insecurity. The panelists talked about how humanitarian efforts are funded and how the investment in global hunger is growing. The discussion helped to inform how companies, not just food companies, can address hunger issues. Ambassador Cousin made a very important statement, “There has never been a famine in a country where there was a functioning democracy.” Devry also introduced HUNGHRI, a 501c3 formed to address hunger from the heartland.
October 27, 2022, we hosted a panel of global experts about food insecurity and the Global Food Crisis. Hundreds of sponsors, members, and guests joined us in person while dozens joined the livestream as moderator Devry Boughner Vorwerk led a discussion with Peter Ceretti of Eurasia Group, Ambassador Ertharin Cousin, and former Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman. The audience learned where things stand today with global, national, and local food insecurity. The panelists talked about how humanitarian efforts are funded and how the investment in global hunger is growing. The discussion helped to inform how companies, not just food companies, can address hunger issues. Ambassador Cousin made a very important statement, “There has never been a famine in a country where there was a functioning democracy.” Devry also introduced HUNGHRI, a 501c3 formed to address hunger from the heartland.
Hundreds of sponsors, members, and guests joined us on May 10th as we welcomed Dr. Chris Waller, Governor, Board of Governors for the Federal Reserve and Neel Kashkari, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Governor Waller and President Kashkari had a fireside chat regarding the structure of the Federal Reserve, inflation, and monetary policy. The audience was engaged and asked some wonderful questions about employment numbers, real estate investing, and regulation.
Governor Waller and President Kashkari were a perfect highlight to end our 2021-2022 season!
On Thursday, April 14th The Economic Club of Minnesota hosted James Cleverly, Minister of State (Minister for Europe and North America) in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The Minister covered crucial topics surrounding the valuable partnership between and coordinated sanctions by both the UK and US to cut off Putin’s war machine. Support of Ukraine is not only a support for a war-torn entity, but also a support of democracy. We will all feel the economic pinch of sanctions, but they are so necessary. The address and subsequent Q&A, moderated by 5-Eyewitness News Chief Political Correspondent, Tom Hauser also touched on the incredibly valuable trading partnership between the UK and the US, specifically with the state of Minnesota.
On Tuesday, March 8th, the Economic Club of Minnesota had the distinct honor of awarding The Bill Frenzel Champion of Free Trade award to Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., former Ambassador to China and Russia. Devry Boughner Vorwerk, Chair of the COFTA selection committee presented the award. In her remarks, she focused not only on the incredible list of accomplishments but on Jon Huntsman’s work for people of all nations. He truly is a champion. Following Huntsman’s remarks, Erik Paulsen moderated a discussion that included trade and focused on recent events in Russia, specifically whether Putin has an ‘off ramp’ and how will the Russian invasion of Ukraine affect global trade and global security. He was clear in his message that no other nation in the world can do what the United States of America can do. It’s imperative we work together. A united America is one weapon dictators fear most.
A conversation with experts thriving in rural America.
Moderated by Kerri Miller, Journalist, Minnesota Public Radio
Featuring:
- Kelly Asche,Research Associate, Center for Rural Policy and Development
- Benya Kraus, Founder & Executive Director, Lead for Minnesota
- Teresa Kittridge,Founder, 100 Rural Women
Our Executive Director, Kate Reschenberg sat down with Dr. Paul Campbell, co-founder and managing partner of Brown Venture Group. Paul was a panelist during the Walking the Talk of Diversity Investment event in September 2021.
In this podcast, Kate and Paul dig deeper into Paul’s story and how communities of color can be players in the venture capital world. They talked about minimizing the use of labels and starting specifically with beginning with and broadening relationships.
On November 16th, we welcomed Amanda Brinkman, Chief Brand Officer for Deluxe Corporation, Renay Dossman, President, Neighborhood Development Center, Tameka Jones, Founder & CEO, Lip Esteem, and Kenya McKnight Ahad, Founder, Black Women’s Wealth Alliance, to the stage for a candid discussion about the hurdles and roadblocks that black and brown-skinned entrepreneurs face in their quest to build a business.
The stories from Small Business Revolution Season 6 and the stories shared by the panel were both a wake-up call and inspiring for the audience. The common theme was to begin with relationships. If you want to make a difference for diverse businesses, patronize them. Utilize your gifts and experience to help elevate businesses. Teach, train, engage.
The Economic Club of Minnesota hosted Ville Skinnari on October 20, 2021. The Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Finland addressed the club prior to signing a Letter of Understanding with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz paving the way for more trade between Finland and Minnesota. Skinnari covered crucial topics such as Finland’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2035, how Minnesota is a close trade partner for Finland, and how public private partnerships are crucial to getting things accomplished.
Faith, family, and education. These three words are at the foundation of TakeCharge Minnesota, an organization founded by Kendall Qualls. We sat down with Kendall to talk about how he and his team, volunteers, and supporters are beginning to make change in our society.
Kendall shares a glimpse into his journey to leading TakeCharge. He’s a husband to Sheila and father to 5 children. Kendall has an extensive resume. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army, has earned 3 graduate degrees, and has worked in the executive ranks of several Fortune 500 healthcare companies.
Our season opener was a wonderful opportunity to hear from an amazing panel of experts and activators. Mark Irvin from Best Buy, Sri Zaheer, Dean of the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota, and Paul Campbell of Brown Venture Group discussed the challenges facing minority communities but also the opportunities that exist if we start with relationships. Moderated by: Roshini Rajkumar, Executive Crisis Coach, Roshini Multi-Media.
On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, we concluded our season by hosting Mary Daly, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in a fireside chat with Neel Kashkari, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. The two colleagues discussed everything from monetary policy, to inflation, to childcare, and education. The several hundred virtual attendees were delighted with the rapport and synergy that Daly and Kashkari brought to the conversation. A high point was the time they took to answer audience questions.
It was our honor to host Ambassador Jon M. Huntsman Jr., former Governor of Utah and former U.S. Ambassador to China and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia. The ambassador addressed the Club from his location in Utah. Hundreds of sponsors, members, and guests joined us virtually.
The event started with a tribute to Walter Mondale both from former Congressman Tim Penny and Ambassador Huntsman. The audience was rapt with attention while Ambassador Huntsman provided a historical and current day perspective of diplomacy and trade.
Hundreds of sponsors, members, and guests joined us virtually on March 24th to welcome Amanda Brinkman Chief Brand Officer of Deluxe and is creator, producer, and host of their hit series “Small Business Revolution.” Amanda addressed business and government leaders, as well as students and representatives from partner schools.
Her remarks included a historical perspective of Deluxe corporation and great overview of the journey of a now 106-year-old company. Amanda shared how the 100-year anniversary presented Deluxe and Amanda, along with her staff, the opportunity to Do Well by Doing Good. Thus, was launched the movement of Small Business Revolution.
Back by popular demand, Colonel Robert Cabana, Director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center joined us to talk about Perseverance and perseverance. We discussed how the Perseverance Mars Mission has progressed and the perseverance he exhibited during his career journey.
He also filled us in on all of the current and future goals of NASA and their strategic commercial, government, and academic partners.
In partnership with the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, we hosted a panel discussion featuring Craig Samitt, President & CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Angela Christman, Sr. Director, HR Strategy, Marvin, and Darin Lynch, Founder & CEO of Irish Titan.
Several hundred audience members viewed the online event. The panel covered a lot of ground, with the common theme being putting people first as plans are put in place for the post-pandemic workplace.
Neel Kashkari, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, spent time with our YPC members in a virtual fireside chat on Thursday, February 25th. Neel shared some brief remarks, followed by an engaging Q&A session with attendees. It was a great interactive event!
On December 17, 2020, the Economic Club of Minnesota partnered with Major Garrett, CBS News' Chief Washington Correspondent and host of "The Takeout," a weekly multi-platform interview show on politics, policy and pop culture available on CBSN, top radio stations across the country, and all podcast platforms. Garrett moderated a post-election discussion with Senator Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Tom Emmer. The conversation was lively and kept our several hundred attendees engaged!
A presentation of the U.S. Mexico Foundation Convocation and panel discussion with:
- Ambassador Gerónimo Gutiérrez Fernandez
- Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan Casamitjana
- Ambassador James R. Jones
- Moderated by Erik Paulsen
Learn tips and tricks on how to build a network on and off screen with Cathy Paper, from our recent Young Professional Club Event. Cathy is the founder of RockPaperStar, a boutique consulting firm that specializes in coaching, marketing and promotion for individuals, business owners or executives by offering creative ideas to improve process and performance.
It was our honor to host Antony Phillipson, Her Majesty’s Trade Minister for North America on October 5, 2020. Mr. Phillipson addressed the club from his location in New York City. Hundreds of sponsors, members, and guests joined us virtually. Mr. Phillipson talked about how we address the overarching crisis we are experiencing due to COVID-19, but also how each of our governments have responded to help recover from the economic crunch.
We heard about how the UK is planning to build back better by shoring up supply chain. A highlight was the audience Q&A. Tim Penny, Economic Club Founder and Vice Chair moderated. Mr. Phillipson addressed questions surrounding Free Trade Agreement, climate, and BREXIT, as well as the close ties the UK has with businesses in the state of Minnesota.
Join our discussion on the evolution of work and business. What have we learned so far? What industries will thrive? How does work change?
Moderated by Chris Farrell, Senior Economics Contributor, Marketplace, American Public Media
Featuring:
- Dr. Richard Migliori, EVP & Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealth Group
- Christy Sovereign, Senior Managing Director, Accenture
- Jack Uldrich, Global Futurist, The School of Unlearning
Colonel Robert Cabana, Director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, joined us to provide an update on space exploration and talk about what’s on the horizon for NASA and their commercial partners. He shared how the current COVID-19 pandemic is affecting how they work and the common motivation for every organization involved in space to continue moving forward. It’s an exciting time to be part of NASA!
In our most recent podcast, we welcomed Anne Sample, CEO of Navigate Forward, a Minneapolis-based consultancy guiding senior leaders to their next opportunity.
Navigate Forward provides highly customized support to executives across the globe who are currently in career transition, planning change in the future, or seeking board service.
In this interview, Kate Reschenberg and Anne Sample discuss the current state. Anne offers great insight to job transition and tips to networking and her take on the impact COVID-19 is having on the marketplace for executives.
Erik is the founder of Think GREAT and draws from his experiences as a U.S. Marine, executive business leader, sales professional, and entrepreneur to help organizations achieve new levels of success. He uniquely combines leadership development, team building, sales training, and goal-setting into strategies and techniques that empower team members and leaders to exceed expectations.
Erik has inspired audiences at companies such as US Bank, Sam’s Club, Shutterfly, RE/MAX, Hubbard Broadcasting, Thomson Reuters, U.S. Foods, armed services commands ranging from the Air National Guard to the U.S. Marine Corps, charities like The American Cancer Society, law enforcement and government agencies, and organizations in the health care and education industries.
Think GREAT is a Certified Veteran-Owned Business and Erik is also author of The Think GREAT Collection. Erik shares the successful, proven concepts in his six books to give individuals and organizations the competitive edge needed for achieving new levels of success.
Moderated by Margaret Brennan, Moderator of CBS News; "Face the Nation"
Neel Kashkari took office as president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis on January 1, 2016, following a national search conducted by the Bank’s independent board of directors.
In this role, he serves on the Federal Open Market Committee, bringing the Ninth District’s perspective to monetary policy discussions in Washington, D.C. In addition to his responsibilities as a monetary policymaker, Kashkari oversees all operations of the bank, including supervision and regulation, treasury services and payments services. He has also been instrumental in establishing the Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute to promote greater economic equity.
Committed to increasing transparency at the Fed, Kashkari has published in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post , Financial Times, and is active on Twitter and Instagram. He also serves on the board of the Economic Club of Minnesota and as a member of the Aspen Economic Strategy Group.
Dr. Michael Osterholm is Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, a professor in the Technological Leadership Institute, College of Science and Engineering, and an adjunct professor in the Medical School, all at the University of Minnesota. From June 2018 through May 2019, he served as a Science Envoy for Health Security on behalf of the US Department of State. He is also on the Board of Regents at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
He is the author of the 2017 book, Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs, in which he not only details the most pressing infectious disease threats of our day but lays out a nine-point strategy on how to address them, with preventing a global flu pandemic at the top of the list.
On April 10, 2020, Kate Kelly, Regional President of PNC Bank, talked with Mark Wright, Sr. Vice President and Director of Research for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Their conversation centered around the history, structure and role of the Federal Reserve, and the important role the Fed has played in these times of crisis and need for liquidity. It’s a very timely discussion during the COVID-19 challenges.
Mark L. J. Wright is senior vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. In this role, he oversees key research efforts at the Minneapolis Fed and advises the Bank’s president on monetary policy and related matters. Prior to coming to Minneapolis, Wright was a senior economist and research advisor in the Economic Research Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
Wright has been an associate professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an assistant professor at Stanford University. He has been an economist and advisor to the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Federal Reserve Banks of San Francisco and Minneapolis, as well as an instructor at the IMF Institute.
Wright received a B.A. in economics from the University of Sydney, Australia, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago. His research examines the macroeconomics of developing countries, with a specific focus on their tendency to be prone to international financial crises. Much of his recent work has been devoted to sovereign default and the process by which sovereign debts are restructured.
Bob Tipton is a high-energy, innovative, and insightful transformational change architect, leadership facilitator, keynote speaker, and author who is passionate about helping individuals, groups and entire organizations reach for and achieve exceptional results.
In his career to this point, he has been CEO / Principal Change Architect for R S Tipton, PBC (Team Tipton), CEO of an IT-related professional services firm, CIO of a $1B+ distribution company, VP / managing director for the integrated marketing group for a major online agency, VP of corporate capabilities and communications for a significant professional services firm, SVP of a major technology, strategy and creative company, Global vice president of industry technology for a major technology consulting firm, and CTO of a significant IT consulting company.
Additionally, he’s an active writer and author. He has written three books, What’s Right, not Who’s Right – A Simple Shift to End the World’s Madness, JUMP! – Get Unstuck, Extraordinary Life Breakthroughs Using Innovative Change, Untangling IT: 25 Years of Lessons in Effective IT Leadership, he has written more than 300 articles for various business and IT-related publications, he wrote a book related to database implementations, he wrote a chapter for IBM’s book The Business Case for e-Business, he has written more than 20 white papers related to organizational effectiveness issues (more than 500,000 copies distributed worldwide), and he has received numerous awards for his writing (including the Award of Achievement and Award of Merit) from the Society for Technical Communications.
Kevin Hassett is currently Vice President and Managing Director of the Lindsey Group, a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution and a CNN Economics Commentator. In June 2019, he left the White House where he served as the 29th Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers.
Kevin previously served as research director at the American Enterprise Institute, as a senior economist at the Federal Reserve, and as a faculty member at Columbia University. Hassett was a senior adviser on Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign, and prior to that served as John McCain’s chief economic adviser in the 2000 presidential primaries and an economic adviser to the campaigns of George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election and McCain in the presidential election of 2008.
Beth Ford serves as President and CEO of Land O’Lakes, Inc., a Fortune 200 food production and agribusiness company that is also a nearly 100-year-old farmer-owned cooperative. Beth’s 33-year career spans six industries at seven companies. Since joining Land O’Lakes in 2011, she has held a variety of roles leading the farmer-to-fork business offerings. Today, she is a passionate advocate on behalf of farmers and rural America with the goal of connecting people, particularly in urban areas, to the farmers and rural communities who grow their food.
A native of Sioux City, Iowa, Beth holds a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University and a master’s degree in business from Columbia University Business School. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the Fortune 150 company PACCAR, Inc., and numerous other industry, non-profit and university boards.
Beth has recently been recognized byFortune as one of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders and Most Powerful Women, was named to Fast Company’s Most Productive People and Best Leaders lists, and was named one of Time magazine’s “Firsts,” among other honors.
As commissioner of the state’s principal workforce and economic development agency, Commissioner Grove brings a wealth of private sector and civic experience to the Department of Employment and Economic Development. Originally from Northfield, Minnesota, Commissioner Grove is focused on growing the state’s workforce, closing the opportunity gap and providing businesses with the help they need to grow, stay and thrive.
Commissioner Grove was previously an executive at Google for 12 years, most recently serving as the founding director of Google’s News Lab, a global division of the company that partners with media companies and startups to drive innovation in the news industry. He has built teams in over a dozen countries and launched partnerships in over 50 countries, including a global technology training effort that trained over 500,000 people every year. Grove also led Google’s civic engagement work, including the company’s non-partisan voter information and get-out-the-vote outreach efforts. He previously led YouTube’s first news and politics team, building a global partnership effort for political candidates, news organizations, nonprofits, and citizen journalists. The divisions of Google that Grove led during his career addressed a wide range of public challenges with new solutions: from fighting online disinformation campaigns, to growing social media citizen engagement with world leaders, to a developing a broad range of voter turnout initiatives.
Grove wrote for The Boston Globe and ABC News prior to joining Google. He has served as an advisor to the White House and State Department on counter-terrorism strategy, and serves on the advisory boards of Witness, a video human rights nonprofit, and Report for America, a nationwide service organization to improve local news.
Commissioner Grove holds a master’s in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a B.A. in philosophy, politics, and economics from Claremont McKenna College. He is an International Security Fellow at the New America Foundation, and co-founded a nonprofit with his wife Mary called Silicon North Stars, which helps youth from underserved communities in Minnesota pursue careers in technology. In 2018, the Groves moved from Silicon Valley to Minneapolis, Minnesota with their two-year-old twins.
Moderated by Chris Farrell, Senior Economics Contributor, Marketplace, American Public Media
Discussion Trade Panel:
Devry Boughner Vorwerk, CEO, DevryBV Sustainable Strategies
Tami Overby, Senior Director, McLarty Associates
Kevin Paap, President, Minnesota Farm Bureau
Kenneth Smith Ramos, Mexico’s Former Chief Negotiator for NAFTA; Partner at AGON
Robert D. Cabana is a former NASA astronaut, currently serving as director of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In his current role, Cabana manages all NASA facilities and activities at the spaceport, including the team of civil service and contractor employees who operate and support numerous space programs and projects. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Cabana graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and completed Naval Flight Officer training in Pensacola in 1972. Cabana then served as an A-6 bombardier/navigator with Marine Air Wings in Cherry Point, North Carolina, and Iwakuni, Japan.
Returning to Pensacola in 1975, Cabana began pilot training and was designated a naval aviator in September of 1976, earning the Daughters of the American Revolution award as the top Marine to complete flight training that year. He graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1981 and served in the Flight Systems Branch at the Naval Air Test Center until 1984. During his career, Cabana has logged over 7,000 hours in 50 different kinds of aircraft. Cabana was selected as an astronaut candidate in June 1985 and completed his initial astronaut training in July 1986. He was assigned to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Astronaut Office, serving in a number of leadership positions, including lead astronaut in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory; Mission Control Spacecraft Communicator, famously known as CAPCOM; and chief of NASA's Astronaut Office.
A veteran of four spaceflights, Cabana has logged 38 days in space, serving as the pilot on STS-41 and STS-53 and mission commander on STS-65 and STS-88. His fourth flight was the first assembly mission of the International Space Station in December of 1998. Following his retirement as a colonel from the Marine Corps in September 2000, Cabana was appointed a member of the Federal Senior Executive Service. He served in numerous, challenging senior management positions at Johnson Space Center in Houston, ultimately becoming deputy director. In October 2007, Cabana was appointed director of NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. A year later he was reassigned as the tenth director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center.
Cabana's many achievements have been recognized with induction into the Astronaut Hall of Fame and being named an Associate Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He has received numerous personal awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award, and the National Space Club Florida Committee's Dr. Kurt H. Debus Award. He also is a recipient of the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement’s National Space Trophy.
Kate Kelly, Regional President of PNC Bank, talks with Mike Murphy, Chief of Staff & Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, shortly after he addressed the Economic Club of Minnesota’s Young Professional Club about "Trillion-dollar deficits: How the federal budget symbolizes a broken political system."
Highlights: Keynote Address by Doug Baker Chairman & CEO, Ecolab.
Expert panel discussion following Keynote Address:
Dr. Bonnie Keeler, Assistant Professor, Center for Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of MN Hara-Prasad "HP" Nanda, Global Vice President & General Manager - Water Solutions, DowDuPont Jennifer Sara, Global Director, Water Global Practice, World Bank Group Panel Moderator: Kerri Miller, Host, MPR News
As CEO and president of the Kansas City Fed, George leads a workforce of more than 1,900 employees located at the Bank’s Kansas City office and Branch offices in Denver, Oklahoma City and Omaha. The Kansas City Fed oversees seven states: western Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming and northern New Mexico. Throughout this region, the Kansas City Fed plays a role in national monetary policy, supervises financial institutions and provides payment and financial services to depository institutions and the U.S. Treasury.
George joined the Fed in 1982 and served much of her career in the Division of Supervision and Risk Management. She began by becoming a commissioned bank examiner and eventually served for ten years as the District’s chief regulator. She was directly involved in the Tenth District’s banking supervision and discount window lending activities during the banking crisis of the 1980s and post-9/11.
During the financial crisis, George served as the acting director of the Federal Reserve's Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C. She currently serves as the executive sponsor of the Federal Reserve System’s efforts to improve the U.S. payments system.
George hosts the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium. In 2019, she will be a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee, which is responsible for setting U.S. monetary policy.
Ron Dermer was born and raised in Miami Beach, Florida. He earned a degree in Finance and Management from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from Oxford University. For three years, he was a columnist for the Jerusalem Post.
In 2004, Ron co-authored with Natan Sharansky the best-selling book, The Case For Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror, which has been translated into ten languages. From 2005-2008, Ron served as Israel's Minister of Economic Affairs in the United States. From 2009-2013, he served as Senior Advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He became Israel’s 18th Ambassador to the United States on September 30th, 2013.
He is married to Rhoda and has five children.
CEO, UnitedHealthcare Office of the Chief Executive, UnitedHealth Group Steve Nelson is the chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare, a $180 billion division of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) – No. 5 on the Fortune 500 list. UnitedHealthcare serves one in eight Americans, making it the single largest business dedicated to health and well-being in the United States. Previously Steve served as chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare & Retirement business, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to seniors and Medicare beneficiaries. Other past roles include leading UnitedHealthcare’s Community & State business, an organization that delivers Medicaid solutions in 30 states and the District of Columbia, serving 6.7 million beneficiaries, and leading the West Region of UnitedHealthcare’s Employer & Individual business. Before coming to UnitedHealthcare, Steve was president of the Eastern Region and Senior Products Division at HealthNet (NYSE: HNT) and served for 10 years in executive roles at the Henry Ford Health System.
For 30 years Major Garrett has reported from the front lines of the nation’s pressing issues, doggedly chasing and breaking news stories. He began his illustrious journalism career as a police and general assignment reporter and has since covered Congress for two major magazines and served as White House correspondent for three television networks. He is the Chief Washington Correspondent for CBS News, and was the network’s chief political reporter covering the 2016 Republican race for the White House. He traveled the country extensively beginning in the summer of 2015, and covered every GOP debate and significant campaign event for CBS. Major also hosts the CBS News podcast “The Takeout” and serves as Correspondent at Large for National Journal. He has been called “one of the smartest people in the briefing room” by Former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and “a tireless reporter and tremendous addition” to Washington bureaus by CBS News President David Rhodes.
A truly non-partisan reporter, Major is available to speak and moderate panels on the state of politics today, the inner workings of Congress, and the role of the media. His humorous, direct, and dynamic speeches call upon personal anecdotes from his time on the Hill, well-built relationships with top political players, as well as tales from the presidential campaigns he’s crisscrossed the country covering. He breaks down complex hot-button policy issues and is universally recognized as balanced, having worked for the White House teams of both CNN and Fox News.
Known for asking tough questions of all political actors regardless of party lines, Major’s extensive and award-winning print and television work is well-known and has drawn the public wrath of Presidents Obama and Trump among others. He has worked with outlets including U.S. News and World Report, The Washington Times, The Weekly Standard, and Mother Jones.
Major has written three books. His third, Enduring Revolution, was hailed as one of the best non-fiction political books of all time. Major regularly appears on CBS, ABC, MSNBC, CNN, and NPR to discuss his campaign reporting, the White House, and Congress.
Recipient of the 2018 Bill Frenzel Champion of Free Trade Award
Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce 2005-2009
Carlos Gutierrez is Chair of Albright Stonebridge Group. Secretary Gutierrez served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 2005 to 2009 under President George W. Bush, where he worked with foreign government and business leaders to advance economic relationships, enhance trade, and promote U.S. exports. Secretary Gutierrez also played a key role in the passage of landmark free trade agreements that remove trade barriers, expand export opportunities, and boost global investment.
Previously, Secretary Gutierrez spent nearly thirty years with Kellogg Company, a global manufacturer and marketer of well-known food brands. After assignments in Latin America, Canada, Asia, and the United States, he became President and Chief Executive Officer of Kellogg in 1999 − the youngest CEO in the company's hundred year history. In April 2000, he was named Chairman of the Board of Kellogg Company.
Secretary Gutierrez joined ASG from Citi, where he was Vice Chairman of the Institutional Clients Group and a member of the Senior Strategic Advisory Group.
He currently serves as the Chair of the National Foreign Trade Council and of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Cuba Business Council and is on the boards of the Chamber's U.S.-India Business Council and the Boao Forum for Asia.
He is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Meridian International Center and serves on the boards of Occidental Petroleum Corporation, MetLife, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Time Warner, Viridis Learning, the George W. Bush Institute’s Human Freedom Advisory Council, and Republicans for Immigration Reform.
Secretary Gutierrez was born in Havana, Cuba. He is married to Edilia and has three grown children.
He is based in Washington, DC.
Recorded in Minneapolis on November 27, 2018
DAVID BIRCH Advisor on Fintech and Digital Financial Services Author, Before Babylon, Beyond Bitcoin: From Money We Understand to Money that Understands Us David G.W Birch is an author, advisor and commentator on digital financial services. He is Global Ambassador for Consult Hyperion (the secure electronic transactions consultancy that he helped to found), Technology Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation (the London-based think tank), a Visiting Professor at the University of Surrey Business School and holds a number of board-level advisory roles. Before helping to found Consult Hyperion in 1986, he spent several years working as a consultant in Europe, the Far East and North America. He graduated from the University of Southampton with a B.Sc (Hons.) in Physics.
Dave was named one of the global top 15 favorite sources of business information (Wired magazine) and one of the top ten most influential voices in banking (Financial Brand); created one of the top 25 “must read’ financial IT blogs; was found to be one of the top ten Twitter accounts followed by innovators, along with Bill Gates and Richard Branson (PR Daily); was ranked in the top three most influential people in London’s FinTech community (City A.M.), was voted one of the European “Top 40” people in digital financial services (Financial News), was listed of the world’s top 100 most influential FinTech leaders (Hot Topics) and rated Europe’s most influential commentator on emerging payments (Total Payments).
Described at the Oxford Internet Institute as “one of Britain’s most acute observers of the internet and social networks”, in The Telegraph as “one of the world’s leading experts on digital money”, in The Independent as a "grade-A geek", by the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation as "one of the most user-friendly of the UK's uber-techies" and in Financial World as "mad", he has lectured to MBA level on the impact of new information and communications technologies. A member of the editorial board for Payments & Fintech Lawyer, he has contributed to publications ranging from the Parliamentary IT Review to The Financial Times and wrote a column in The Guardian for many years. A media commentator on electronic business issues, he has appeared on BBC television and radio, Sky and other channels around the world.
His most recent book, Before Babylon, Beyond Bitcoin: From Money We Understand to Money that Understands Us, was published in 2017 with a foreword by Andrew Haldane, Chief Economist at the Bank of England. In the London School of Economics (LSE) Review of Books it was described as a timely and illuminating contribution which should be widely read by graduate students of finance, financial law and related topics, as well as policymakers involved in financial regulation.
J. Christopher “Chris” Giancarlo was unanimously confirmed as Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission by the U.S. Senate on August 3, 2017. Prior to becoming Chairman, Mr. Giancarlo was designated Acting Chairman on January 20, 2017, and was nominated by President Trump to serve as the Chairman on March 14, 2017, to a term that expires in April 2019. Mr. Giancarlo had served as a CFTC Commissioner since his swearing-in on June 16, 2014, after a unanimous consent by the U.S. Senate on June 3, 2014. He was nominated by President Obama on August 1, 2013.
Before entering public service, Mr. Giancarlo served as the Executive Vice President of GFI Group Inc., a financial services firm. Prior to joining GFI, Mr. Giancarlo was Executive Vice President and U.S. Legal Counsel of Fenics Software and was a corporate partner in the New York law firm of Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner. Mr. Giancarlo joined Brown Raysman from Giancarlo & Gleiberman, a law practice founded by Mr. Giancarlo in 1992 following his return from several years in London with the international law firm of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle.
Mr. Giancarlo was also a founding Co-Editor-in-Chief of eSecurities, Trading and Regulation on the Internet (Leader Publications). In addition, Mr. Giancarlo has testified three times before Congress regarding the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act, and has written and spoken extensively on public policy, legal and other matters involving technology and the financial markets.
Mr. Giancarlo was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with Government Department Honors. Mr. Giancarlo received his law degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Law where he was an associate research editor at the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law and President of the Law School’s International Law Society. Mr. Giancarlo has been a member of the Bar of the State of New York since 1985. Recorded October 2, 2018, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Food Security Summit
September 7, 2018
Keynote Address by David Beasley
Executive Director, World Food Programme
Panel discussion with David Beasley and Minnesota Food/Ag Leaders:
• Joe Stone, Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer, Cargill
• Jeff Harmening, Chairman & CEO of General Mills
• Beth Ford, President & CEO of Land O’Lakes
Panel Moderator: Dr. Beth Dunford, Assistant to the Administrator, USAID; Deputy Coordinator for Development, Feed the Future
John C. Williams took office as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco on March 1, 2011. In this role, he serves on the Federal Open Market Committee, bringing the Fed’s Twelfth District’s perspective to monetary policy discussions in Washington.
Dr. Williams was previously the executive vice president and director of research for the San Francisco bank, which he joined in 2002. He began his career in 1994 as an economist at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, following the completion of his PhD in economics at Stanford University. Prior to that, he earned a master’s of science from the London School of Economics, and an A.B. from the University of California at Berkeley.
Dr. Williams’ research focuses on topics including: monetary policy under uncertainty; innovation; and business cycles. Additionally, he served as senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers and as a lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
Dr. Williams, 55, is a native of Sacramento, California. He is married with two sons and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pulitzer Prize-winning Author Foreign Affairs columnist for The New York Times Thomas L. Friedman is an internationally renowned author, reporter, and, columnist—the recipient of three Pulitzer Prizes and the author of six bestselling books, among them From Beirut to Jerusalem and The World Is Flat. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up in St. Louis Park. His most recent book is Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Acceleration.
Friedman attended the University of Minnesota and Brandeis University, and graduated summa cum laude in 1975 with a degree in Mediterranean studies. During his undergraduate years, he spent semesters abroad at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the American University in Cairo. Following his graduation from Brandeis, Friedman attended St. Antony’s College, Oxford University, on a Marshall Scholarship. In 1978, he received an M.Phil. degree in modern Middle East studies from Oxford. That summer he joined the London Bureau of United Press International (UPI) on Fleet Street, where he worked as a general assignment reporter.
Friedman has won three Pulitzer Prizes: the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting (from Lebanon), the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting (from Israel), and the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary. In 2004, he was also awarded the Overseas Press Club Award for lifetime achievement and the honorary title Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. In 2009, he was given the National Press Club’s lifetime achievement award.
Friedman was a member of both the Brandeis University Board of Trustees and the Pulitzer Prize Board, but has since retired from both. He was a visiting lecturer at Harvard University in 2000 and 2005. He has been awarded honorary degrees by Brandeis University, Macalester College, Haverford College, the University of Minnesota, Hebrew Union College, Williams College, Washington University in St. Louis, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Technion, the University of Maryland at Baltimore, Grinnell College, the University of Delaware, Tulane, The Energy and Resources Institute in India and Hasselt University in Belgium.
Friedman and his wife, Ann, reside in Bethesda, Maryland.
Omar Ishrak has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medtronic since June 2011. Medtronic is the world’s leading medical technology company, with $29 billion in annual revenue, and operations reaching more than 160 countries worldwide. Medtronic offers technologies and solutions to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including cardiac and vascular diseases, respiratory, neurological and spinal conditions, diabetes, and more. The Medtronic Mission is to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life for millions of people around the world.
Since joining Medtronic, Omar has focused the company on three core strategies of Therapy Innovation, Economic Value and Globalization. These three strategies form the basis for Medtronic’s efforts to partner with its customers to drive high quality patient outcomes, expand patient access to healthcare, and lower costs in healthcare systems around the world. In 2014, Omar engineered the acquisition of Covidien, a $10 billion global manufacturer of surgical products and supplies. The acquisition of Covidien was the largest medical technology acquisition in the history of the industry.
Omar joined Medtronic from General Electric Company, where he spent 16 years, most recently as President and CEO of GE Healthcare Systems, a $12 billion division of GE Healthcare, with a broad portfolio of diagnostic, imaging, patient monitoring and life support systems. Omar also served as an Officer and a Senior Vice President of GE. Earlier in his career, Omar amassed 13 years of technology development and business management experience, holding leadership positions at Diasonics/Vingmed, and various product development and engineering positions at Philips Ultrasound.
He grew up in Bangladesh, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of London, King's College.
Omar currently serves as co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Health and Healthcare Community, which includes global leaders focused on shaping the future of health and healthcare. Key areas of focus for this community include promoting healthy behaviors, better management of future pandemics/epidemics, increasing global access to care, and increasing value in healthcare systems to advance healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes.
Omar is a member of the Board of Directors of Intel, a global technology company with more than $59 billion in annual revenue. Omar is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Asia Society, the leading educational organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among peoples, leaders and institutions of Asia and the United States in a global context. He is also a member of the Minnesota Public Radio Board of Trustees.
During David Farr’s 16-plus years leading Emerson, the company has steadily transformed from a diversified manufacturing conglomerate into a highly focused global enterprise that provides innovative technology and service solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and residential markets. Such was the case in 2016 as Farr led a number of strategic initiatives that again reshaped the company for the future. Its two key business platforms, Automation Solutions and Commercial and Residential Solutions, delivered global sales of more than $14.5 billion in 2016, with international sales representing 52 percent of that total.
Since becoming CEO in 2000 (he was named chairman in 2004), Farr has put a priority on creating long-term value for shareholders and investing for long-term growth while maintaining the company’s solid financial performance relative to earnings, cash flow, and return on capital. Emerson is one of a handful of companies with 60 consecutive years or more of increasing dividends to its shareholders.
Farr joined the company in 1981 in a corporate staff position and progressed through a series of corporate staff and business unit management positions with increasing responsibilities. In 1993, he was appointed president of Emerson’s Asia-Pacific operations and was based in Hong Kong for four years. Farr returned to the United States in 1997 to oversee Emerson’s process control business. In 1999, Farr was appointed as Emerson’s chief operating officer and held that position until being named CEO.
As Emerson CEO, Farr has been an active member of business and industry organizations. He serves as chairman of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) board of directors. He is on the board of directors for the US-China Business Council and also is a member of the board of directors of IBM.
Farr has been active in a wide range of civic and charitable organizations in St. Louis. He is a member and past president of Civic Progress, an organization of chief executives from leading companies in St. Louis who work together to promote the region. He currently serves on the executive board of the Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis (The Muny at Forest Park). He has served stints on the boards of directors for several nonprofits and educational institutions, including the United Way of Greater St. Louis. In recognition of his community leadership and charitable activities, Farr was named St. Louis Citizen of the Year in 2011 and was recognized by the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation with the Semper Fidelis Award in 2012.
Farr received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree in business administration from Vanderbilt University.
Sauli Väinämö Niinistö, the 12th President of the Republic of Finland, was inaugurated on 1 March 2012. Sauli Niinistö was born in Salo on 24 August 1948 and graduated from the University of Turku with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1974. He served as a rural police chief and as an assistant judge at the Turku Court of Appeal. He practiced law as an attorney and gained experience of corporate administration. He was elected to the Town Council of Salo in 1977 and continued to hold elected posts in local government until the 1990s. Sauli Niinistö was first elected to Parliament in 1987. In 1995, he was appointed Minister of Justice and Deputy Prime Minister in the Government of Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen. He was appointed Minister of Finance in 1996 when the aftermath of the 1990s recession was at its worst, and unemployment was at record high levels. Those difficulties were overcome, however, and Finland entered the new millennium with a robust economy. In 2003, Sauli Niinistö took up the post of Vice President of the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg. His purview included R&D funding and funding activities in the Nordic countries and Russia, and he was also chairman of the Northern Dimension Partnership Programme. He has also been a Member and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and a Member of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC). Sauli Niinistö returned to the Finnish Parliament in the 2007 election with the highest number of votes ever gained by a candidate. He was Speaker of Parliament from 2007 to 2011. President Niinistö is married to Jenni Haukio and has two adult sons from his previous marriage. President Niinistö is active in sports and was also Chairman of the Finnish Football Association from 2009 to 2012 and Chairman of the organizing committee for the 2009 European Figure Skating Championships. He has written two books.
Dr. Loretta Mester President & CEO Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
As president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Loretta J. Mester participates in the formulation of U.S. monetary policy, and oversees 950 employees in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh who conduct economic research, supervise banking institutions, and provide payment services to commercial banks and the U.S. government. She assumed her role as president and CEO in June 2014.
Dr. Mester was born in Baltimore, MD. She graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and economics from Barnard College of Columbia University. She earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in economics from Princeton University, where she was a National Science Foundation Fellow.
Prior to being named president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Dr. Mester had been executive vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, where she was the chief policy advisor, attended meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee, and oversaw the economists and analysts in the Research Department, as well as professionals in the Financial Statistics Department and the Payments Cards Center.
She joined the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia in 1985 as an economist, becoming senior vice president and director of research in 2000, and executive vice president and director of research in 2010.
Dr. Mester is an adjunct professor of finance at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and is a fellow at the Wharton Financial Institutions Center. She is a director of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, a trustee of the Cleveland Clinic, a founding director of the Financial Intermediation Research Society.
The Board of the Directors of the Economic Club of Minnesota instituted the Economic Club’s Champion of Free Trade Award in 2014. This is the only national award for contributions for expanding free trade.
The intention of the board was to develop an award that would honor individual national and international leaders who have made significant contributions to the expansion of international trade. The award is also intended to highlight the importance of free trade for global prosperity and security.
THE HONORABLE JOSÉ ÁNGEL GURRÍA
Secretary-General
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
As Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) since 2006, Angel Gurría has firmly established the Organisation as a pillar of the global economic governance architecture including the G7, G20 and APEC, and a reference point in the design and implementation of better policies for better lives. He has broadened OECD’s membership with the accession of Chile, Estonia, Israel, Latvia and Slovenia, and has made the Organisation more inclusive by strengthening its links with key emerging economies. Under his watch, the OECD is leading the effort to reform the international tax system, and to improve governance frameworks in anti-corruption and other fields.
He has also heralded a new growth narrative that promotes the well-being of people, including women, gender and youth, and has scaled up the OECD contribution to the global agenda, including the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals.
AMBASSADOR BOB ZOELLICK
Robert B. Zoellick was the President of the World Bank Group from 2007-12, U.S. Trade Representative from 2001 to 2005, and Deputy Secretary of State from 2005 to 2006. From 1985 to 1993, Zoellick served as Counselor to the Secretary of the Treasury and Under Secretary of State, as well as the White House Deputy Chief of Staff.
Zoellick is now a Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He serves on the boards of Temasek, Singapore’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, and Laureate International Universities, as well as on the international advisory board of Rolls Royce. He also is a member of the board of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, chairs the Global Tiger Initiative, and is a member of the Global Leadership Council of Mercy Corps, a global humanitarian agency.
Bob is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, the Department of State’s highest honor, the Alexander Hamilton Award of the Department of the Treasury, and the Medal for Distinguished Public Service of the Department of Defense. The German government awarded him the Knight Commanders Cross for his achievements in the course of German unification. The Mexican and Chilean governments awarded him their highest honors for non-citizens, the Aztec Eagle and the Order of Merit, for recognition of his work on free trade, development, and the environment.
Zoellick holds a J.D. magna cum laude from the Harvard Law School, a master's degree in public policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and a bachelor's degree (Phi Beta Kappa) from Swarthmore College.
Dr. John H. Noseworthy is president and chief executive officer of Mayo Clinic, a not-for-profit organization operating in five states that is dedicated to medical care, research and education. Every year, more than a million people from all 50 states and nearly 150 countries come to Mayo Clinic for care.
Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Noseworthy served as chair of Mayo Clinic’s Department of Neurology, medical director of the Department of Development, and vice chair of the Mayo Clinic Rochester Executive Board. During his tenure as CEO, Dr. Noseworthy and his leadership team have implemented a plan to ensure that Mayo Clinic remains a trusted resource for patients amid a rapidly changing healthcare environment – extending Mayo’s mission to new populations, providing care through more efficient delivery models, and increasing the personalization and immediacy of health care for all people. Examples of new initiatives include a proton beam cancer therapy program with two treatment centers – one in Phoenix and one in Rochester, Minn. – and development of a Mayo Clinic-affiliate network of high-quality medical practices throughout the country.
Dr. Noseworthy is a professor in the Department of Neurology. He specialized in multiple sclerosis and spent more than two decades designing and conducting controlled clinical trials with generous support from the Medical Research Council of Canada, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (USA) and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Noseworthy also is the author of more than 150 research papers, chapters, editorials and several books, including the three-volume textbook Neurological Therapeutics: Principles and Practice now in its second edition. He also served as editor-in-chief for Neurology, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Born in Melrose, Mass., Dr. Noseworthy received the M.D. degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He completed his neurology training at Dalhousie University and the University of Western Ontario, and a research fellowship at Harvard Medical School. He joined Mayo Clinic in 1990. He has received the Alumnus of the Year award from Dalhousie University (2005), an honorary doctorate of science degree from the University of Western Ontario (2012), an honorary doctorate of laws from Dalhousie University (2015). Dr. Noseworthy was named an Officer of the Order of the Orange-Nassau (2015) and received the Research!America, Geoffrey Beene Builders of Science Award (2016). He is a Health Governor of the World Economic Forum. Dr. Noseworthy and his wife, Patricia, have two sons, Peter and Mark.
Richard H. Anderson served as Executive Chairman of the Delta Air Lines, Inc. Board of Directors until October 11, 2016. Richard previously served nine years as Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Delta. Under Richard’s leadership, Delta emerged from bankruptcy and became the most profitable, investment grade airline in the world.
Anderson also served as Chief Operating Officer of Northwest Airlines, Inc. from 1998 to 2001 and from 2001 to 2004, as Chief Executive Officer.
Prior to joining Delta, Anderson was President of UnitedHealth Group Commercial Markets. He also serves as a director of Cargill Inc. and Medtronic Inc.
A native of Galveston, Texas, Richard holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston at Clear Lake City and a Juris Doctor degree from South Texas College of Law.
He and his wife, Susan, live in Houston, Texas.
Richard Davis is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Bancorp, a financial services holding company, headquartered in Minneapolis, with more than $438 billion in total assets and businesses across the United States, Canada and Europe.
Davis has been an influencing force in the banking industry for 38 years. He began his banking career as a teller at age 18. In 2006, he became CEO of U.S. Bancorp after serving in several senior executive roles with the organization and its predecessors since 1993.
U.S. Bank has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute, the global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as a World’s Most Ethical Company in 2015 and 2016. Davis was also named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics by the Ethisphere Institute in 2015.
His leadership and prudent approach to financial management has garnered national and international praise for U.S. Bancorp. Davis’ enthusiasm for his industry is equally prevalent in his many civic and philanthropic commitments. Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from California State University at Fullerton. He is married and the father of three adult children and has four grandchildren.
Stephen Moore, who formerly wrote on the economy and public policy for The Wall Street Journal, is the senior economic contributor for FreedomWorks. He is also a Fox News Contributor. Stephen previously served as president of the Club for Growth and chief economist of the Heritage Foundation. He served as a senior economic advisor to President-elect Trump’s campaign this year. Moore’s early career was shaped by three people who had a profound influence on him: Julian Simon, the late Cato Institute scholar; Edwin J. Feulner, a co-founder of Heritage; and Art Laffer, the economist best known for the Laffer curve.
Moore calls his creation of the Club for Growth the defining moment of his career. The organization, which he left in 2004, helps elect conservative members of Congress. Moore next founded the Free Enterprise Fund before joining The Wall Street Journal. As senior economics writer for the newspaper’s editorial board, he covered Washington policy debates and state issues.
Moore, who grew up in New Trier Township, Ill., received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He holds a master of arts in economics from George Mason University.
National Editor
The Cook Political Report
Amy Walter is the National Editor of The Cook Political Report where she provides analysis of the issues, trends and events that shape the political environment. Her weekly column appears at CookPolitical.com.
Over the past 14 years, Amy Walter has built a reputation as an accurate, objective, and insightful political analyst with unparalleled access to campaign insiders and decision-makers. Known as one of the best political journalists covering Washington, she is the former political director of ABC News. She is also an exclusive panelist on NBC’s Meet the Press and a regular panelist on PBS’ Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier. She provides political analysis every Monday evening for the PBS NewsHour.
This is Amy’s second tour of duty with The Cook Political Report. From 1997 to 2007, she served as Senior Editor where she covered the U.S. House. Walter was named one of DC's "50 Top Journalists" by Washingtonian Magazine in 2009 and honored with the Washington Post's Crystal Ball award for her spot-on election predictions in 2000. She is a member of the Board of Trustees at Colby College where she graduated summa cum laude
Chairman
House Ways & Means Committee
Congressman Kevin Brady is Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee - - considered by many to be the most powerful committee in Congress with jurisdiction over taxes, health care, Social Security, Medicare, international trade and welfare. Rep. Brady will be leading the efforts to pass comprehensive tax reform and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement this fall.
Prior to become Chairman, Rep. Brady was the leader of the Trade Subcommittee and led the successful effort to pass new trade agreements with Panama, South Korea and Colombia. He also served as the White House point man on the successful passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement. On the Social Security Subcommittee, he fought to preserve this important program for future generations once and for all.
Rep. Brady has long been a leader on important economic issues. He previously served as Chairman of the influential Health Subcommittee for the House Ways and Means Committee, where he focused on ensuring a strong, free market in the nation’s health care. He also served as the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee.
Prior to his election to Congress, Kevin worked as a chamber of commerce executive for 18 years and served six years in the Texas House of Representatives, where he was named one of the Ten Best Legislators for Families & Children. In 1994 he was named one of Five Outstanding Young Texans.
Rep. Brady lives in Montgomery County with his wife Cathy and his two sons Will (17) and Sean (14). Kevin is an original Hometown Hero of The Woodlands, a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary and a Distinguished Alumni of the University of South Dakota. He and his family attend Saints Simons and Jude Catholic Church.
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Neel Kashkari took office as president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis on Jan. 1, 2016. In this role, he serves on the Federal Open Market Committee, bringing the Fed’s Ninth District’s perspective to monetary policy discussions in Washington. In addition to his responsibilities as a monetary policymaker, Kashkari oversees all operations of the bank, including supervision and regulation, and payments services.
Kashkari began his career as an aerospace engineer at TRW in Redondo Beach, Calif., where he developed technology for NASA space science missions. Following graduate school, he joined Goldman Sachs in San Francisco, where he helped technology companies raise capital and pursue strategic transactions.
From 2006 to 2009, Kashkari served in several senior positions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In 2008, he was confirmed as assistant secretary of the Treasury. In this role, he oversaw the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) during the financial crisis. Kashkari received the Alexander Hamilton Award, the Treasury Department’s highest honor for distinguished service. Following his tenure in Washington, Kashkari returned to California in 2009 and joined PIMCO as managing director and member of the executive office. He left the firm in 2013 to explore returning to public service.
In January 2014, Kashkari was a gubernatorial candidate in the state of California, running on a platform focused on economic opportunity.
Kashkari earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Michael Froman was sworn in as the 11th United States Trade Representative (USTR) on June 21, 2013. As USTR, he is President Obama’s principal advisor, negotiator and spokesperson on international trade and investment issues.
Ambassador Froman leads the Office of the United States Trade Representative in its work to open global markets for U.S. goods and services, enforce America’s rights in the global trading system, and foster development through trade. Key initiatives ongoing under his leadership are negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement in the Asia Pacific; the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the European Union; negotiation of agreements on services, information technology and trade facilitation at the World Trade Organization; and monitoring and enforcement U.S. trade rights, including through the Interagency Trade and Enforcement Center (ITEC).
Prior to becoming USTR, Ambassador Froman served at the White House as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs, where he was responsible for coordinating policy on international trade and finance, energy security and climate change, and development and democracy issues. He served as the U.S. Sherpa for the G20 and G8 Summits, and staffed the President for the APEC Leaders Meetings. In addition, he chaired or co-chaired the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, the Transatlantic Economic Council, the U.S.-India CEO Forum and the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum.
Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Ambassador Froman served in a number of roles at Citigroup and as a Senior Fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations and a Resident Fellow at the German Marshall Fund.
In the 1990’s, Ambassador Froman spent seven years in the U.S. Government. He served as Chief of Staff and as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Eurasia and the Middle East at the U.S. Department of Treasury. He also worked at the White House, where he served as a Director for International Economic Affairs at the National Security Council and National Economic Council.
Ambassador Froman received a bachelor’s degree in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University, a doctorate in International Relations from Oxford University and law degree from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. He was born in California. He, his wife, Nancy Goodman, and their two living children, Benjamin and Sarah, reside in Washington, D.C.
Brian Cornell is board chairman and CEO of Target Corp. He is responsible for Target’s global business, including more than 1,800 U.S. stores and Target.com, more than 347,000 team members and millions of guests. Cornell leads the retailer’s executive leadership team in accelerating Target’s performance, advancing its digital evolution and delivering on its “Expect More. Pay Less.” promise to guests.
Cornell joined Target in August 2014 after more than 30 years in escalating leadership positions at leading retail and global consumer product companies, including three CEO roles and more than two decades doing business in North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America. His past experience includes time as both a vendor partner and a competitor to Target, and he brings insights from those roles to the company today.
Cornell has served on the board of directors for Yum! Brands since September 2015 and is a past director of Polaris Industries, Inc. He also serves on the board for UCLA’s Anderson School of Management Board of Visitors, providing strategic guidance to the dean in advancing the school’s mission, as well as the boards of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Cornell earned a bachelor’s degree at UCLA in 1981 and attended Anderson School of Management.
Ian Bremmer is the president and founder of Eurasia Group, the leading global political risk research and consulting firm. He is a prolific thought leader and author, regularly expressing his views on political issues in public speeches, television appearances, and top publications, including Time magazine, where he is the foreign affairs columnist and editor-at-large. Dubbed the "rising guru" in the field of political risk by the Economist, he teaches classes on the discipline as a global research professor at New York University. His latest book, Superpower: Three Choices for America's Role in the World, was released in May 2015.
In 1998, Bremmer established Eurasia Group with just $25,000. Today, the company has offices in New York, Washington, London and Tokyo, as well as a network of experts and resources in 90 countries. Eurasia Group provides analysis and expertise on how political developments and national security dynamics move markets and shape investments across the globe. As the firm's president and most active public voice, Bremmer advises leading executives, money managers, diplomats, and heads of state.
Bremmer is credited with bringing the craft of political risk to financial markets - he created Wall Street's first global political risk index (GPRI) - and for establishing political risk as an academic discipline. His definition of emerging markets - "those countries where politics matter at least as much as economics for market outcomes" - has become an industry standard. G-Zero, his term for a global power vacuum in which no country is willing and able to set the international agenda, is widely accepted by policymakers and thought leaders. Said Larry Summers, "Global political economy has no sharper or more prescient analyst than Ian Bremmer."
Bremmer actively discusses the intersection between politics and markets in speeches and the media. He has published nine books, including the national bestsellers Every Nation for Itself: Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World and The End of the Free Market: Who Wins the War Between States and Corporations? He is a regular columnist for the Financial Times A-List and has written hundreds of articles for many leading publications. He appears regularly on CNBC, Fox, Bloomberg, CNN, the BBC, and other networks.
Bremmer earned a PhD in political science from Stanford University in 1994 and was the youngest-ever national fellow at the Hoover Institution. In 2007, Bremmer was named a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, where he is the founding chairman of the Global Agenda Council on Geopolitical Risk. He is the Harold J. Newman Distinguished Fellow in Geopolitics at the Asia Society Policy institute and serves on the President's Council of the Near East Foundation, the Leadership Council for Concordia and the Board of Trustees of Intelligence Squared.
Bremmer grew up in Boston and currently lives in New York and Washington.
Recorded in Minneapolis on Nov, 10, 2015
David MacLennan, Chairman & CEO of Cargill, Inc.
Chris Policinski, President & CEO of Land O’Lakes, Inc.
James “Joc” O’Rourke, President & CEO of the Mosaic Company
Doug Baker, Chairman of CEO of Ecolab, Inc.
Moderator for Panel I & Panel II:Alan Bjerga, Agricultural Policy Reporter for Bloomberg News
Greg Page, Executive Director of Cargill, Inc.
Jeffrey Harmening, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of General Mills
Jeffrey Ettinger, Chairman, President & CEO of Hormel Foods
Sally Smith, CEO & President of Buffalo Wild Wings
Moderator for Panel I & Panel II: Alan Bjerga, Agricultural Policy Reporter for Bloomberg News
John B. Taylor is the Mary and Robert Raymond Professor of Economics at Stanford University. He formerly served as the Director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research where he is currently a Senior Fellow. He is also the George P. Shultz Senior Fellow in Economics at the Hoover Institution. Taylor’s fields of expertise are monetary policy, fiscal policy, and international economics. Taylor has an active interest in public policy. He served as senior economist on President Ford's Council of Economic Advisers, as a member of President George H.W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisers, and as economic adviser to the Bob Dole and George W. Bush presidential campaigns. For four years from 2001 to 2005, Taylor served as Under Secretary of Treasury for International Affairs where he was responsible for U.S. policies in international finance, including currency markets, trade in financial services, foreign investment, international debt and development, and oversight of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. His book Global Financial Warriors: The Untold Story of International Finance in the Post 9/11 World describes his years as head of the international division at Treasury. He served as a Member of the Board of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and is currently on the Board of Dodge and Cox Funds. Before joining the Stanford faculty in 1984, he held positions as professor of economics at Princeton University and Columbia University. Taylor received a B.A. in economics summa cum laude from Princeton University in 1968 and a Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University in 1973.
Introduction/Moderator: Dr. Christine Cumming, retired First Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of New York; Director of the Economic Club of Minnesota
September 10. 2015
William C. Dudley became the 10th president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on January 27, 2009. In that capacity, he serves as the vice chairman and a permanent member of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the group responsible for formulating the nation's monetary policy.
Previously, Mr. Dudley served as executive vice president of the Markets Group at the New York Fed, where he also managed the System Open Market Account for the FOMC. The Markets Group oversees domestic open market and foreign exchange trading operations and the provisions of account services to foreign central banks.
Prior to joining the Bank in 2007, Mr. Dudley was a partner and managing director at Goldman, Sachs & Company and was the firm's chief U.S. economist for a decade. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs in 1986, he was a vice president at the former Morgan Guaranty Trust Company. Mr. Dudley was an economist at the Federal Reserve Board from 1981 to 1983.
Mr. Dudley received his doctorate in economics from the University of California, Berkeley in 1982 and a bachelor's degree from New College of Florida in 1974.
In 2012, Mr. Dudley was appointed chairman of the Committee on the Global Financial System of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Previously, Mr. Dudley served as chairman of the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems of the BIS from 2009 to 2012. He is a member of the board of directors of the BIS and chairman of the Economic Club of New York.
June 5, 2015
Governor General David Johnston is The Queen’s representative in Canada and exercises the duties of Head of State. Since being sworn in as Canada’s 28th Governor General in October 2010, he has traveled on behalf of Canada to Europe, India, China, Brazil, and the United States as a leading speaker on education, innovation and trade.
David Johnston began his professional career as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University in 1966, joining the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law in 1968. He became dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario in 1974. In 1979, he was named principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University, and in July 1994, he returned to teaching as a full-time professor in the McGill Faculty of Law. In June 1999, he became the fifth president of the University of Waterloo, Canada’s most innovative university recognized for advanced research and teaching in science, engineering and mathematics.
His academic specializations include securities regulation, information technology and corporate law. Mr. Johnston holds an LL.B. from Queen’s University (1966); an LL.B. from the University of Cambridge (1965); and an AB from Harvard University (1963). While at Harvard, he was twice selected for the All-American hockey team and was named to Harvard’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He was the first non-American to chair Harvard’s Board of Overseers. He is the author or co-author of 24 books including new editions, holds honorary doctorates from over 20 universities and is a Companion of the Order of Canada.
Non-partisan and apolitical, the Governor General presides over the swearing-in of the Prime Minister of Canada, the Chief Justice of Canada and cabinet ministers; summons, prorogues and dissolves Parliament; delivers the Speech from the Throne; grants Royal Assent to Acts of Parliament. He also receives Royal visitors and Heads of Government during their official visits to Canada, and represents Canada abroad.
Mr. Haruhiko Kuroda was appointed the 31st Governor of the Bank of Japan on March 20, 2013.
He started his career at the Ministry of Finance in Japan in 1967. In the early years, he was seconded to the International Monetary Fund as Advisor to the Executive Director. His responsibilities at the Ministry encompassed fields such as international finance and national and international tax as well as services in the finance minister's office including as secretary to the then Finance Minister Murayama. He represented the Ministry at a number of international monetary conferences as Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs, including meetings of the Group of Seven Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, International Monetary Fund/World Bank Joint Annual Meetings, and bilateral meetings between Japan and other countries/regions.
From 2003, he served as Special Advisor to the Cabinet of Prime Minister Koizumi, while teaching economics and finance as Professor at the Graduate School of Economics of Hitotsubashi University.
His previous position was President of the Asian Development Bank. He took office in February 2005, and in the eight years of his tenure he contributed to the reforms of the institution by formulating a long-term strategy and strengthening its financial resources.
Born in October 1944, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Law from The University of Tokyo (1967), and a Master of Philosophy in Economics from University of Oxford (1971).
Bill Frenzel Champion of Free Trade Award
Carla A. Hills is Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Hills & Company. Ambassador Hills served as U.S. Trade Representative (1989-93) in the Bush (41) Administration and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division, U.S. Department of Justice, in the Ford Administration.
Over the years, Ambassador Hills has served on a number of publicly traded corporate boards and currently sits on one. She also serves on a number of not-for-profit boards including as Chair of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and of the Inter-American Dialogue; Co-Chair of the Council on Foreign Relations; member of the Executive Committee for the Peterson Institute for International Economics and of the Trilateral Commission, Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and member of the board of the International Crisis Group.
Before entering government, Ambassador Hills co-founded and was a partner in a major Los Angeles law firm. She also served as Adjunct Professor at the University of California at Los Angeles Law School teaching antitrust law and co-authored The Antitrust Advisor, published by McGraw Hill. She received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, her law degree from Yale University, and studied at Oxford. She holds a number of honorary degrees, and in 2000, she was awarded the Aztec Eagle, the highest honor given by the Mexican government to a non-citizen.
Jay Timmons is president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the largest manufacturing association in the United States representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector. He became NAM president in January 2011.
Mr. Timmons is a leading advocate for the nearly 12 million men and women who make things in America, educating the public and policymakers on issues that affect this critical sector of the U.S. economy. He promotes a broad-based agenda to strengthen U.S. competitiveness and bring about a manufacturing renaissance.
He is driven by the principles instilled in him by his roots in the manufacturing town of Chillicothe, Ohio, where his grandfather worked at a Mead plant for nearly four decades and where he witnessed manufacturing's ability to raise the quality of life for families and communities. Mr. Timmons' knowledge and expertise is valued and respected by influential policymakers on both sides of the aisle in Congress and the Administration. He knows how to navigate the complexities of the policymaking process in the nation's capital and brings with him an exceptional understanding of manufacturing issues.
Prior to his appointment as NAM president, Mr. Timmons was executive vice president beginning in 2008. In 2005, he joined the NAM as senior vice president of policy and government relations. His previous experience includes serving as chief of staff to Congressman, Governor and Senator George Allen (R-VA) from 1991 to 2002, and a term as executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee during the 2004 election cycle. When he first came to Washington in the 1980s, he served as press secretary to Congressman Jim Martin (R-NC) and later Alex McMillan (R-NC).
A passionate advocate for the adoption of companion animals, Mr. Timmons is the chairman of the Washington Humane Society Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Business-Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC) Executive Committee and serves on the board of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform. He attended The Ohio State University and resides in McLean, Va.
The Risky Business report, the first-ever analysis of its kind, summarizes the findings of an this independent risk assessment of the potential costs of climate change on coastal infrastructure, energy services, labor productivity, agriculture, and public health, combining existing data on the current and potential impacts of climate change with original research that quantifies potential future costs across the United States. The analysis behind Risky Business expands upon the extensive research of other major climate reports and adds significantly more detailed local results, down to state-level impacts. While the costs results vary tremendously by location, the report shows that climate change has the potential to seriously affect businesses’ bottom lines if we continue on a business-as-usual path. America’s businesses are fully capable of rising to the challenges of climate change. Understanding the risks of climate change will enable let business leaders to capitalize on the opportunities that addressing climate change creates.
Henry M. Paulson, Jr., The Paulson Institute; Risky Business Co-Chair
Henry M. Paulson, Jr. is the Chairman of The Paulson Institute, a non-partisan institution working to advance global environmental protection and sustainable economic growth in the United States and China. Previously, Mr. Paulson served as the 74th Secretary of the Treasury under President George W. Bush, from July 2006 to January 2009. Prior to that, he had a thirty-two year career at Goldman Sachs, serving as Chairman and CEO since 1999. Earlier in his career, Secretary Paulson was a member of the White House Domestic Council as well as a Staff Assistant at the Pentagon.
Greg Page, Cargill; Risk Committee Member
Greg Page serves as Executive Chairman of Cargill. He served as Cargill’s CEO from 2007 to 2013. Mr. Page serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Eaton Corporation, Carlson, and Deere & Company. He is immediate past Chair of the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and continues to serve on this board. Mr. Page is President of the Northern Star Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Mark Penn, Pollster for President Bill Clinton Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, Microsoft Corporation
Mark Penn is Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Microsoft Corporation, responsible for working on core strategic issues across Microsoft's products, value propositions, and investments and leading the company's competitive research and analysis. Penn reports to CEO Satya Nadella and serves on Microsoft's Senior Leadership Team. He oversees an interdisciplinary strategy team and works with product and other teams across the company.
Previously, Penn was worldwide CEO of Burson-Marsteller and CEO of Penn Schoen Berland, serving as senior adviser to global corporate and political leaders including Bill Gates, Bill Ford, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and President Bill Clinton.
For six years, Penn served as White House Pollster to President Clinton and was a key strategy adviser in his 1996 re-election, identifying "soccer moms" as the key swing vote needed for victory. Penn also served as chief strategist to Hillary Clinton in her Senate campaigns and 2008 Presidential campaign, devising her "upstate strategy" in New York and creating the "3 AM" ad in the 2008 primaries. Throughout his career, Penn has helped elect more than 25 leaders in the United States, Asia, Latin America and Europe.
Penn is the author of the 2007 bestselling book "Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow's Big Changes," and of the recurring Wall Street Journal "Microtrends" column. In a cover story, Time Magazine called him "Master of the Message."
Penn earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard College and attended Columbia Law School. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Holocaust Museum's Committee on Conscience, and he serves on the board of Meridian International Center. Penn is also a visiting lecturer at Harvard College.
Dr. Jan van Lohuizen, Pollster for President George W. Bush Chairman, Voter Consumer Research, Inc.
Dr. Jan van Lohuizen, Chairman and one of the founding members of Voter Consumer Research, has directed public opinion research projects since 1977. His area of expertise is in public policy and elections research. He has conducted opinion research for hundreds of political campaigns. His principal emphasis today is on surveys for initiative and referendum campaigns and opinion research on public policy issues. Clients include prominent elected officials, major U.S. corporations, industry associations, and think tanks.
Doug Baker, 55, is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Ecolab Inc. A trusted partner at more than one million customer locations, Ecolab is the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources. With 2013 sales of $13 billion and 45,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions and on-site service to promote safe food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use and improve operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world.
Ecolab was recently ranked #2 on the Barron’s 500, #6 on Newsweek’s list of the World’s Greenest Companies and #7 in Corporate Responsibility’s annual ranking of Russell 1000 companies. Ecolab has been named to Ethisphere’s list of the World's Most Ethical Companies for eight consecutive years, and Forbes’ ranking of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for four consecutive years. Ecolab also was named to Chief Executive’s list of the Best Companies for Leaders, CDP Performance and Disclosure Leadership Indices (2013) and The Civic 50 (2013).
Baker joined Ecolab in 1989, following seven years in brand management at Procter & Gamble. At Ecolab, he has held roles in marketing, sales and general management in both the U.S. and Europe, and leadership positions including vice president and general manager of Kay, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ecolab; senior vice president, Institutional Sector; and president and chief operating officer. In July 2004, Baker was named president and chief executive officer and in May 2006, added chairman of the board to his duties. In 2011, Baker led Ecolab’s merger with Nalco, an $8 billion transaction which nearly doubled the size of the company. In 2013, he strengthened Ecolab’s energy services business through the $2.3 billion acquisition of Champion Technologies.
In addition to his Ecolab responsibilities, Baker serves on the board of directors of Target Corporation and U.S. Bancorp. He also is trustee emeritus of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and is a member of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP).
Baker has received numerous awards and recognition throughout his career. Most recently, he was named 2014 Responsible CEO of the Year by Corporate Responsibility Magazine.
Baker is active in the civic life of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn. He serves on the executive committee of the Greater MSP Partnership, a private-public partnership whose mission is to stimulate economic growth and prosperity in the region. Baker also serves on the board of overseers of the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and on the executive committee of the Minnesota Business Partnership, an organization comprised of CEOs from Minnesota’s top 100 companies focused on further enhancing the region’s quality of life. He is a board member of Parent Aware for School Readiness (PASR), a nonprofit organization to support the statewide expansion of Parent Aware, Minnesota’s Quality Rating and Improvement System.
Baker received a bachelor’s degree in English from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., and serves on the college’s board of trustees.
John S. Watson is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Chevron Corporation, a position he has held since 2010.
Previously Watson served as vice chairman of the board from 2009 to 2010 and was responsible for business development; mergers and acquisitions; strategic planning; corporate compliance; policy, government and public affairs; procurement; and the Project Resources Company. In 2008, he was elected executive vice president for strategy and development. In 2005, Watson was elected president of Chevron International Exploration and Production Company. In 2000, he led the company’s integration effort following the Chevron-Texaco merger and then became the corporation’s chief financial officer. In 1998, he was elected a vice president of the corporation, with responsibility for strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to being elected president of Chevron Canada Limited in 1996, he held financial, analytical and supervisory positions.
Watson serves on the board of directors and the executive committee of the American Petroleum Institute. He is a member of the National Petroleum Council, The Business Council, the Business Roundtable, the J.P. Morgan International Council, the American Society of Corporate Executives and the University of California Davis Chancellor’s Board of Advisors.
Watson joined Chevron in 1980 as a financial analyst. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of California, Davis, in 1978 and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago in 1980.
September 16, 2014
Narayana Kocherlakota took office as president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis on Oct. 8, 2009. In that capacity, Kocherlakota serves on the Federal Open Market Committee, the policymaking arm of the Federal Reserve System. In addition to his responsibilities as a monetary policymaker, Kocherlakota oversees all operations of the bank, including supervision and regulation, and payments services. Before his appointment as president, Kocherlakota served as a member of the Minneapolis Fed's Research staff, as well as a Research consultant for the Bank. His prior experience also includes professorships at the University of Minnesota, where he was chair of the Economics Department, and at Stanford University. Kocherlakota has published more than 30 articles in academic journals on a variety of topics, including monetary and financial economics. His work includes theoretical and empirical contributions to monetary economics and financial economics.. Kocherlakota was named one of the top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine in 2012.
Narayana Kocherlakota took office as president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis on Oct. 8, 2009. In that capacity, Kocherlakota serves on the Federal Open Market Committee, the policymaking arm of the Federal Reserve System. In addition to his responsibilities as a monetary policymaker, Kocherlakota oversees all operations of the bank, including supervision and regulation, and payments services Kocherlakota earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago in 1987 and an A.B. in mathematics from Princeton in 1983.
Patricia A. Woertz is chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of Archer Daniels Midland Company.
She joined ADM as CEO and president in April 2006. She was named chairman of the board in February 2007.
Since joining ADM, Woertz has led the company to record financial results while growing its sourcing, transportation and processing networks through select acquisitions, strategic capital investments, and a number of global joint ventures and partnerships. She has also worked with ADM's board and senior leadership to strengthen the Company's strategic focus and planning, and to promote safety, continuous learning and sustainability initiatives companywide.
Woertz began her career as a certified public accountant with Ernst & Ernst — later Ernst & Young — in Pittsburgh. Attracted to the complexity and opportunity of a global company, she joined Gulf Oil Corporation in 1977, where she held various positions in refining, marketing, strategic planning and finance. Following the merger of Gulf and Chevron in 1987, Woertz led international operations and a global workforce as president of Chevron Canada and, later, Chevron International Oil Company. With the merger of Chevron and Texaco in 2001, she was named executive vice president in charge of the company's global refining, marketing, lubricant, and supply and trading operations.
She serves on the board of directors of The Procter & Gamble Company and the U.S.-China Business Council, and she chairs the U.S. section of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum. She is also a member of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum and The Business Council. In 2010, she was appointed to the President's Export Council by President Obama. Woertz holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from The Pennsylvania State University, which awarded her its highest recognition for alumni.
Dr. Douglas W. Elmendorf is the eighth Director of the Congressional Budget Office. He was initially appointed on January 22, 2009, to complete the previous four-year term of office; he was later reappointed to serve through January 3, 2015.
Before he came to CBO, Doug Elmendorf was a senior fellow and the Edward M. Bernstein Scholar in the Economic Studies program at the Brookings Institution. He was previously an assistant professor at Harvard University, a principal analyst at the Congressional Budget Office, a senior economist at the White House's Council of Economic Advisers, a deputy assistant secretary for economic policy at the Treasury Department, and an assistant director of the Division of Research and Statistics at the Federal Reserve Board. In those positions, he worked on budget policy, Social Security, Medicare, health care issues, financial markets, macroeconomic analysis and forecasting, and other topics. He earned his Ph.D. and A.M. in economics from Harvard University, where he was a National Science Foundation graduate fellow, and his A.B. summa cum laude from Princeton University.
Former Senator Mark Kennedy, Former Congressman Tim Penny, Canadian and Mexican ambassadors, Mr. Mack McLarty, Ambassador Carla Hills, Mr. James Weekes, Dr. Luis de la Calle, Congressman Erik Paulsen, Former Congressman Bill Frenzel.
Washington DC, January 28th, 2014
Former Senator Mark Kennedy, Former Congressman Tim Penny, Canadian and Mexican ambassadors, Mr. Mack McLarty, Ambassador Carla Hills, Mr. James Weekes, Dr. Luis de la Calle, Congressman Erik Paulsen, Former Congressman Bill Frenzel.
Tom Nides is a Managing Director and Vice Chairman of Morgan Stanley, a leading global financial services firm. He focuses on the Firm’s global clients and other key constituencies around the world, serves as a member of the Firm’s Management Committee and Operating Committee, and reports to Morgan Stanley Chief Executive Officer James Gorman.
Prior to rejoining the Firm in March 2013 in his current role, Mr. Nides was Deputy Secretary of State, serving as Chief Operating Officer of the Department. Appointed by President Obama, he was confirmed by the Senate on December 22, 2010 and sworn in on January 3, 2011.
Previously, Mr. Nides was the Chief Operating Officer of Morgan Stanley from 2005 to 2010. He was an executive officer and served as a member of Morgan Stanley’s Management Committee and Operating Committee. Before joining Morgan Stanley, Mr. Nides served as Worldwide President and Chief Executive Officer of Burson-Marsteller and as Chief Administrative Officer of Credit Suisse First Boston, the investment banking division of Zurich-based Credit Suisse Group.
Mr. Nides began his career on Capitol Hill, as Assistant to the Majority Whip of the United States House of Representatives and Executive Assistant to the Speaker of the House. Mr. Nides later served as Senior Vice President of Fannie Mae and as Chief of Staff to the United States Trade Representative.
Mr. Nides serves on the Board of the Urban Alliance Foundation, the Atlantic Council and is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Prior to serving in government, Mr. Nides was the Chairman of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and a member of the Advisory Board of the National Zoo.
Mr. Nides, a graduate of the University of Minnesota, is married with two children.
Ambassador Mark Green is President & CEO of the Initiative for Global Development (IGD), a nonprofit organization that engages corporate leaders to reduce poverty through business growth and investment in Africa. A recognized leader in the foreign policy and business communities, Green served as the U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania from mid-2007 to early 2009. While there he led a mission of more than 350 Americans and Tanzanians and was ultimately responsible for some of the world's largest U.S.-led development programs.
Prior to serving as U.S. Ambassador, Green served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he helped craft key policy initiatives including the Millennium Challenge Act and President Bush's history-making AIDS program. Most recently, he served as Senior Director at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, a network of 400 businesses, NGOs, policy experts, and other leaders supporting a smart power approach to American foreign policy.
Ambassador Green serves on the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), having been appointed to that post by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate in 2010. He also serves on the Center for Strategic and International Studies Executive Council on Development and co-chairs the Consensus for Development Reform, a coalition of policy and business leaders devising new principles for making development policy more effective and growth-oriented. Alongside many other activities, Green is a Board Member of WorldTeach and serves on the Former Members of Congress Association Diplomatic Advisory Council and the Council on Foreign Relations. Ambassador Green holds an honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Georgetown University's School of Nursing and Health Studies, a JD from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and a BA from the University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire.
Timothy Beardson founded, majority-owned and ran Crosby, which became the largest independent investment bank in the Far East. He sat on the board of investment companies which were involved in most countries of South and East Asia from Pakistan through China to Indonesia.
Eventually, Crosby employed 650 staff in 14 countries from New York to Beijing. It had an annual transaction volume of US $20 billion. It was the first international investment bank to open in China, Thailand and Malaysia and the only foreign bank invited to participate in the working party to set up the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Crosby was active in the stock markets and had presences in China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It also had operations in Britain, Japan, Switzerland and the United States. It advised governments, corporations and financial institutions on strategic and economic issues regarding Asia and the world.
Beardson sold the bank in the late 1990s. He is married, with one son, and lives principally in Hong Kong.
Eric Rosengren has been president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston since July 2007 and is currently a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee.
Previously he headed the Bank's supervision, regulation, and credit group, and was active in domestic and international regulatory policy. Rosengren joined the Bank in 1985 as an economist in the research department, with a B.A. from Colby College and an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
He has written extensively on macroeconomics, international banking, bank supervision, and risk management; including articles in leading economics and finance journals. Much of his recent research has focused on how problems in the financial sector impact the real economy.
Rosengren is a director of the United Way, a trustee of Colby College, and a member of advisory boards at Colby College and the University of Wisconsin.
United States Senator Amy Klobuchar
On January 4, 2007, Amy Klobuchar became the first woman elected to represent the State of Minnesota in the United States Senate. Before being elected to public office, she served as a partner in Minnesota's Dorsey & Whitney and Gray, Plant, Mooty law firms.
From 1998-2006, Senator Klobuchar served as the prosecutor for Hennepin County. During her eight years as County Attorney, Amy focused on the prosecution of violent and career criminals. She was a leading advocate for successful passage of Minnesota's first felony DWI law, for which she received a leadership award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Her safe schools initiative, community prosecution efforts, and criminal justice reforms earned national awards, including from the U.S. Department of Justice under both the Clinton and Bush administrations. She was elected by her colleagues to serve as president of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association.Since her election to the Senate in 2006, Amy has been a strong advocate for Minnesota and has advanced issues that promote economic competitiveness. She has been a leading advocate of the effort to repeal the medical device tax in the Affordable Care Act. Senator Klobuchar was also recently appointed by President Obama to serve on the President’s Export Council. In addition, as chair of the Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion, Senator Klobuchar has been a leading voice in calling for an innovation agenda that can help grow our economy and create jobs in America.She has authored legislation to help small businesses tap into new markets abroad and help students get the technical training they need for the jobs of the future. She was part of a group of senators who fought for the creation of a bipartisan debt reduction commission to address our nation's looming debt crisis. She continues to work with a bipartisan group of senators to put in place a long-term plan to responsibly reduce our debt in a balanced way.Sen. Klobuchar graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School. She is married to John Bessler and they have a daughter, Abigail, who is 17 and is in her senior year of high school.
Gregg Steinhafel is chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Target Corporation. Target, a Minneapolis-based discount retailer with more than $70 billion in annual revenues, serves guests at 1,778 retail stores in 49 states nationwide, online at Target.com, and by offering credit to qualified guests through branded proprietary credit and debit cards.
Steinhafel was named president of Target in 1999 after 20 years with the company in which he held numerous merchandising and operating positions. As president, Steinhafel had companywide responsibility for merchandising, stores, global sourcing, product design and development, presentation, supply chain and Target.com. Steinhafel was named to the board of directors in 2007, became president and chief executive officer in May 2008, and was appointed chairman of the board of directors in January 2009.
Steinhafel has been instrumental in developing and promoting Target’s unique corporate culture, in which 365,000 talented and diverse team members collaborate and innovate to make Target a fun and convenient shopping experience, providing access to highly differentiated products at affordable prices and sustaining the company’s legacy of giving and service. Since 1946, the corporation has given 5 percent of its income to non-profit organizations that support the communities where Target does business. Today, that giving equals more than $4 million a week.
In 2012, Ethisphere Institute ranked Target one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” for the sixth year in a row, and Forbes magazine and the Reputation Institute named Target one of the “World’s Most Reputable Companies.”
In addition to serving on Target’s board, Steinhafel also serves on the boards of The Toro Company and TreeHouse, a Minnesota-based non-profit organization. He is a member of the Business Roundtable, Business Council and the Minnesota Business Partnership. In 2010, he was appointed to the Council for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. In 2012, Steinhafel began a two-year term as chairman of the board for the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA).
Steinhafel was born in Milwaukee, Wis. He graduated from Carroll University in 1977, and in 1979 he earned a masters of business administration degree from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Steinhafel is married and has three children.
John P. Surma was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1954. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. Mr. Surma joined Price Waterhouse LLP in 1976, and in 1981 he served in the Manchester, England, office of the Price Waterhouse United Kingdom firm. In 1987, he was admitted to the partnership.
In 1983, Mr. Surma participated in the President’s Executive Exchange Program in Washington, D.C., where he served as executive staff assistant to the vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.
In 1997, Mr. Surma joined Marathon Oil Company as senior vice president, finance & accounting. He was appointed president, Speedway SuperAmerica LLC in 1998, and senior vice president, supply & transportation for Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC (MAP) in 2000. He was named president of MAP on January 1, 2001.
Effective with the separation from USX Corporation, he became vice chairman and chief financial officer of United States Steel Corporation on January 1, 2002. He was named president in March 2003, and president and chief operating officer in June 2003. He was elected president and chief executive officer in 2004, and chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer in February 2006. Mr. Surma is a member of the board of directors of Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Ingersoll Rand and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. He was appointed by President Barack Obama to the president’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations and currently serves as vice chairman. He serves on the board of directors of the World Steel Association, the American Iron and Steel Institute and the National Safety Council.
Additionally he is a member of the board of directors and executive committee of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
Major Garrett is a White House correspondent for National Journal and also contributes to 2012 Decoded. Prior to National Journal, Garret reported for Fox News, where he was the Chief White House Correspondent. During his eight years at Fox, Garrett also covered Congress, two presidential elections, the war in Iraq and many other issues of national importance.
Before joining Fox News, Garrett was a White House correspondent for CNN, covering Presidents Bush and Clinton. Prior to that he was a senior editor and congressional correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, where he reported on Congress and the impeachment of President Clinton. From 1990-1995, he was a congressional reporter for The Washington Times, and from 1995-1997, he was the newspaper's deputy national editor. Earlier in his career Garrett was a reporter for The Houston Post, Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Amarillo Globe-News.
Garrett has also authored three books. His third, The Enduring Revolution (2005), was recently voted one of the best non-fiction political books of all time by readers of Chris Cillizza's Washington Post "The Fix" blog.
Agustín Carstens was born June 9, 1958 in Mexico City. He holds a M.A. (1983) and a Ph.D. (1985) in economics from the University of Chicago. He received his B.A. in economics (summa cum laude) from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) in 1982, with a thesis on determining the forward exchange rate in Mexico, for which he received the 1983 Tlacaelel National Prize in Economic Consulting from Consultores Internacionales, S.C.. He also won the 1985 National Research Prize in Economics from Banco Nacional de México, S.A. Dr. Carstens began his professional career in 1980 at Banco de México, where, despite his youth, he held many top level positions at the central bank’s International Affairs Department, first as Foreign Exchange trader, and then as Deputy Manager and Manager of the Foreign Exchange and Market Analysis Department.
In 1989, he became the central bank’s International Treasurer and represented Banco de México in Mexico’s Brady Bond foreign debt restructuring negotiations. From June 1991 to May 1993 he served as Banco de México’s Treasurer and had, among other responsibilities, the task of managing the central bank’s reserves, the money market operations through public debt securities, and Banco de México’s interventions in the foreign exchange and money markets. From June 1993 to March 1994 he was Chief of Staff in the Governor’s Office and was later named Head of Economic Research of Mexico’s central bank until 1999. From 1999 to 2000 Dr. Carstens was appointed Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), representing the casting votes of Spain, Mexico, Central America and Venezuela within the organization.
He served as Deputy Finance Minister in Mexico from 2000 to 2003, when he was appointed Deputy Managing Director at the International Monetary Fund, and was responsible for handling the IMF’s relationship with more than 70 member countries. On October 2006, he was invited by Mexico’s elected President Felipe Calderón to join his transition cabinet as Chief Economic Coordinator, in charge of framing the new administration’s economic and financial program. On December 1 of that year, he was appointed Mexico’s Minister of Finance, a position he held until December 9, 2009. While serving as Minister of Finance, Dr. Carstens also chaired the IMF and World Bank Joint Development Committee from March 2007 to October 2009. On December 9, 2009 he was proposed by President Calderón as Governor of Banco de México.
After the Senate ratified the President’s proposal on December 28, he was appointed Governor for a 6-year term, from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2015. On January 10, 2011, the Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) elected Dr. Carstens as a new member of the board. On February 17, 2011 Dr. Carstens was appointed Co-chairman of the Group of Trustees of the Principles for Stable Capital Flows and Fair Debt Restructuring (otherwise known as the Principles) of the Institute of International Finance (IIF). Dr. Carstens has been a member of the Steering Committee of the G-20 Financial Stability Board (FSB) since early 2010, and Co-chair of the FSB Regional Consultative Group for the Americas.
David Wessel is economics editor of The Wall Street Journal and writes the "Capital” column, a weekly look at the economy and forces shaping living standards around the world. He also appears frequently on National Public Radio and WETA’s Washington Week. His book, In Fed We Trust: Ben Bernanke’s War on the Great Panic, was selected by strategy+business magazine as one of the Best Business Books of 2009. This book was one of 6 finalists for the Financial Times Business Book of the year 2009, as well as selected as one of the "100 Notable Books of 2009" by the New York Times. David joined The Wall Street Journal in 1984 in Boston, and moved to Washington in 1987, where he was deputy bureau chief until assuming his current job in September 2007. In 1999 and 2000, he served as the newspaper’s Berlin bureau chief. He previously worked for the Boston Globe, the Hartford (Conn.) Courant and Middletown (Conn.) Press. A 1975 graduate of Haverford College, he was Knight Bagehot Fellow in Business & Economics Journalism at Columbia University in 1980- 81. David has shared two Pulitzer Prizes, one for Boston Globe stories in 1983 on the persistence of racism in Boston and the other for stories in The Wall Street Journal in 2002 on corporate wrong-doing. He is the co-author, with Wall Street Journal reporter Bob Davis, of Prosperity, a 1998 book on the American middle class. He and his wife, Naomi Karp, senior policy advisor at AARP’s Public Policy Institute, have two children, Julia and Ben. David is a member of the advisory board of the Journal of Economic Perspectives. He has served as on the board of trustees of Temple Sinai in Washington, the Committee for Economic Development’s Research Advisory Board and the advisory board of the Columbia University’s Community College Research Center.
Narayana Kocherlakota became president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis on October 8, 2009. Kocherlakota has served as a professor of economics at the University of Minnesota since 2005, where he chaired the department from 2006-2008. Since 1999 he has also served as a consultant to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. From 1996-98, he was a research staff member at the Bank. He is also a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Kocherlakota has published more than 30 articles in academic journals, including Econometrica, Journal of Political Economy, Journal of Economic Theory, Journal of Monetary Economics and Journal of Money, Credit and Banking. His work includes theoretical and empirical contributions to macroeconomics, monetary economics, financial economics and public finance. Kocherlakota has authored a forthcoming book from Princeton University Press titled The New Dynamic Public Finance, which describes an approach to tax design pioneered by him and others over the past decade. Kocherlakota earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago in 1987 and an A.B. in mathematics from Princeton in 1983.
Pascal Lamy is the Director-General of the World Trade Organization since September 2005. Mr. Lamy holds degrees from the Paris based Ecole des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC), from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (IEP) and from the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA). He began his career in the French civil service at the Inspection Générale des finances and at the Treasury. He then became an advisor to the Finance Minister Jacques Delors, and subsequently to Prime Minister Pierre Mauroy. In Brussels from 1985 to 1994, Mr. Lamy was Chief of staff for the President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, and his representative as Sherpa in the G7. In November 1994, he joined the team in charge of rescuing Credit Lyonnais, and later became CEO of the bank until its privatisation in 1999. Between 1999 and 2004, Mr. Lamy was Commissioner for Trade at the European Commission under Romano Prodi. After his tenure in Brussels, Mr. Lamy spent a short sabbatical period as President of “Notre Europe”, a think tank working on European integration; as associate Professor at the l’Institut d’études Politiques in Paris; and as advisor to Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (President of the European Socialist Party).
Kevin Brady considers it an honor to be representing the 8th District of Texas in the U.S House of Representatives. A pro-family, pro-small business conservative, Kevin’s strong belief in free enterprise guides him as the Vice Chairman and top Republican on the Joint Economic Committee. A Deputy Whip for the GOP Leadership team, Kevin is a senior member of the House Ways & Means Committee, considered by many to be the most powerful committee in Congress, with jurisdiction over 2/3 of the federal budget including taxes, Social Security, Medicare, international trade and welfare. As the Chairman on the Subcommittee on Trade and a senior member of the Social Security Subcommittee, Kevin fights for free market solutions to our country’s economic challenges and preservation of the programs that help our seniors. As the White House’s point man in the successful passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement, Kevin is excited about the thousands of new jobs that free trade has created here in Texas. Prior to his election in Congress, Kevin worked as a chamber of commerce executive for 18 years and served six years in the Texas House of Representatives where he was a leader on victims’ rights issues and named one of the Ten Best Legislators for Families & Children. In 1994 he was named one of Five Outstanding Young Texans. In order to stay close to the people he represents, Kevin, an original Hometown Hero of The Woodlands is a million mile flyer with Continental Airlines. He chooses to commute to work in Washington each week so he, and his wife, Cathy Patronella Brady, can raise their two sons, Will (13) and Sean (10) in The Woodlands where they attend Saints Simons and Jude Catholic Church. A Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary, Kevin is also a Distinguished Alumni of the University of South Dakota. In Congress, Kevin is recognized as the author of the bi-partisan Federal Sunset Act to abolish obsolete federal agencies and eliminate waste and duplication by placing an expiration date on every federal program. A strong supporter of medical research who created the Texas Birth Defects Registry as a state legislator, Kevin has a special interest in finding cures for rare diseases, especially Primary Pulmonary Hypertension – for now an incurable disease that strikes young women of child- bearing age in growing numbers. In Congress he has repeatedly been named Hero-of-the-Taxpayers, Small Business Champion and Super-Friend of the Seniors. He has received the Golden Bulldog Award by Watchdogs of the Treasury, special recognition by Citizens Against Government Waste, and is a perennial winner of the Guardian of Small Business, Taxpayer Hero and Spirit of Enterprise awards. He has been named Deep East Texas Legislator-of-the-Year and Outstanding Texas Political Leader-of-the-Year and recently was honored by the National Taxpayers Union as having one of the top 5 spending cut agendas of the 111th Congress.
Michelle Rhee is Founder & CEO, StudentsFirst. She has been working for the last 18 years to give children the skills and knowledge they will need to compete in a changing world. On June 12, 2007, Mayor Adrian Fenty appointed Chancellor Rhee to lead the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), a school district serving more than 47,000 students in 123 schools. Under her leadership, the worst performing school district in the country became the only major city system to see double-digit growth in both their state reading and state math scores in seventh, eighth and tenth grades over three years. The graduation rate rose, and after steep declines enrollment rose for the first time in forty years. Michelle Rhee currently serves on the Advisory Boards for the National Council on Teacher Quality, the National Center for Alternative Certification, and Project REACH of the University of Phoenix's School of Education.
2011-2012 Season Inaugural Luncheon with Dr. Ben S. Bernanke Chairman Federal Reserve System, Thursday, September 8, 2011.
Dr. R. Glenn Hubbard has been Dean of the Columbia Business School since July 1, 2004. A Columbia faculty member since 1988, he is also the Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics. Additionally, he is a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington and a member of the International Advisory Board of the MBA Program of Ben-Gurion University. In government, Professor Hubbard served as deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department for Tax Policy from 1991 to 1993. He served as chairman of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers and also chaired the Economic Policy Committee of the OECD. He is a past Chairman of the Economic Club of New York, life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and Co-Chairman of the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation.
As President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Donohue discussed the Chamber’s plan to boost America’s economy, enhance our economy and move towards sustainable, long-term growth in this country.
As President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Mr. Fisher gave his perspective on the debate over quantitative easing as well as the limits of monetary policy and the necessity of policymakers providing incentives for hiring and investment.
As Associate Dean of the Tuck School of Business as well as a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and former Member of the Council of Economic Advisors, Dr. Slaughter’s area of expertise is the economics and politics of globalization. Dr. Slaughter analyzed the current economic situation and stressed the importance of global markets for job creation at home.
As President of the Council on Competitiveness, Ms. Wince-Smith is internationally renowned as a leading voice on innovation strategy, science and technology policy, education, and business. Ms. Wince-Smith raised awareness about the leading edge of innovation and research and discussed the need to reform our education, tax and regulatory systems to stay competitive in the global market.
As President and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and Former Comptroller General of the United States, Mr. Walker is a leading advocate for entitlement reform and sound fiscal policy. Mr. Walker discussed the consequences of the structural deficit and proposed ideas for reform.
As Ambassador from India to the United States, Ambassador Shankar has an important perspective on market reforms and government control over the economy, as well as opportunities for Minnesota companies to expand in India.