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Dean, Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University Former Vice Chairman of Johnson & Johnson

Christine A. Poon was appointed Dean and John W. Berry, Sr. Chair in Business at The Max M. Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University in April 2009. Poon comes to Fisher after a 30-year career in the health-care industry, most recently as vice chairman and worldwide chairman of Pharmaceuticals at Johnson & Johnson. She served as a member of the company's Board of Directors and Executive Committee and was responsible for managing the pharmaceutical businesses of the company. Her areas of expertise include domestic and international business operations and sales and marketing. Poon began her career at Johnson & Johnson in 2000 as company group chairman of Pharmaceuticals and was appointed worldwide chairman of Pharmaceuticals in 2001. She was appointed worldwide chairman of Medicines & Nutritionals in 2003 and was named a vice chairman of the Board of Directors in 2005. In 2007, Poon assumed responsibility for the Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, the Corporate Office of Science and Technology, the Corporate Office of Information Management, Worldwide Procurement and Worldwide Operations.

As group president for the Americas, William M. Sheedy oversees the company's client relationships with card issuers, merchants, merchant acquirers and third-party processors in North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

More recently, Sheedy served as president of North America and global head of corporate strategy and business development. Prior to his leadership role in Visa's corporate restructuring in 2007 and successful initial public offering in 2008, he was responsible for expanding merchant acceptance and consumer usage of Visa, while providing oversight of areas responsible for industry cost and revenue studies, merchant incentive programs and improving the point-of-sale operating performance of Visa products. Sheedy has also been key in supporting Visa product and brand strategies as well as other initiatives that are critical to realizing Visa's long-term growth potential.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BB&T Corp.

Kelly S. King, chairman and chief executive officer of BB&T Corp., has been confirmed as one of the speakers who will give talks at WVU as part of the College of Business and Economics 60th anniversary celebration. King will speak on Nov. 7.

Associate Professor, São Paulo School of Business Administration

Over the last 30 years, Parente has been an Associate Professor in Marketing and Retailing at FGV-EAESP (Fundação Getulio Vargas – Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo) or the São Paulo School of Business Administration, São Paulo, Brazil, the leading business school in Brazil. While at FGV-EAESP, he was also the head of the Marketing Department and the founder of the school's Center for Excellence in Retail.

Lara Hernandez is an executive with a proven track record of building and leading high-performing teams in complex businesses and consistently driving profitable hotel revenue. She has deep understanding of the distribution landscape (web, voice, on-line travel agencies, global distribution systems), loyalty marketing and B2B direct sales. Lara has demonstrated success in both launching and repositioning distribution strategies to deliver increased market share, greater audience engagement and increased revenue.

Currently, Lara serves as Vice President of Distribution & Relationship Marketing, Americas for IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) PLC. IHG's family of brands includes InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. Lara is responsible for the delivery of over $5.5 billion annually through IHG's direct distribution channels and loyalty program (voice, web, mobile and Priority Club® Rewards) with a specific focus on more than 3,400 IHG hotels in the Americas. Overseeing the strategy, key owner and stakeholder relationships, developing opportunities in key and emerging markets, as well as team development and management provide Lara with impact and value in her role.

Executive Vice President, Korn/Ferry International

Robert H. McNabb is the Executive Vice President of Korn/Ferry International and Global Leader of the Office of the Chief Executive – Premier Client Partnerships program.

John Chambers is one of the most recognized business leaders in the world, heading a corporation with operations on nearly every continent. And he is a Mountaineer.

The Charleston, W.Va., native is Chairman and CEO of Cisco, a globally visible company with more than 65,000 employees around the globe. Chambers, who earned degrees from the  West Virginia University John Chambers College of Business and Economics and the  WVU College of Law, will speak at his alma mater on September 28 in B&E at 60, the business school's 60th anniversary lecture series.

Henry Harmon is currently President and CEO of Triana Energy, LLC, an exploration and production company headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia. He also serves as the Chairman of a Charleston based private equity firm known as The Equities House, and several of its operating companies. He is also a private investor in a number of enterprises, involved in the development of natural resources, medical devices, alternative fuels, export and logistics, and communications.

Harmon was formerly employed by the Columbia Energy Group for 22 years, where he served as President and CEO of several of its non-regulated energy subsidiaries, including Columbia Natural Resources. He left the Columbia organization in November 2000 to form Triana Energy.

After working for B.F. Goodrich Chemicals, he joined FMC Corporation as an area production manager in 1967. In 1969, he joined the BASF group where he played a major role in developing the company into a multi-billion dollar corporation. While employed at BASF, he held numerous positions before becoming vice president of the Intermediate Chemicals group, a corporate officer, and a member of the executive committee.

In 1980, he left BASF to become CEO of Rio Tinto Zinc Chemicals in the United States and Canada. He shaped the company from the ground up into a leader in the chemical treatment industry. In 1984, Purdy established the AGDATA group of companies, now one of the largest agricultural, animal, and human health data analysis and marketing companies in the world. AGDATA provides Internet and business-to-business solutions to major agrochemical, animal health, hospitals and physicians, throughout the world. It has offices Europe, Canada, and the U.S. In September 2010, Mr. Purdy sold AGDATA and currently sits on the Board of Directors. He is also a co- founder of Cadrillion Capital, a closely held private investment firm located in Charlotte, NC.

Founder of 84 Lumber and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Joseph A. Hardy III is a true American success story, rising from a college student selling home-grown vegetables door-to-door to building what today is the largest privately owned building materials supplier to professional contractors -  84 Lumber Company.