Chief Brand Officer
Bed Bath & Beyond Cindy is a seasoned marketing executive who joins Bed Bath & Beyond from L Brands, where she most recently served as EVP and Chief Digital Marketing Officer, responsible for innovating marketing solutions to drive growth across brands and geographies, accelerating digital capabilities company-wide and building loyal customer relationships. Previously she was EVP, Consumer Experience, at Disney/ABC Television, prior to which she held strategic leadership positions at other leading retail and leisure brands, including Walmart, Inc., Sam's Club, Yum! Brands, Starwood Hotels and Hilton Hotels. Cindy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The College of William & Mary and a master’s in international business management from The Thunderbird School of Global Management. |
CEO
Red Lobster Seafood Co. Kim Lopdrup has served as CEO of Red Lobster since it became an independent company on July 28, 2014. Red Lobster is the world’s largest seafood restaurant company. Since becoming an independent company, Red Lobster has built an outstanding team and improved its food, service, convenience and value. All of Red Lobster’s seafood is now traceable, sustainable and responsibly-sourced. Red Lobster was also named to Forbes magazine’s most recent lists of America’s Most Reputable Companies, America’s Best Large Employers, America’s Best Employers for Diversity and America’s Best Employers for New Graduates. Red Lobster was also rated as having the highest food quality among all seafood restaurant chains and the highest customer “True Loyalty” among all casual dining restaurants in Nation’s Restaurant News’ 2019 Consumer Picks study. Kim previously served as President of the Specialty Restaurant Group and New Business for Darden Restaurants, leading their Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s, Bahama Breeze and Yard House brands as well as Darden’s International Division. Prior to that, he led Red Lobster as President for seven years, where he comprehensively revitalized the brand with initiatives such as the award-winning Today’s Fresh Fish program, wood-fire grilling, Bar Harbor Image remodels and a new logo – resulting in industry-leading guest satisfaction and record profits. Before joining Red Lobster, Kim served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, North America, for Burger King Corporation. He led that company’s 8,500 North American restaurants to record guest satisfaction scores in both company-owned and franchised restaurants, contributing to a turn-around of declining same-store sales. Earlier, Kim spent 16 years with Allied Domecq Quick Service Restaurants (now called Dunkin’ Brands), the franchisor of Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins. He turned around Dunkin’s previously-declining coffee business as that brand’s Product Marketing Manager for Beverages. Later, as Vice President of Marketing, he managed Dunkin’s iconic “Time to Make the Donuts” ad campaign starring Fred the Baker. And, as Chief Executive Officer of Allied Domecq’s 3,500-unit international division, he dramatically accelerated growth and took that business from record losses to 82% above its previous profit record in just three years. Kim began his career in brand management at Procter & Gamble, working on Folgers and High Point coffees and Citrus Hill orange juice. He serves on the boards of Wawa, Inc. (since 2006); Red Lobster (since 2014); and Bob Evans Restaurants (since 2017). He previously served on the boards of Rubio’s Restaurants (both before and after its IPO), 31 Ice Cream (a Japanese public company) and Hiram Walker & Sons, Ltd. (a Canadian company). He also served on the board of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida for 12 years, being named Board Member of the Year in 2011 and receiving National Service to Youth awards in 2010 and 2015. Orlando Business Journal named Kim a “CEO of the Year” in 2016. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the College of William and Mary in 1980 and an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School in 1984. He is married and has four children as well as one grandchild. |
President & CEO
The J.M. Smucker Company Mark passionately leads the pursuit of the Company’s Purpose: Feeding Connections That Help Us Thrive – Life Tastes Better Together. As only the sixth CEO in the Company’s 120+-year history, Mark Smucker, President and CEO, has taken on his role with humility and enthusiasm. Mark is passionate about serving all of the Company’s stakeholders and is energized by the opportunity to execute a vision that will position Smucker to continue to engage, delight, and inspire consumers through trusted brands that bring joy throughout their lives. Under his leadership, Smucker has strengthened its position as a leading manufacturer of beloved products while expanding its role as a world-class marketer of popular brands across growth categories. This is highlighted by the success of several brands including Jif®, Smucker’s® Uncrustables®, Folgers®, Rachael Ray® Nutrish®, and Milk-Bone® This success has allowed the Company to enhance its partnerships with leading retailers, meet the evolving needs of consumers, and increase value for shareholders. Inspired by Mark’s devotion to being relentlessly consumer-focused, Smucker has adopted a stronger concentration on agility to meet emerging needs. This is reflected in the Company’s investment in data analysis and market intelligence to better predict consumer behavior; corporate strategy, to identify new growth opportunities; and IT and sales, to expand distribution and ensure its products are conveniently available to consumers. As Smucker has grown, Mark has preserved the culture, guided by the Company’s Basic Beliefs and Our Commitment to Each Other, that instills pride in employees while creating a positive, exciting atmosphere to attract new talent. In addition to its leadership as a business and employer, Smucker has enhanced its position as a responsible organization. Mark has built upon the Company’s rich history of corporate responsibility by championing sustainable practices, a commitment to responsible sourcing, and a passion for supporting the communities in which Smucker operates. Prior to being named President and CEO, Mark held leadership roles in the Company’s major businesses, including serving as President of two of its largest divisions, Consumer & Natural Foods and Coffee. Mark holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary and an MBA from the Arizona State Thunderbird School of Global Management. He lives in Akron, Ohio, with his wife, two children, and two dogs. Mark enjoys skiing, tennis, music, and cooking with his family. “Our Company was built by thousands of families, just like ours, who have cared about its success for over 120 years. I am humbled to serve as a steward of this great Company, leading and working with our talented team to build on what we have achieved, while charting an exciting path forward.” |
Visiting Clinical Professor
Raymond A. Mason School of Business Matt Williams is a visiting Clinical Professor of Marketing for William & Mary's Raymond A. Mason School of Business. He holds a BBA in Marketing from William & Mary and an MBA from Northwestern University. He spent 30 years in advertising and was the CEO of The Martin Agency, the 25th largest agency in the US and one of the most creatively recognized agencies in the world, from 2013-2018. Matt has also been integral to the development of the Mason Schools’ first online Masters of Marketing. He has a passion for brand management and brings a wealth of knowledge in communications strategy, integrated marketing, digital strategy and leadership. |
Diversity Equity & Inclusion Lead, Core & Corporate Engineering
Amanda started her career in human capital consulting at Deloitte where she focused on diversity, survey and workforce analytics as well as survey research and methodology. From there she went on to Accenture, where she grew her career from consultant to senior manager working with clients on inclusion and diversity strategy, talent and workforce strategy, and organizational behavior change. Following her time at Accenture, Amanda joined The Estée Lauder Companies as a Director of Organizational Effectiveness where she leveraged her skills in culture change, leadership engagement, analytics and belonging to drive org effectiveness across the supply chain transformation portfolio and create the global inclusion and diversity strategy for ELC. Currently, Amanda is the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Lead for the Core & Corporate Engineering tech product areas at Google. Amanda holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The College of William & Mary with a concentration in Process Management and Consulting, and a minor in Music. |
Chief Data Scientist, Americas
Intel Corporation Melvin Greer is Chief Data Scientist, Americas, Intel Corporation. He is responsible for building Intel’s data science platform through graph analytics, machine learning and cognitive computing to accelerate transformation of data into a strategic asset for Public Sector and commercial enterprises. Mr. Greer is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and U.S. National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine, GUIRR. Melvin has been appointed to Senior Advisor and Fellow at the FBI IT and Data Division. Melvin is charged with acceleration of the FBI mission by supporting appropriate data collection, data analytics, discovery and visualization via advanced data science and AI techniques. Melvin is a Board of Trustee at Capitol Technology University where he oversees and aligns its strategic direction, educational policy, finances and operations with the mission of the university. As a popular educator and board member at a number of Historical Black Colleges and Universities, Greer is leading science, technology, mathematical and engineering (STEM) research initiatives, directly trying to shape a more diverse generation of up-and-coming technical talent. Greer received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems and Technology and his Master of Science in Information Systems from American University, Wash. D.C. He also completed the Executive Leadership Program at the Cornell University, Johnson Graduate School and the Entrepreneurial Finance program at MIT Sloan School of Management. |
Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion
Amazon Elizabeth assumed the role of Head of Global Diversity & Inclusion in April 2019. She is responsible for implementing Amazon’s comprehensive D&I strategy, focused on attracting and developing a diverse workforce that will delight our customers globally. Before joining Amazon, Elizabeth was the Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at MetLife since 2012 and the Global Talent Management Leader since 2017. Under her leadership, the company defined and implemented their first global D&I strategy supported by Global D&I Council chaired by MetLife CEO. The strategy focused on the development of women globally and regional initiatives (e.g., emerging talent, LGBTQ+, people with different abilities, veterans) and accountability metrics to achieve the company’s world-class status aspiration. As the Global Talent Management Leader, she was responsible for the senior talent review and succession management process, the MBA global leadership development program, and executive coaching. Previously to joining MetLife, Elizabeth was the Global Head of Talent, Learning and Diversity for Marsh, Inc. responsible for talent management, all learning initiatives, including leadership, management and business core processes. She also led the Talent Management task force as part of the Marsh & McLennan Companies HR transformation initiative. Before joining Marsh, Elizabeth spent almost 20 years with Citigroup; for more than 10 years in global talent management, diversity & inclusion roles and as an HR business partner. Previously, she managed global and regional learning organizations working extensively in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Early in her career, she worked at Arthur Andersen/Andersen Consulting in the newly launched change management practice, both in the US and Latin America. Elizabeth has used her insights and talent to help people through her work in non-profit organizations that support global girls’ rights to education, access to developmental opportunities for young underserved talent and teenagers at risk. She served as a board member for Girls Learn International, is currently a board member at The Opportunity Network, A Fair Shake for Youth and the All Stars Project. Born and raised in Argentina, Elizabeth earned her Masters degree from the University of Buenos Aires. In 2014, she was named one of the Top Champions of Diversity by Diversity Global Magazine. In 2016, she was honored by the All Stars Project for her contributions to the development of underserved youth, and in 2017, by El Museo del Barrio in New York City for Excellence in Philanthropy. Crain’s NY recognized Elizabeth in their 2018 Notable Women in Finance. |
Senior Vice President, Property Management
Bedrock Detroit After graduating from William & Mary with both an MBA and Juris Doctorate, Stephanie began as a Continuous Improvement, Service and Special Projects Manager for Horseshoe Baltimore focusing on training and engagement, special projects, and customer experience management. She later transitioned into a Senior Program Manager and Senior Strategic Operations Manager at JACK Entertainment supporting initiatives as project leader for the Operations Team. Currently at Bedrock Detroit, Stephanie leads a team of over 70 people that manages citywide building operations, over 100 commercial, residential and retail buildings. |
IBM Partner/Vice President and Maj Gen USAF/ANG - Retired
IBM Bill Busby is a retired IBM Executive and USAF/ANG General Officer. He is now focused on the development and training of corporate and public sector leaders, from on-boarding and training new talent to developing senior executives and military flag officers. In his 33 years with IBM he served in multiple Client-facing leadership roles including Product Manager, Branch Manager, Insurance Industry Lead, Consulting Practice Area Lead, Partner and VP. In these roles he was responsible for leading teams that served Clients by bringing innovative technologies and services to meet their business needs and improve their performance. His teams worked closely with Clients to deliver a number of industry leading “first-of-a-kind” initiatives including Apple iPad Customer Service, Blockchain, and Health Data Network solutions. Mr. Busby also served as Global co-chair of IBM’s Persons with Disabilities Team. This team was tasked with leveraging IBM R&D, Labs, Consulting, and Engineering units to build and deliver prototypes and solutions for IBMers and Clients that would assist them in their performance of work and daily tasks. He also served 4 decades as a fighter pilot in the USAF and the ANG, achieving the rank of Major General. He has commanded at the squadron, group, wing, and state levels. He served in leadership roles in multiple global combat deployments including tours of duty in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Bosnia. He served on the Air Staff in the Pentagon and at HQ US STRATCOM. His personal decorations include the DSSM, LoM, and Bronze Star Medal. He proudly serves on the USO of North Carolina Board of Directors as Vice Chair and the Board of Directors of the SPCA of Wake County as Secretary. |
Deputy CIG
US Army CPT Jamar Jenkins is currently an ADOS Soldier serving as the Deputy, Commander’s Initiative Group – 21st Theater Sustainment Command for Major General Christopher Mohan. As the Deputy, Commander's Initiative Group (CIG) plans all strategic engagements for the 21st Theater Sustainment Command in Panzer, Kaserne Germany. CPT Jenkins resources with senior 21st TSC officers to plan, task and execute for the Commanding General, Deputy Commanding General, Deputy Commanding Officer and Chief of Staff. Engagements include Congressional visits, joint and inter-agency engagements as well as NATO/Partner nation strategic engagements. Principle lead for Strategy & Effects. He is a Logistician from Chapel Hill, TN and graduated from Radford University in 2009 with a Bachelors in Business Administration in Marketing. Additionally, he has a Master in Business Administration (2018) and Master of Science in Business Analytics (2020) from The College of William & Mary. He is a Reserve TPU Soldier assigned to 75th Innovation Command, Army Futures Command located in Houston, Texas as a Systems Development Officer and Tech Innovation Scout. In his civilian role he is a Cross – PID Product Manager for Cisco Systems, Inc in the Intent Based Networking Group. |
President and CEO
Huntington Ingalls Industries Mike Petters is president and CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries, America’s largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry. He is also a member of HII’s Board of Directors. Petters previously served as president of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding and as president of Northrop Grumman’s Newport News sector. He joined Newport News Shipbuilding in 1987 in the Los Angeles-class submarine construction division. He held a number of increasingly responsible positions throughout the organization, including production supervisor for submarines, marketing manager for submarines and carriers, vice president of aircraft carrier programs, vice president of contracts and pricing, and vice president of human resources. A native of Florida, Petters earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982, served aboard the nuclear-powered submarine USS George Bancroft (SSBN 643) and spent five years in the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1993, he earned an MBA from the College of William and Mary. Petters is a past chairman and current member of the Virginia Business Council and a member of the Aerospace Industries Association’s executive committee. He serves on the board of directors for the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation and the National Association of Manufacturers. He also serves on the board of advisors for the Center for a New American Security, the board of trustees of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation and the distinguished advisory board for the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation. In 2017, Petters received the Committee for Economic Development’s Owen B. Butler Education Excellence Award, which recognizes an individual’s exceptional commitment to quality education, skills development and workforce development programs. |
Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Riverside Medical Group Sally Ryan is Vice President, Physician Services and Chief Operating Officer of Riverside Medical Group, a division of Riverside Health System. Sally graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Management from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Following graduation, she served as an officer in the Medical Service Corps of the United States Air Force. She worked in both hospital and headquarter positions, ending her service at Air Combat Command Headquarters, Langley AFB VA. In 1995, Sally received her Master of Business Administration from The College of William and Mary. Her experience in the health care industry includes provider contract management for Optima Health Plan, director of payer relations for Tidewater Physicians’ Multispecialty Group, practice management consultant and project manager for small and large medical groups including strategic planning, recruitment, construction, EMR implementation, payer evaluation, revenue cycle and process improvement. In her current role, she oversees operations of a 650+ physician and advanced practice provider group serving in five regions of southeast Virginia. She is active in the Hampton Roads Community Action Program (HRCAP) Newport News Choice Neighborhood Initiative service provider network. Sally is a member of the CEO Council of the American Medical Group Association and a member of The Advisory Board Medical Group Strategy Council. |
Assistant Professor
Raymond A. Mason School of Business William Skimmyhorn is an Assistant Professor of Finance and Economics. Prior to joining the faculty at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business, he was an Assistant and Associate Professor of Economics at the United States Military Academy at West Point. While there, he served as the inaugural Long-Term Research Coordinator for the U.S. Army Office of Economic and Manpower Analysis. In this position, he was responsible for providing analytic support to senior government leaders, managing a research network of leading scholars at more than a dozen institutions nationwide, and designing research and program evaluations to improve public policy. He researches the causes and consequences of individual financial decision-making and human capital development. This research contributes to fields including household finance, behavioral finance and behavioral economics, public economics, labor economics, and the economics of national security. He has presented his research at academic conferences around the country and to policy-makers in a variety of settings, and published in journals including the Review of Economics and Statistics, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, and the Journal of Public Economics. His research has been cited by Congressional commissions, international and national governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations. He has received media coverage from Forbes, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. He earned a B.S. degree in Economics from the United States Military Academy at West Point, an M.S. degree in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University, an M.A. degree in International Policy from Stanford, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Harvard University. Prior to arriving at William & Mary, Dr. Skimmyhorn was a career military officer in the U.S. Army as an aviator and an economist. |
Co-Founder and Managing Partner
The St. James Group Kendrick Ashton is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of The St. James Group (SJG). SJG is a new sports and entertainment brand with locations in and around the Washington, D.C. area that houses sports and wellness facilities, major events, and training programs. In his previous role, Kendrick was a founding member and Managing Director of Perella Weinberg Partners, a boutique financial services firm founded by Joe Perella and Peter Weinberg. From December 2009 until April 2011, he served as Chief Operating Officer of the firm’s corporate advisory business. Prior to joining Perella Weinberg, Kendrick was an investment banker at Goldman, Sachs & Co., executing large mergers, acquisitions, and debt and equity offerings across a broad range of industries. Kendrick also gained legal experience at the law firms of Cravath, Swaine & Moore; and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Kendrick received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was a Merit Scholar and the Earl Dickerson Public Service Scholar, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, where he was also a Merit Scholar. Prior to entering the University of Chicago, Kendrick served as Deputy Press Secretary for Steve Forbes’ presidential campaign and as a Congressional Aide to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, D.C. Kendrick received his A.B in International Relations – Political Economics from the College of William and Mary in 1998, where he was a member of the Dean’s List and an all-conference cornerback. He also received the William and Mary Quarterback Club’s President’s Award; the John Kratzer Memorial Award for Exemplary Courage, Self-Sacrifice, Leadership and Spirit; and the Benjamin Stoddert Ewell Award for Outstanding Leadership in Campus and Community Activities and for Service and Contribution to the College. In 2009, the Board of Directors of the College’s Alumni Association awarded Kendrick the Young Alumni Service Award for his service and commitment to William and Mary. A fifth-generation Washingtonian, Kendrick is a member of the Board of Visitors of the College of William & Mary; an Emeritus Trustee of the College of William & Mary Foundation; a Trustee of the National Urban League; Co-founder, Board Member, and Treasurer of Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men (Illinois’s first all-boys charter school); and Chairman of the Board of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. |
Co-Founder and Managing Director
The St. James Group Craig Dixon is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of The St. James, the category-creating sports, wellness and active entertainment destination brand in the country. Craig is also the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The St. James Group, where he focuses on investments in sports, wellness, entertainment, technology, and real estate. Prior to founding The St. James, Craig was Assistant Vice President and Senior Counsel at Smithfield Foods, a Fortune 250 global food business, and the world’s largest pork processor. There Craig focused on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and was the general counsel to multiple operating subsidiaries. Before joining Smithfield, he was a senior lawyer at McGuireWoods LLP focusing on mergers and acquisitions and international project finance. Craig began his career as a law clerk to the Honorable James Spencer, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia. Craig earned a BBA from the College of William & Mary as well as his Juris Doctor from the William & Mary School of Law where he was a recipient of the TC Clarke Scholarship, the Law Foundation Scholarship and the Thurgood Marshall Humanitarian Award. He is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development. |
Executive Director of the Alan B. Miller Entrepreneurship Center & Clinical Lecturer
Raymond A. Mason School of Business Graham Henshaw is a Clinical Professor at William & Mary's Raymond A. Mason School of Business and Executive Director of the Alan B. Miller Entrepreneurship Center. Prior to joining William & Mary, Graham was the Director of Venture Development at New Richmond Ventures – a Richmond-based venture capital firm investing in early-stage socially-driven startups. At New Richmond Ventures, Graham used his entrepreneurial experience and systematic, customer-centric problem solving approach to help accelerate the growth of portfolio companies. During his tenure at NRV, Graham also launched an early-stage accelerator called Feed & Seed which subsequently merged with Lighthouse Labs to support startups in achieving product-market fit through an intensive three-month program focused on iterative business model development. Graham brings to W&M a diverse background in product development, Fortune 500 strategic consulting, and entrepreneurship. He leveraged his varied skill set to found Active Innovation Group in 2007, a company that created innovative accessories for athletes - most notably PaceTat - which was then acquired in 2010. As a strategic consultant, Graham has worked with companies including General Electric, Kraft Foods, Toyota and GlaxoSmithKline to create products, services, and messaging consistent with deep consumer insights. Graham Henshaw has been teaching in the areas of Entrepreneurship and Innovation & Design at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business since 2012. He earned an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Industrial Design from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. |
Alan B. Miller Hall
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