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Executive Access

“I am not aware of any other orientation program that is at such a high quality level.”
- Kevin Williams, senior vice president of Energy Sales for CHS, June 2007 participant.

Executive Access is a program sponsored by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Grow Minnesota!.

According to a recent survey from McKinsey & Company, nearly half of U.S. CEOs believe in being engaged in civic issues and contributing to solving a variety of social and political challenges. What they need, however, is “a comprehensive understanding of public issues and a strong network of peers with a similar interest” to make it easier for them to play a leadership role. The Minnesota Chamber’s Executive Access program is designed to do just that by accomplishing these three goals:

Previous Attendees

Christophe Beck, senior vice president, strategy and marketing development, Ecolab
Dr. Mark Greene, chief executive officer, Fair Isaac
Elliott Jaffee, president of Twin Cities Operations, U.S. Bank – Twin Cities
Steve Merrifield, president and chief executive officer, Ciprico, Inc.
Kevin Williams, senior vice president of Energy Sales, CHS
David E. Baker, regional vice president of Minnesota Gas Operations, CenterPoint Energy
Ian Friendly, executive vice president and COO, U.S. Retail, General Mills
Stan Gadek, president and CEO, Sun Country Airlines
James D. Hanson, regional president – Greater Minnesota Region, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
David Hemler, president, Best Buy for Business
Susan Parker, president, PARKER Marketing Group
Don Reynolds, vice president of Minnesota Operations, Goodrich Sensor Systems
David Yates, regional business head – North America, Nestle HealthCare Nutrition, Inc.
Laurie Zenner, vice president, Communications, Thomson Reuters

Sample Agenda from the June 2008 Session

7:o0 a.m. Meet and Greet/Registration
7:30 a.m. Welcome and Breakfast with the Governor
David Olson, president, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Introduction: Laurie Lewandowski, CEO, SJE Rhombus Controls
The Honorable Tim Pawlenty Governor of Minnesota
8:30 a.m. What to Expect in November - Election Briefing
Larry Jacobs, Walter F. and Joan Mondale Chair for Political Studies Director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute and Department of Political Science, University of Minnesota
9:45 a.m. Break
10:00 a.m. Private Sector Leadership
Moderated by: Tom Forsythe, vice president corporate communications, General Mills
Panelists:
Stanley Hubbard, chair, Hubbard Broadcasting
Cynthia Lesher, president & CEO, Xcel Energy
Joe Swedberg, vice president, legislative affairs, Hormel Foods Corporation
11:15 a.m. Today’s Needs for Business Leadership: Priority Issues and Opportunities
Bill Blazar, senior vice president, public affairs & business development, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

11:30 a.m. Adjourn

The next session will be Tuesday, June 16, 2009. Participation is by invitation only. For more information, please e-mail M.E. Head, mhead@mnchamber.com or Kathi Schaff, kschaff@mnchamber.com, or call (651) 292-4650.

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