Illinois State University alumnus Michael Keane, a consultant and the former executive vice president and chief financial officer of Genomatica, will be the keynote speaker for Illinois State’s Business Week 2016, February 22 to 26.
Events will include a professional development and etiquette dinner, seminars on transitioning from college to the work world, and corporate social responsibility. For a complete list of the week’s events, speakers, locations, and student registration information, go online.
Keane will give a talk titled “The Journey to a Sustainable Future” at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, February 25, in the Center for Performing Arts. A College of Business Alumni Network reception will follow the keynote address. The presentation and reception are both free and open to the public. Keane’s presentation is also part of Illinois State’s Speaker Series.
Keane joined Genomatica as vice president and chief financial officer in 2011. Genomatica is a bioengineering technology company which develops biobased processes to produce chemicals with greater sustainability than using petroleum based feedstocks. Previous to his role at Genomatica, he held similar executive leadership positions at Clipper Windpower, Inc., a wind energy technology company; Computer Sciences Corporation; and at UNOVA, Inc. and Western Atlas Inc, industrial technologies companies.
Seven senior level executives will be officially inducted into the College of Business Hall of Fame during Business Week 2016. Alumni Hall of Fame inductees include Bill Allison ’79, national managing director – U.S. Pursuit Center of Excellence, Deloitte Consulting LLP; Benjamin Hart, MBA ’95, president and chief executive officer, Heritage Enterprises Inc.; J. William Lin ’70, president and CPA, Lin and Lincoln CPA’s Ltd.; Catherine Lynch ’80, chief financial officer, Inland Real Estate Investment Corporation; Joseph E. McNeely ’86, president and chief executive officer, FreightCar America, Inc.; and Greg Morris ’94, senior vice president, Archer Daniels Midland. Service Hall of Fame inductee is Connie Fako Shoemake ’77, business and technology consultant. Read more about the inductees.
Business Week is sponsored by the College of Business and brings corporate and industry leaders to campus to speak on important issues, trends, and cutting-edge developments. The week’s events help students from all academic disciplines better understand the skills needed for success in a dynamic global business environment and emphasize educational preparation, leadership, service, etiquette, networking, goal setting, and career advancement. Business Week is managed by a student-led committee with guidance from staff.
