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Visiting Executive In Residence

Special Programs

Visiting Executive In Residence

The Doermer School of Business and Management Sciences connects learning of the business curriculum with its practice in many ways.  The School’s strategic initiatives such as the Curriculum Connection, International Experience, Student Competitions, Cole Entrepreneurship Program, and others are intended for this purpose.  They take our students and faculty to the workplaces of CEOs, managers, and officers of regional companies.   The Executive-in-Residence Program brings the executive into the student’s  learning environment.  Over the course of several days, our guest delivers lectures, critiques current projects and problem solving scenarios, offers students views of contemporary high profile business situations, and provides advice on career planning.

The experience gives our faculty and administrators an opportunity to seek advice on designing business curricula and meaningful learning experiences.  In time, we will draw our guest into assessment of learning outcomes.

Our guests have spoken about business ethics, conducting international business, corporate governance, managing people, future of regional manufacturing, regional and U.S. competitiveness, and the importance of cultivating innovation in existing corporations.

The highlight of the program is the interaction between guest and students in question/answer setting.

2006

David P. Molfenter, retired vice president of the Communication Systems Division of the Raytheon Systems Company (RSC) , former president of Hughes Defense Communications, and former president and CEO of Magnavox Electronic Systems served as an Executive-in-Residence at SBMS in October, 2006.

The Communication Systems Division, headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana with major operations in Fullerton, California, Marlborough, Massachusetts, Richardson Texas, Towson, Maryland, St. Petersburg, Florida, and Largo Florida was a $1B/year business focused on providing defense communication systems.

Mr. Molfenter was an employee of the Magnavox Electronic Systems Company for 28 years, progressing through numerous engineering design, engineering management, and program management assignments. He was promoted to vice president in 1987 with responsibility for the Tactical Data Systems Operation. He became president and chief operating officer of Magnavox Electronic Systems COmpany (MESC) and a member of the Board of Directors of MESC Holdings, Inc. in June 1994. On December 1, 1994, he became president and chief executive officer.

As a result of the acquisition of Magnavox Electronic Systems Company by Hughes Aircraft Company in December 1995, Mr. Molfenter was appointed vice president of Hughes Aircraft Company and later named president of Hughes Defense Communications. In December 1997, following the merger of Raytheon Company and Hughes Electronics' defense operations, Mr. Molfenter was appointed to the position of vice president of communication systems.

Mr. Molfenter is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. He received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from the University of Cincinnati and holds masters degrees in electrical engineering and business administration from Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne. He also is a graduate of the Indiana University Executive Management Program.

Currently, Mr. Molfenter is on the Board of Directors of the Sparton Corporation (NYSE), the Indiana - Purdue Foundation at Fort wayne and the Easter Seals/ARC Foundation of Fort Wayne which he chair. He also chairs the IPFW Community Advisory Council.

Molfenter's schedule as an Executive-in-Residence included presentations and discussions in 8 undergraduate and MBA classes, and meetings with faculty, administrators, students, and alumni of Doermer School of Business.

2004

Don Willis, visionary extraordinaire, served as the first SBMS Entrepreneur-in-Residence during the 2003-2004 academic year. In that role, he participated in numerous undergraduate and MBA classes challenging students with his innovative ideas and entrepreneurial passion.

As the FourthWave LLC chairman of the board, Willis brings entrepreneurial experience to help provide leadership to a number of ventures under the new company's domain, including the creation and acquisition of homeland security software for global commercialization, a venture capital fund, and downtown property redevelopment. He is also actively involved in developing alternative approaches to today's education system.

Prior to taking on these new roles, Willis was an engineer with Magnavox Electronic Systems Company in Fort Wayne for 22 years. He left Magnavox in 1989 to start Command Systems inc., which developed unique command control software for the defense industry. Thirteen years later, Willis sold Command System to General Dynamics, one of the nation's largest defense contractors, for nearly $100 million.

Willis' distinguished career began with his stint with the U.S. Navy as a computer systems research scientist. Over the years, Willis has been actively involved with a number of professional organizations, and is an accomplished musician.

Born in Princeton, Indiana, Willis has a B.S.E.E. research degree from the University of Evansville and has completed advanced studies at the University of Michigan. He and his wife, Doris, live in Fort Wayne, as do their two children.

2003

William H. Lawson, retired chairman and CEO of Franklin Electric Company Inc., served as an Executive-in-Residence at SBMS in February, 2003. Lawson holds a B.S.M.E. from Purdue University and an MBA from Harvard University. He has served on the board of directors of Sentry Insurance Company, Skyline Corp., JSJ Corp., and Coverco S.p.A., Italy. He previously held the position of executive vie president and chief operating officer of Skyline Corp.

Lawson's schedule as an Executive-in-Residence included presentations and discussions in 12 undergraduate and MBA classes, and meetings with faculty, administrators, students, and alumni of SBMS. His thoughtful and insightful participation blended the dynamic nature of the business world with classroom learning and added immeasurable value to the education of students.

2002

Charles Schrimper, chairman of the board and CEO of Group Dekko, served as an executive-in-residence at SBMS in February, 2002. Group Dekko, with more than 60 manufacturing facilities in the United States, Mexico, and Ireland, produces a variety of products serving principally the office furniture, telecommunications, appliance, and transportation industries. Group Dekko is headquartered in Kendallville, Indiana.

Schrimper joined Group Dekko in 1993 after spending 20 years, the last 10 of which as partner, with the accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand. During his tenure at Group Dekko, Schrimper has been integrally involved in several acquisitions, divestitures, international expansions, and infrastructure changes needed to stay competitive in today's marketplace.

Schrimper's schedule as an executive-in-residence included presentations and discussion in 12 undergraduate and MBA classes and several meetings with the faculty, administration, students, and alumni of SBMS. His participation injected the vibrancy of the business world into the classroom and helped students understand the importance of organizational change in an dynamic environment.

2001

Ian M. Rolland, retired chairman and chief executive officer of Lincoln National Corp., served as the first Executive-in-Residence at SBMS in March. Rolland sits on the board of directors of prominent corporation including Wells Fargo, NIPSCO, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, and Tokheim. He is past chairman of the American Council of Life Insurance and Society of Actuaries. He is past chairman of the Board of Trustees of DePauw University and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hudson Institute.

Ian Rolland's schedule as an Executive-in-Residence included presentations and discussions in 10 undergraduate and MBA classes, and meetings with faculty, administrators, alumni, and advisor board members. Rolland's participation brought the real world into the classroom and added immeasurable value to the learning of students.