CEO Series featuring Maxine Clark
Founder Build a Bear Workshop
April 2, 2008
If a book were to be written about Maxine Clark – and we are certain one will be – it could be entitled, “How to Build-A-Sensation”.
During her 30-year career in the retail industry, Clark’s rare ability to spot emerging retail and merchandising trends and insight into the desires of the American consumer generated growth for retail leaders, including department store, discount and specialty stores.
In 1997, she founded Build-A-Bear Workshop, a teddy-bear themed experience retail store. Today there are more than 300 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide. In 2005, the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies (NASBIC) made Build-A-Bear Workshop Portfolio Company of the Year, it was named one of the International Council of Shopping Centers “Hottest Retailers of 2004” and the Retail Innovator of the Year for 2001 by The National Retail Federation.
Maxine is a member of the Board of Directors of The J.C. Penney Company, Inc., and serves on the Board of Trustees of Washington University in St. Louis. In 2006, her first book “The Bear Necessities of Business: Building a Company with Heart” was published.
Available: March 13, 2008
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Lifestyle Enhancement Series with Dr. Michelle Robin
The 12 Months of Wellness
Tuesday, March 11
The Central Exchange, in partnership with Your Wellness Connection, P.A., is pleased to announce the Lifestyle Enhancement Series – a year-long, comprehensive series offering local and nationally recognized experts in the field of wellness. To enhance and reinforce key presentations, the series also offers bi-weekly group coaching sessions designed to educate and motivate as participants work to achieve wellness goals.
Dr. Michelle Robin, Founder and CWO of Your Wellness Connection, P.A., kicks off the series with her view of the 12 Months of Wellness. Living a wellness lifestyle is within everyone’s reach, regardless of circumstances. Learn simple and effective strategies that when implemented month by month will dramatically impact your health and quality of life. You’ll see that these essentials do not require a lot of extra time, resources or gear, just a willingness to explore new possibilities. Make time in your schedule for this informative and uplifting presentation!
Available: March 13, 2008
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CEO Series with Steve Bernstein
President, Bernstein Rein
Wednesday, March 12
Kids want to see something when they are eating – that is what ten-year-old Steve Bernstein taught his father, advertising legend, Bob Bernstein. Intrigued by the fact that Steve stared at the same cereal box every morning as he ate breakfast, Bob was inspired to create The Happy Meal for McDonalds.
Today, Steve Bernstein is president of Bernstein-Rein, one of the eight-largest independent U.S. advertising agencies and the agency that has built some of the world’s best known brands for clients such as Wal-Mart, Blockbuster and, yes, McDonald’s. In addition, he is president of Serendipity Entertainment, the world’s largest Blockbuster Video franchise. While Bernstein may have inspired a fast food favorite of children around the globe, today he works to keep the office systems – and people systems – running smoothly; on time and on budget as well as overseeing new–business development.
The CEO Series is sponsored by The Central Exchange Education Foundation and made possible through a gift from Right Management
Available: March 15, 2008
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CEO Series with Mike Chesser,
Chairman and CEO, Great Plains Energy
Mike Chesser joined Great Plains Energy in October 2003 as Chairman and CEO after a distinguished career in the utility industry. He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer at Atlantic Energy, Inc. and President and CEO at GPU Energy, an electric utility serving New Jersey and Pennsylvania. At Great Plains, Chesser has been instrumental in developing Winning Inspirations - a corporate culture philosophy which is designed to inspire active participation of all employees at all levels.
Active in the business community, Chesser serves as a director of the UMB Financial Corporation, a trustee of the Midwest Research Institute (MRI) and the Committee for Economic Development (CED) in Washington D.C., and co-chair of the CED’s Sub-Committee on Education.
The CEO Series is sponsored by The Central Exchange Education Foundation and made possible through a gift from Right Management.
Available: February 15, 2008
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Revitalization of Kansas City Series with Bob Regnier
Chair, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
As the president of the Bank of Blue Valley, Bob Regnier is most often associated with Johnson County and while his roots may be on the Kansas side of the state line, Regnier has shown an inspired dedication to the entire metropolitan area. In recent years he has been an enthusiastic proponent for the revitalization of downtown Kansas City and his latest civic role is as the new chairman of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Join us to meet Regnier and hear his thoughts on the impact Revitalization is having on business throughout the area.
Available: February 04, 2008
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Sprint Nextel, Motorola, Hewlett Packard, Liberty Global, YRCW and Citizens Communications - these are all corporations that depend on the experience and expertise of Mary Pat McCarthy. In addition to serving as the account executive for these clients, as Vice Chair of KPMG she is responsible for driving its Client Care Strategy and is a member of the Firm's Operating Committee. Given her extensive experience with public offerings, mergers and acquisitions and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), McCarthy is often quoted in publications such as Forbes, the New York Times, Business Week and CFO Magazine.
Kansas City is fortunate to have strong women leaders blazing trails for all women. This series offers an opportunity to peer into the careers of some of the most successful women in our community.