Guest Speakers
August 8, 2011 - Bill J. Whitacre
President and CEO, J. R. Simplot Company
Mr. Whitacre was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the J. R. Simplot Company in September 2009. He joined the Company in March 2000 as President, Turf & Horticulture Group. He became President of the AgriBusiness Group in 2002. Mr. Whitacre has over 30 years experience in the agriculture industry. Prior to joining Simplot he was President & CEO of Research Seeds, Inc., a Land O’Lakes subsidiary. Mr. Whitacre currently serves as a board member of The Fertilizer Institute, International Plant Nutrition Institute, Nutrients for Life Foundation and Farm Foundation. He is a past president of American Seed Trade Association, Western Seed Association and North American Seed Institute.
President and CEO, J. R. Simplot Company
Mr. Whitacre was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the J. R. Simplot Company in September 2009. He joined the Company in March 2000 as President, Turf & Horticulture Group. He became President of the AgriBusiness Group in 2002. Mr. Whitacre has over 30 years experience in the agriculture industry. Prior to joining Simplot he was President & CEO of Research Seeds, Inc., a Land O’Lakes subsidiary. Mr. Whitacre currently serves as a board member of The Fertilizer Institute, International Plant Nutrition Institute, Nutrients for Life Foundation and Farm Foundation. He is a past president of American Seed Trade Association, Western Seed Association and North American Seed Institute.
August 11, 2010 - Dennis Wheeler
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer Dennis E. Wheeler has been Chairman of the Board of Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation since May 1992 and Chief Executive Officer since December 1986. Previously, Mr. Wheeler served as President of Coeur, commencing in December 1980. Mr. Wheeler was our Chief Administrative Officer from December 1980 to December 1986, Secretary from January 1980 to December 1980 and Senior Vice President and General Counsel from 1978 to 1980. He was also recently appointed to Executive Committee of National Mining Association.
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer Dennis E. Wheeler has been Chairman of the Board of Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation since May 1992 and Chief Executive Officer since December 1986. Previously, Mr. Wheeler served as President of Coeur, commencing in December 1980. Mr. Wheeler was our Chief Administrative Officer from December 1980 to December 1986, Secretary from January 1980 to December 1980 and Senior Vice President and General Counsel from 1978 to 1980. He was also recently appointed to Executive Committee of National Mining Association.
April 28, 2009 - David Piper
David was raised in Idaho Falls, Idaho and graduated from Skyline High School in 1981. He then attended Lewis Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho on a basketball scholarship, and graduated in 1986 with a degree in business. David was on campus at the University of Idaho from 1987 to 1988 to obtain his M.B.A. degree with an emphasis in Finance. He started in the securities industry in 1988 with Piper Jaffray and Hopwood in Bellevue, Washington. In 1993 David was promoted to Assistant Manager of Piper Jaffray, and in 1998 he was promoted to office manager in the Bellevue branch. In late 2001, David moved his practice to Smith Barney in Bellevue and has been there since. His practice focuses on high net worth clients and consists of asset management, estate planning, education funding and wealth transfer.
David was raised in Idaho Falls, Idaho and graduated from Skyline High School in 1981. He then attended Lewis Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho on a basketball scholarship, and graduated in 1986 with a degree in business. David was on campus at the University of Idaho from 1987 to 1988 to obtain his M.B.A. degree with an emphasis in Finance. He started in the securities industry in 1988 with Piper Jaffray and Hopwood in Bellevue, Washington. In 1993 David was promoted to Assistant Manager of Piper Jaffray, and in 1998 he was promoted to office manager in the Bellevue branch. In late 2001, David moved his practice to Smith Barney in Bellevue and has been there since. His practice focuses on high net worth clients and consists of asset management, estate planning, education funding and wealth transfer.
August 11, 2009 - Matthew J. Espe
Matthew J. Espe joined IKON Office Solutions in August 2002 as President and Chief Executive Officer, and was elected to the additional position of Chairman of the Board of Directors in February 2003. In addition, Espe successfully led IKON through its merger with Ricoh Company, Ltd. in 2008. Prior to joining IKON Office Solutions, Espe served in various positions at General Electric Corporation. He was appointed a Company Officer of GE in 1998 and appointed President, GE Plastics Asia. In 1999 he was appointed President, GE Plastics Europe. Espe returned to the U.S. in 2000 and was named President and CEO of GE Lighting and Senior Vice President of General Electric. Espe earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Idaho and his master’s degree in business administration from Whittier College.
Matthew J. Espe joined IKON Office Solutions in August 2002 as President and Chief Executive Officer, and was elected to the additional position of Chairman of the Board of Directors in February 2003. In addition, Espe successfully led IKON through its merger with Ricoh Company, Ltd. in 2008. Prior to joining IKON Office Solutions, Espe served in various positions at General Electric Corporation. He was appointed a Company Officer of GE in 1998 and appointed President, GE Plastics Asia. In 1999 he was appointed President, GE Plastics Europe. Espe returned to the U.S. in 2000 and was named President and CEO of GE Lighting and Senior Vice President of General Electric. Espe earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Idaho and his master’s degree in business administration from Whittier College.
September 29, 2009 - Patrick Kuhse
Patrick Kuhse became an expert on ethics the hard way - by taking part in his own criminal acts and suffering the consequences. Kuhse originally worked as a successful stockbroker, but he kept his clients in the dark about a number of important issues. The situation got worse when a friend offered Kuhse a position as the investment advisor for the multi-billion dollar investment portfolio of the state of Oklahoma. He accepted, and with his "greed goggles" on, illegally bumped up his commission. After being caught, Patrick Kuhse spent four years on the lam in Costa Rica, trying to avoid the FBI and the federal government. Eventually, he decided to turn himself in and take responsibility for his actions. He spent four years in prison, and now devotes himself to speaking to audiences worldwide about the importance of ethical behavior.
Patrick Kuhse became an expert on ethics the hard way - by taking part in his own criminal acts and suffering the consequences. Kuhse originally worked as a successful stockbroker, but he kept his clients in the dark about a number of important issues. The situation got worse when a friend offered Kuhse a position as the investment advisor for the multi-billion dollar investment portfolio of the state of Oklahoma. He accepted, and with his "greed goggles" on, illegally bumped up his commission. After being caught, Patrick Kuhse spent four years on the lam in Costa Rica, trying to avoid the FBI and the federal government. Eventually, he decided to turn himself in and take responsibility for his actions. He spent four years in prison, and now devotes himself to speaking to audiences worldwide about the importance of ethical behavior.