8:45am - 3:45pm Mon, Sept 13, 2021 Main Campus Student Center - College of Business ...

Mon, Sept 13, 2021
    8:45am – 3:45pm
Main Campus Student Center

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Hello Conference Participants,
Welcome back!
At the College of Business, we’ve waited so long to convey that message to you. It feels good to do so.
To help welcome you back, we’ve put together a Business Leadership Conference that exemplifies our
purpose: to build leaders who inspire, innovate, create and positively impact society. Not only will we
celebrate what we hear today, but we also will get a chance to spotlight our commitment to diversity,
equity and inclusion. That will soon be evident.
Presenters, we’ve asked you to join us because of your stories and how you approach leadership as
you chart your career path. I’m sure in my belief that your wisdom, expertise and passion will be of
strong value to all attendees. We can’t wait to learn from you.
Students, for most of you, this year’s conference presents your first opportunity to showcase all that
you’ve learned so far from the COB. We trust you’ll be able to connect the dots between your newfound
knowledge and what you’ll hear today. I’m 100% confident you are ready to soak in everything and
show off what makes you Pirate Strong.
As a reminder, you are invited to attend the networking reception Ballrooms B and C in the Main
Student Center at noon. Presenters, you’ll get a chance to see what tomorrow’s leaders look like, and
students, you’ll get a chance to connect with today’s leaders. It will be a win-win situation for everyone.
Lastly, I want to thank the members of the conference committee for all the hard work they put into
organizing this event. Please thank these individuals when you see them. It will be well-deserved.
Let’s have a great event and get ready for a great presentation about transformative leadership from
Mr. Ken Bouyer of EY Americas. As someone commented on LinkedIn, we’re in for a treat.
I’ll see you there!
Sincerely,

Paul Schwager
Dean, College of Business
W. Howard Rooks Distinguished Professor

THANK YOU

9am, Ballrooms A & B
Main Campus Student Center

Ken Bouyer, EY Americas Inclusiveness Recruiting Leader
As EY Americas Director of Inclusiveness Recruiting, Ken is
responsible for developing and implementing the global EY organization’s recruiting strategy to build and
attract diverse and inclusive talent pools for member firms in the Americas. Ken frequently serves as an EY
industry group spokesperson on both diversity and recruiting trends at a range of events and with leading
media outlets.

Previous Experience
Ken has served in a variety of roles since joining the Assurance practice of Ernst & Young LLP in 1990. Prior
to his current role, Ken was a Director in the firm’s Advisory Services practice, supporting various global
internal audit clients. He continues to serve the firm’s clients in Advisory Services today.

Credentials and Community Activities
Ken is a member of the Executive Leadership Council and serves on the Board of Trustees for his alma mater,
Manhattan College. He also serves on North Carolina A&T’s Dean’s Advisory Council and Arizona State
University’s Accounting Advisory Board. He is a lifetime member and a current Corporate Advisory Board
Member of both the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and the ALPFA (Association of Latino
Professionals For America) organizations, and was honored with the 2018 ALPFA Lifetime Achievement
Award. Ken is also a Corporate Advisory Board Member of Ascend, which is the largest, non-profit Pan-Asian
organization for business professionals in North America.

Ken is the past Chair and current member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA)
National Commission on Diversity & Inclusion. Previously, Ken was a Board Member and International
President of Beta Alpha Psi and a board member and Chair of the Audit Committee for the American
Accounting Association. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Federation for the Schools of
Accountancy (FSA). Ken is a recipient of the FSA's "Practitioner Service Award" for his distinguished service
to the profession of accounting and accounting education. He was awarded the NABA’s Presidential Award
for his extraordinary accomplishments and leadership in the accounting profession and his commitment to
and support of NABA. Ken was also the recipient of the Harlem YMCA’s Black Achiever’s in Industry award,
the Michigan Society of CPA’s Diversity and Inclusion leadership award and the New Jersey State Society D&I
Leadership award.

Ken has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York. He is a
Certified Internal Auditor and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Ken currently resides in New Jersey with his wife, Shorn, and their daughter, Kelsie.

Session I    10 – 10:45 am

How to Lead Without a Title (Panel)
Panel Members:
Tyler Beasley, Senior Manager, Genomics Operations & Data Systems, IQVIA, Q2 Labs
Brittany Collins, Personal Trainer, B4 Fitness Training LLC
Christian Hill, Managing Director, Fidelity Investments
DaJuan Lucas, Diversity Recruiting Strategy Manager, Vanguard
Location: Room 253
Track: Ethics

In this panel format, we will have an open dialogue with students around the topic of inclusive
leadership, particularly when you don’t have the boss or manager title before your name. Leaders
come from all different backgrounds, personality types, and experiences. Leaning on these unique
qualities is what makes you effective, authentic, and better able to serve and lead within your sphere
of influence.

Born and raised in southeastern North Carolina, Tyler Beasley, a first-generation college student,
attended East Carolina University for both his undergraduate and graduate education. After earning
Bachelor degrees in both Cultural Anthropology and Multidisciplinary Studies in 2016, he returned
to complete a Master in Sociology degree (awarded 2019). He has held positions in both aerospace
and public health industries - and currently works with IQVIA, Q2 Genomics Laboratories.

Brittany Collins graduated from ECU in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and
completed an MBA degree in December 2020 from Winthrop University in Rockhill SC. After
graduating, Brittany held various roles within the accounting department at Compass Group USA.
She recently started her own business (B4 Fitness Training) which allows her to pursue a passion in
fitness and wellness.

Christian Hill earned a BSBA Business Administration, Finance from ECU. Christian has been at
Fidelity Investments for 4 years.

DaJuan began his career at Vanguard in July 2015 as a Vanguard Accelerated Development
Program Participant after graduating from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science degree
in Management and an MBA with a concentration in Marketing. In his current role as Manager,
Diversity Recruiting Strategies, Early Talent Engagement, he leads the early talent attraction arm of
the DRS Strategy. He also serves as Chief of Staff for Vanguard's Black Professional Network where
he contributes greatly to the attraction, retention, and engagement of Black employees at Vanguard.

Session II   11 – 11:45 am

Leadership with a Heart
Hilton Chip Chesson, President, Trinity Builders
Location: Room 253
Track: Diversity

After starting more than 23 companies over his Career, Mr. Chesson will discuss the financial aspects
of how you start a company.

Hilton "Chip" Chesson is a real estate developer and lifelong entrepreneur. Beginning in 1969, he
has constructed over 3,000 homes, 6 shopping centers, several office buildings, and has founded
several successful real estate companies.

Chesson’s areas of expertise include real estate, banking, and general business. His personal focus
is on marginalized communities and ethnic minorities with little access to housing. He received a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from East Carolina University in 1969. Prior to real estate,
Chesson was a banker with Wachovia. After being transferred from Greenville to Durham in April of
1968, his first assignment was to administer the new FHA 235 program. FHA 235 was a mortgage
that subsidized interest rates as low as 1% for low-income families, allowing almost anyone with
good credit to purchase a home.

Chesson’s passion for this program led him to leave the bank in August 1969 and open a real estate
and mortgage company with a local realtor, Reginald Rogers. His focus remained on bringing
purchasing power to families who were typically not afforded an opportunity to own homes. Over
the next few years, the company sold several hundred homes to families that had been “closed out”
of homeownership. In the mid 70’s this program proved too costly and was ended. Subsequently,
his focus shifted to Chesson Realty, his real estate business. The company initially served residential
brokerage; home building, commercial, and office parks were added shortly thereafter. Because of
a shortage of building lots, Sedgefield Development Company was created to develop subdivisions.
In the mid 80’s Chesson Realty was sold to Tracy Goetz, which evolved into Berkshire Hathaway.
Later, Venture Securities, an investment banking company, was formed to raise capital for Chesson’s
realty developments.

Session III   1 – 1:45 pm

Career Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make
Dr. Brenda Wells, Ph.D., CPCU, AAI, CRIS and Ms. Gina Hardy, NCJUA
Location: Room 253
Track: Ethics

Two seasoned business professionals (combined business experience 60+ years) discuss some of the
common and not-so-common mistakes made in business careers. Applicable to all genders and
backgrounds, this talk will bring to light what you can do to enhance--or hinder--your career success.
Brenda Wells, Ph.D., CPCU, AAI, CRIS has spent over 30 years studying and teaching risk
management and insurance. She presently serves as the director of the East Carolina University Risk
Management and Insurance Program, where she is the Robert F. Bird Distinguished Professor of Risk
Management and Insurance. During her career she has taught numerous risk and insurance courses
and supervised countless internships and independent study projects. Brenda has a long history of
forming, supporting, and mentoring student organizations and has a wide range of experience in
public relations and fundraising. To date she has raised a total of over $3,000,0000 in philanthropic
funds in her career. Brenda has published articles in numerous journals and periodicals.
Gina Hardy began her career at Great American and Ohio Casualty in the roles of Underwriter,
Underwriting Manager, Business Center Manager, National Umbrella Product Manager, and
Assistant Vice President. Some of her responsibilities included managing operations in ten states,
coordinating a corporate reorganization, and participating in strategic planning projects. In 2006,
Ms. Hardy accepted the position of Assistant Vice President with Builders Mutual where she was
responsible for establishing and managing underwriting policies, practices, and procedures.
During her tenure at Builders Mutual, the company expanded operations from four to nine states,
and transformed from writing primarily residential construction to writing risks involved in all areas
of construction. In 2012, Ms. Hardy was named Chief Executive Officer for the North Carolina Joint
Underwriting Association and the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association. The
Associations collectively insure $100 billion in property exposures for 439,649 policyholders and
are recognized as leaders in promoting resilient construction. Ms. Hardy has a BA from Emory
University, an MBA from the John E. Weems Graduate School at Meredith College, and has the
following designations: Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Risk
Management, Certified Insurance Counselor, Certified Risk Manager, Associate in Claims, and
Associate in Marine Insurance Management. Ms. Hardy serves as Board Chair of PIPSO (Property
Insurance Plans Services Office), as a member of the Business School Board of Advisors for Meredith
College; Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Board of Advisors for Brantley Risk Insurance Center
at Appalachian State University; and RMI Advisory Board of East Carolina University and the Board
of Directors for the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of CPCU. Ms. Hardy was a keynote speaker for
Guidewire’s International Information Technology Conference. She has also made formal
presentations at the White House (OMB on Community Resilience); Property Insurance Report National
Conference; SMIFA Insurance Linked Securities Conference; National Council of Insurance
Legislators; and Casualty Actuarial Society, Ratemaking and Product Management Seminar. In 2020,
Ms .Hardy received international recognition for contract innovation and structuring in Cape
Lookout Re (Series 2019-1 and Series 2019-2) as a finalist for Sponsor of the Year by Trading Risk and in
2014. Ms. Hardy was named Company Professional of the Year by the Independent Insurance
Agents of North Carolina.

Session IV   2 – 2:45 pm

Why Unique Perspectives in Technology Matter
Charmaine Ratcliff, Services Account Executive, NetAPP
Location: Room 253
Track: Diversity

This session will provide insights into why diversity matters in technology and why now is the time
for students to lean into opportunities that are presented. There is tremendous value to
understanding each person’s unique perspective and how to apply that as you begin your career
journey. What makes you, you, will help you understand your value in the workplace.

Charmaine is a Services Account Executive at NetApp. She graduated from East Carolina University
where she earned her BSBA degree with a concentration in Management Information Systems and
later earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification. She is a member of NetApp’s
Women in Tech organization. Charmaine’s career has spanned from Product Manager to Business
Manager to Account Executive with many valuable lessons learned along the way.

Session V     3 – 3:45 pm

Career in Supply Chain Management (Panel)
Jane Perry, Project Manager, Core & Main
Jessica Pupa, Senior Inventory Planner, Advance Auto Parts
Erica Tester, LAP Project Engineer, Branscome, Inc.
Location: Room 253
Track: Globalization

This panel discussion will highlight key aspects of the supply chain industry and will feature
perspectives and career advice from several industry professionals.

Originally from Maryland, Jane moved to North Carolina for college and graduated from Martin
Community College in 2014 with an AAS in Business Administration. She graduated from ECU in
2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with a concentration in Operations & Supply
Chain Management. Thanks to an ECU career fair, Jane landed a job that she ended up falling in
love with. She completed a two-year management trainee program and went on to become a Project
Manager for the nation’s largest specialized distributor in water, wastewater, storm drainage and fire
protection products and related services – Core & Main.

Jessica attended East Carolina University from 2014 to 2018 and graduated from the College of
Business with a dual concentration in Marketing & Operations/ Supply Chain Management. During
her time at ECU, Jessica was a member of the Institute for Supply Management Organization, the
Student Conduct Board, and the Zeta Tau Alpha fraternity. After graduation, she worked in a supply
chain rotational program where she became extremely interested in inventory management. Jessica
currently lives in Raleigh, NC, working as a Sr. Inventory Planner at the Advance Auto Parts corporate
office. She is passionate about growing the number of women in the supply chain industry.

Erica Tester is a heavy civil engineering LAP Project Engineer for Branscome Inc, located in
Richmond, VA. She is a member of NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction) and
has been in the highway construction industry for two and a half years. Erica graduated from East
Carolina University in 2016 and in 2019. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and
Supply Chain Management, with a concentration in Operations Management. She later earned her
MBA, along with a project management certificate. Erica holds many certifications, such as VDOT
Intermediate Traffic Control, VDOT ESCCC, OSHA 30, Division of Mineral Mining and Part 46.

3119 Harold H. Bate Building ǀ Mail Stop 503
       East Carolina University ǀ Greenville, NC 27858-4353
phone: 252.328.6966 ǀ email: cob@ecu.edu ǀ web: business.ecu.edu

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