2009 Summer Seminar Speakers
Harry Beckwith
Harry Beckwith is strategic director at Beckwith Partners, which specializes in strategy, branding and messaging for service industry clients. He has advised 31 Fortune 200 companies in 17 countries, won the American Marketing Association’s highest award, and is the author of four worldwide bestselling books on sales and marketing. His first, Selling the Invisible, spent 36 consecutive months on the Business Week bestseller list and appears on numerous “best business books of all time” lists. He also is featured in The Ten Secrets of World’s Best Business Communicators and over 90 other business books. Prior to founding Beckwith Partners in 1988, he was creative supervisor of Carmichael-Lynch, four times Advertising Age’s choice as America’s most creative agency. Harry graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University after transferring from Pacific University, and he earned his J.D. degree from the University of Oregon School of Law.
Kent John Chabotar
Since 2002, Kent Chabotar has served as president of Guilford College, where he is also a professor of political science. Chartered in 1837 by the Society of Friends, Guilford College is the third oldest co-educational institution in the U.S., with 2,700 students, 170 faculty, and an annual operating budget of $65 million. In addition to serving as Guilford’s president, he has served on the faculties of summer executive programs sponsored by the Harvard Institute for Higher Education since 1983. His past positions include vice president for finance and administration and treasurer at Bowdoin College and senior lecturer in its Department of Government and Legal Studies; faculty member at the Harvard Graduate School of Education; associate professor of management at the University of Massachusetts (where he chaired his college’s faculty senate for two terms); and assistant professor of political science and coordinator of public administration programs at Michigan State University. Kent holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Saint Francis University and M.P.A. and Ph.D. degrees in public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.
Katie Elfering
Katie Elfering is a consumer strategist at Iconoculture, a cultural trend research firm based in Minneapolis. Her expertise includes general pop culture, media and entertainment, and technology gadgets, and she advises her clients on consumer segmenting. Prior to joining Iconoculture in 2007, she managed marketing communications for an educational technology company and has managed public relations for a diverse portfolio of advertising, architecture and event planning accounts that include brands such as H&R Block, 3M, University of Minnesota, Alberto Culver and PLATO Learning. Katie earned her bachelor’s degree in English and print journalism from the University of Minnesota.
Chris Farrell
Chris Farrell is economics editor of “Marketplace Money,” a nationally syndicated one-hour weekly personal finance show produced by American Public Media. Chris is also economics correspondent for “Marketplace” and “Marketplace Morning Report,” the two largest business programs in broadcasting. He is chief economics correspondent for American Radio Works, the largest producer of long-form documentaries in public radio. He is also contributing economics editor at Business Week magazine. Chris was host and executive editor of public television’s “Right on the Money,” which aired from 1998 to 2003. He is the author of two books, Right on the Money: Taking Control of Your Personal Finances and Deflation: What Happens When Prices Fall, and he is writing a new book, The New Frugality, scheduled to be published early next year. Chris received his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and his master’s degree from the London School of Economics.
Sarah Flanagan
Sarah Flanagan was named head of the government relations staff of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) in 1994. As vice president for government relations, she directs a comprehensive government relations effort, in coordination with related state associations, that focuses on issues of government regulation, student financial assistance and tax policy. Before joining NAICU, Sarah served as staff director of the Senate Subcommittee on Children, Family, Drugs and Alcoholism under Sen. Christopher Dodd. Prior to that, Sarah was a professional staff member responsible for federal student aid programs for the Senate Subcommittee on Education, Arts and Humanities, chaired by Sen. Claiborne Pell. She also worked for the Close Up Foundation as an instructor, teacher trainer and curriculum specialist. Sarah received her bachelor’s degree from Providence College and her M.A.T. degree from Rhode Island College.
Roger Goodman
Roger Goodman is vice president at Moody’s Investors Service and team manager of the Higher Education and Other Not-for-Profit Ratings Team in its Public Finance Group. He leads a team of 12 analysts responsible for credit analysis and ratings of colleges, universities, cultural institutions, independent schools and other not-for-profit organizations. Roger has worked with a diverse portfolio of institutions, including many Ivy League universities, along with several academic medical centers during his time with the Not-For-Profit Healthcare Team. Prior to joining Moody’s in 2002, he was involved with various organizations that include the National Center on Philanthropy and the Law at New York University, the Northeast States Emergency Consortium, and the New York City Office of Management and Budget. Roger received his bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from Brandeis University and his M.P.A. degree in public and non-profit finance from New York University.
Terry Lahti
Since founding Lahti Search Consultants in 1997, Terry Lahti has used the powerful combination of years of hands-on experience in admissions and enrollment management and an unmatched network to identify and connect top-quality enrollment professionals with positions at more than 90 colleges and universities. Terry began her professional career at the College of Saint Benedict & Saint John’s University as an admission counselor and has served as director of recruitment at the University of Miami, director of admissions at Agnes Scott College, and dean of admissions at Kalamazoo College. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Benedict and has completed extensive coursework in administration as part of the graduate program at the University of Notre Dame.
John Rash
John Rash is senior vice president and director of media analysis for Campbell Mithun, a national advertising agency headquartered in Minneapolis, where he analyzes the cultural, creative and commercial factors shaping media. He is the author of “The Rash Report,” and his analysis of the nightly ratings race is a daily feature of Advertising Age’s web site. He is also an editorial writer and columnist for The Star Tribune in Minneapolis, as well as a media analyst for WCCO-AM radio, the CBS radio affiliate in Minneapolis-St. Paul. He instructs undergraduates and graduate students at the University of Minnesota’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication in courses that include Mass Media and Popular Culture, Mass Media and Politics, and Strategic Communications Across Media. John earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Minnesota.
William M. Shain
Bill Shain founded William M. Shain Consulting in 2008 to guide colleges and universities in strengthening their admission processes to attract incoming classes that best reflect their institutional personalities and missions. He also advises secondary schools and prospective college students. Bill draws upon almost 30 years of experience as chief enrollment officer at several respected institutions of higher education, first as dean of admissions at Macalester College, then as dean of undergraduate admissions at Vanderbilt University, and finally as dean of admissions and financial aid at Bowdoin College. Bill earned his bachelor’s degree in history and American civilization from Princeton University and his J.D. degree from Columbia University.
Tom Williams
Since founding Williams & Company in 2003, Tom Williams has tapped into his national network of clients and professional contacts in enrollment management to develop an executive search service specializing in enrollment managers and to provide customized strategic planning and enrollment management consulting services. For more than 30 years, he has consulted directly with more than 500 colleges and universities, engineering numerous enrollment successes. Between 1982 and 1992, Tom served as consultant, vice president, president and principal of Ingersoll Williams and Associates. In 1993, he merged his company with Noel-Levitz, becoming a principal and serving as president and CEO from 1997 to 2003. Tom is a certified financial planner and holds an M.B.A. degree from the University of South Dakota.
Past Seminars
2010
2009
2008
“Great statistical information ... lots of new ideas ... speakers were easy and fun to listen to.”
“As usual, things were well done and well organized. Keep up the good work!”
“I am so glad I attended this program. It was informative, well organized and
gave me an opportunity to recharge my batteries!”