Panelists joining the discussion on May 18 include influential representatives from OSU-Cascades, COCC, St. Charles Health System, Horizon Broadcasting and the Economic Development of Central Oregon (EDCO)
What role does higher education have in business? “With a strategic approach, colleges and universities can have a major impact on regional economic revitalization—without massive new funding,” says Michael Porter, Harvard Business School.”
Whether through a 4-year university or by creating tailored community college programs, Central Oregon has an opportunity to rewrite its economy by partnering economic development, local businesses and higher education. But how?
Karnopp Petersen announces former university president and recognized higher education and entrepreneurial-based community development expert, Dr. Lee Vickers, PHD. He will serve as the keynote speaker for the Spring 2012 Karnopp Petersen Business 20/20 executive seminar series, Counter Intelligence: Unraveling Central Oregon’s Higher Education Debate.
The event will be held Friday, May 18 at the Tower Theatre in Bend from 7:30-9:30am.
Dr. Lee Vickers will present proven, national case studies and discuss realistic solutions that can work in Central Oregon. Attendees will hear Dr. Vickers and a team of influential local panelists discuss how higher education can help businesses nurture employee talent, and how Central Oregon can tap educational programs and build a competitive talent pool to fuel the economy. Local panelists include Becky Johnson, vice president of Oregon State University- Cascades; Dr. Jim Middleton, president of Central Oregon Community College; Kurt Schueler, chief administrative officer, St. Charles Health System; Keith Shipman, president and CEO of Horizon Broadcasting and Roger Lee, executive director of Economic Development of Central Oregon (EDCO).
Dr. Lee Vickers is an entrepreneur in higher education. Having served as a college and university president in three regional institutes for higher education, he has had extensive experience and success in expanding higher education’s role in regional economic development. His most recent appointment is as president of Dickinson State University in North Dakota. Previously, he served as President of both Francis Marion University in South Carolina and Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho. He served three terms on The Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE). He is widely recognized for his efforts in linking higher education with community and regional development.
“Counter Intelligence” is the second event and first seminar this year in the Karnopp Petersen Business 20/20 Executive Breakfast Series, sponsored by Oregon Business Magazine and BendBroadband/Zolo
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.kpbusiness2020.com. Price includes
breakfast, networking and attendance. Student discounts are available.
Keynote and Panelist
Dr. Lee Vickers, Ph.D. (University of Wyoming) served as a college/university president for 30 years at three institutions: Lewis-Clark State College (1978-1994), Francis Marion University (1994 – 1999) and Dickinson State University (1999-2008}. During his tenures as president he provided leadership for innovative initiatives campus wide, including the areas of access, diversity, internationalizing the campus, undergraduate and graduate research, excellence in teaching and service, assessment and community engagement. He has been an entrepreneur in higher education establishing partnerships with other public entities, as well as businesses and communities, thereby facilitating economic, social and cultural development in the communities and states in which he served. Dr. Vickers is currently a consultant on higher education’s role in innovative and entrepreneurial-based community development, rural outreach and globalization. He serves on the Board of Directors for the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship.
Becky Johnson: As Vice President for Oregon State University – Cascades, Dr. Johnson has full responsibility for the campus, overseeing all aspects of Oregon’s youngest and currently, fastest growing, public university. Dr. Johnson came to OSU-Cascades from OSU’s main campus where she built a nearly 25-year career, initially as a research professor in the College of Forestry and rising to the office of Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and International Programs. She was chair of the OSU 2007 Steering Committee, which led to the development of the OSU Strategic Plan. From 1990 to 2003, she served on the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors. At the helm of OSU-Cascades, she works in partnership with COCC to strengthen higher education in Central Oregon. She is currently leading the effort to expand the OSU-Cascades into a four-year university.
Dr. Jim Middleton: As president of Central Oregon Community College, Dr. Middleton has served more than 30 years as a community college administrator and 10 years teaching in high schools and community colleges. He works closely with OSU Cascades Campus towards strengthening the college/university partnership. At the state level, he has been appointed to the State Board of Education’s Access and Affordability Working Group, the Rural Education Access Committee, Community College’s Growth Management Committee and the Executive Board of the Oregon Community College Association. As COCC’s President, he has helped lead the college through nationally distinctive enrollment growth, doubling credit enrollment over four years, coordinated transformational changes in the college’s instructional facilities, expanded the range of career technical programs and developed public/private partnerships to provide alternative income to the college over the long term.
Kirk Schueler: Chief Administrative Officer for St. Charles Health System. Prior to joining St. Charles Health System, he spent 11 years serving as President of Brooks Resources, a real estate development company based in Bend. Currently, Schueler is a member of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education, the Brooks Resources Corporation Board, The Bend Foundation Board and the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation Board.
Keith Shipman: President and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Broadcasting Group. He co-founded the company in 1999 and helped create a stable of 12 radio stations and a minor league baseball team in Oregon and Idaho. Two of Horizon Broadcasting Group’s stations have been honored as Oregon Radio Station of the Year, recognized by the Oregon Association of Broadcasters for their extraordinary community involvement. Shipman presently serves on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Association of Broadcasters and the Professional Advisory Board for the Murrow College of Communications at his alma mater, Washington State University. Keith also serves as the co-chair for the Deschutes Economic Alliance University Committee.
Roger Lee: Executive Director of EDCO. He has 20 years of economic development experience, working in business development for the Seattle/King County Economic Development Council and economic and community development for Baker City/County in Northeast Oregon. Networked throughout the Pacific Northwest with colleagues in the field, he is a current board member of the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP) and is involved in several committees at the state level in charting the future of economic and community development for Oregon.
