Illinois State University alumna Tricia Griffith, president and CEO of Progressive Insurance, will be the keynote speaker for Illinois State’s Business Week 2018, February 19 to 23.
Events will include a professional development and etiquette dinner, with keynote speaker Marlene Dietz, owner and president of Dynamic Leadership Development; a golf outing; seminars on transitioning from college to the work world; and a discussion on diversity with keynote speaker Anise Wiley-Little, chief human capital and diversity officer of Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. For a complete list of the week’s events, speakers, locations, and student registration information, go online.
Griffith will give a talk at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, February 22, in the Center for Performing Arts. Her presentation is free and open to the public and is part of the Illinois State’s Speaker Series.
Griffith was appointed president and chief executive officer of Progressive Insurance in July of 2016. She is responsible for helping the company become consumers’ number one choice and destination for auto and other insurance. Prior to being named CEO, Griffith served as personal lines chief operating officer overseeing the company’s personal lines, claims, and customer relationship management groups.
She joined Progressive as a claims representative in 1988 and has served in many key leadership positions during her tenure. She held several managerial positions in the claims division before being named chief human resource officer in 2002. In 2008, she returned to claims as the group president, overseeing all claims functions. Prior to being named personal lines chief operating officer, Griffith was president of customer operations.
Griffith has a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business’ Advanced Management Program. In 2016, she was named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” by Fortune Magazine.
Six senior level executives will be officially inducted into the College of Business Hall of Fame during Business Week 2018. Corey Ferengul ’93, executive chairman and CEO of Magnetic, a leader in Al powered digital advertising; Zack Fortsch ’83, tax partner at RSM, the fifth largest accounting, tax and consulting firm in the U.S.; Joe Reynolds ’03, founder and co-CEO of Red Frog Events, an event production company known for its innovative events and award-winning company culture; Kelley Smith ’81, principal of Kensington Realty Advisors, a commercial real estate investment management company based in Chicago; Nancy Svoboda ’86, executive vice president, Human Resources for the Denver Broncos Football Club; and Jeff Wilson ’88, senior vice president, head of Total Rewards for the Toronto-Dominion Bank Group. 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.
