Four executive leaders will share their experience in the world of business at Executive Insights, Thursday, April 11, 4-5 p.m. in Howard L. Hawks Hall 040. The free event hosted by the School of Accountancy and Department of Finance offers students and the public an opportunity to listen to the firsthand challenges business leaders face today and what the future of business will look like. To register for the event, visit:
https://business.unl.edu/insights.
Dr. Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business, said, “Executive Insights invites top industry leaders to campus who share their business experiences with students, faculty and staff. The panel discussion format fosters dialogue allowing our members of the audience to ask bold questions, one of our guiding principles from the new College of Business Strategic Plan, allowing us to learn from these accomplished leaders.”
The alumni executives include:
Janet Barnard, '81, serves as the executive vice president and chief people officer at Cox Automotive. She leads all human resources functions, including corporate and field operations, total rewards, employee and leadership development and organizational effectiveness. Previously, Barnard served as president of Cox Automotive Inventory Solutions. In that role, she directed several groups at Manheim, a subdivision of Cox Automotive, engaged in transforming the company’s core auction business to incorporate an expanding digital, mobile and inventory solutions strategy. Barnard led the industry’s largest wholesale auction network in North America consisting of nearly 130 traditional and mobile sites. Barnard received the 2016 Leadership Character Award in the large company category by Turknett Leadership Group and Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, and during the same year, Atlanta Business Chronicle recognized her as a Women Who Mean Business honoree. In 2015, Automotive News added Barnard to their list of 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry. She graduated from Nebraska in 1981 with a degree in accounting.
Julie Gebauer, '83, serves as the global head of the human capital and benefits business segment of Willis Towers Watson, the largest business within the company generating over $3 billion of revenue and comprising 14,000 colleagues globally. Prior to this role, Gebauer held a number of leadership positions including global head of the talent and rewards business segment, business leader of the U.S. east division and leader of the global workforce effectiveness practice and the employee survey line of business. She has been with the company since 1986. Gebauer earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics from Nebraska in 1983. She was also recognized as a Chancellor's Scholar. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a fellow of the Society of Actuaries. She was also inducted into the YWCA Academy of Women Achievers.
Paul Hogan, '85, serves as the CEO and co-founder of Home Instead Inc. He founded Home Instead Senior Care
® with his wife, Lori, in 1994. Today, the franchise network is the world's leading provider of home care services for seniors, with more than 1,000 independently owned and operated franchise offices that provide more than 50 million hours of care annually throughout the United States and 16 additional countries. Hogan serves as vice chair of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Aging. Additionally, Home Instead Senior Care is a World Economic Forum Global Growth Company Partner. For his success in exporting the home care business concept to other countries, the U.S. Department of Commerce awarded Hogan the “E” Award in May 2008. This award, presented at a White House ceremony, is one of the highest honors the federal government presents to individuals, firms or organizations that have made a significant contribution to American exports. In recognition of his contribution to franchising, the International Franchise Association named Hogan the Entrepreneur of the Year for 2006. Hogan co-authored, Stages of Senior Care (McGraw-Hill), a USA Today Bestseller. Proceeds from book sales go to the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation, which provides financial support to nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life of older adults. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Nebraska in 1985.
Shawn Leavitt, '90, serves as the senior vice president of global benefits at Comcast Corporation and NBCUniversal. He frequently speaks on the impact of employee health and well-being on the success of an organization and strategies to engage employees in the management of their own health. Leavitt will be relocating to the Philadelphia area with his partner. Leavitt joined Comcast from Carlson, a global hospitality and travel company, where he served as vice president of global compensation and benefits, overseeing the team responsible for managing the total rewards programs for its travel, hotel and restaurants businesses. Prior to Carlson, Leavitt was vice president of benefits at Safeway, Inc. and held senior human resources positions at The Coca-Cola Company and Knight Ridder, Inc. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Nebraska in 1990.
Published: March 28, 2019