Keynote Speakers

Ken Charles
Networking Luncheon
Monday, June 27
12:45 p.m.

As Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion at General Mills, Inc., Ken is responsible for development and execution of its global diversity and inclusion strategy. He works closely with the CEO and SVP of HR on business and people strategies to create value for each of the company’s stakeholders. With his team, he addresses issues such as workforce representation, retention and development. He also has responsibility for General Mills $500 MM Supplier Diversity program and Flexibility initiative s throughout the company.

Previously as Chief Staffing Officer, Ken lead campus and experienced professional recruiting. He was responsible for development of the GMI employment brand and enhancing relationships with key university and community partners. He championed diversity recruiting activities across all functions for General Mills.

Charles joined General Mills in 2000 and was promoted to corporate officer in January, 2008.

Ken started his career in sales and marketing with U. S. Steel in Pittsburgh.As Operations Manager for INROADS/Atlanta, Inc., he led the affiliate to record growth. INROADS is a national career development organization that places talented minority youth in business and industry. Ken also served as the Director of Corporate Affairs and Development with Golden Key International Honor Society, the world’s largest collegiate honor society.

He holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Kansas and a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Duquesne University.

Jeane Hull
Networking Luncheon
Monday, June 27
12:45 p.m.

Jeane L. Hull is Executive Vice President of Technical Services for Peabody Energy. She joined Peabody in May 2007 as Senior Vice President of Engineering and Technical Services and was responsible for the global delivery of engineering, environmental, geology and design and construction services. Jeane most recently served as Group Vice President Powder River Basin and Southwest Operations and Group Vice President of Powder River Basin Operations.

Prior to joining Peabody, Jeane served as Chief Operating Officer of Kennecott Utah Copper. She has held numerous management, engineering and operations positions with Rio Tinto and affiliates. Prior to joining Rio Tinto, Jeane spent 12 years with Mobil Mining and Minerals and Mobil Chemical Company. She has additional engineering, environmental and regulatory affairs experience in the public and private sector and was the first female manager of a U.S. coal mine.

A registered professional engineer, Jeane holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and an M.B.A. from Nova University in Florida. A member of the Society of Mining and Metallurgy and Exploration, Jeane has participated in numerous events to help interest young women in engineering and mining fields.

Gregory R. Page
New Student Workshop
Monday, June 27
4:45 p.m.

Greg serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Cargill. He was elected chairman of the board on Sept. 11, 2007, and CEO on June 1, 2007. He continues to hold the office of president, a position to which he was elected in June 2000. He was elected to the Cargill Board of Directors in August 2000.

Page joined Cargill in 1974 as a trainee assigned to the Feed Division. Over the years, he held a number of positions in the United States and Singapore. Page worked with the start-up of a poultry processing operation in Thailand, the beef and pork processing operations of Cargill’s Excel subsidiary in Wichita, Kansas, and the Financial Markets Group in Minneapolis.

Page serves as a member of the board of directors of Eaton Corporation and Carlson. He is immediate past-chair of the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and continues to serve on this board.

Page received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of North Dakota.

Peter J. Aranda, III
Networking Dinner
Monday, June 27
7 p.m.

Peter is The Consortium’s CEO and Executive Director. He joined the organization in 2003, becoming the first Consortium alumnus to lead the non-profit.

Prior to his role at The Consortium, Peter pursued a management consulting track at Andersen Consulting and Price Waterhouse. He then became a senior executive in the entertainment industry with subsidiaries of MCA and BMG, including positions as chief executive officer, chief operating officer and managing director. He also ran his own entertainment consulting company for several years.
Following his corporate experience, Peter served as an adjunct faculty member or guest lecturer in business at Belmont University, Parson’s School of Design, University of Virginia, University of Southern California and Columbia University.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing from University of Southern California, a Master’s of Information Management from Washington University in St. Louis’ School of Engineer and Applied Science and an MBA from the university’s Olin School of business. He was completed all coursework, residency requirements and qualifying exams (ABD) for the Ph.D. degree in Strategic Management, Management of Organizations Division at Columbia University.

Peter currently serves on the advisory board for NSHMBA and board of directors for College Horizons/Graduate Horizons and Field of Plenty. He also serves as College Horizon’s treasurer.

Joe E. Harlan
Sterling H. Schoen Awards Dinner
Tuesday, June 28
7:30 p.m.

Joe E. Harlan is executive vice president of 3M Company’s Consumer and Office Business. Joe has been with 3M since 2001. He joined 3M as staff vice president, financial planning and analysis in September of that year. He then spent two years in Japan with Sumitomo 3M Limited, its Japanese subsidiary, where he served first as executive vice president, and then as President and Chairman of the Board. He became executive vice president of 3M Electro and Communications Business which is based in Austin, Texas, in October 2004.

Prior to coming to 3M, Joe spent 20 years with General Electric, where he held various finance and business development positions in their Plastics, Appliance and Medical Systems businesses, eventually serving as vice president and CFO of General Electric Lighting. Joe has lived and worked in North America, Europe and Asia during his career.

He holds a degree in Finance from Indiana University - Bloomington.