Chaminade Speaker Series

Mission Statement

The Chaminade Speaker Series is presented by the Chaminade Alumni Business Network (CABN) and the Chaminade Fathers' Club. Our goal is to create a networking environment for all members of the Chaminade Family (alumni, parents, friends, faculty and staff, and students) to nurture their personal and business growth while supporting the Chaminade community.

 

John Bosse '00
Todd Krentz '88
Randy Medrano '82
Craig Palubiak '73
Frank Ruzicka '82
Ray Ruzicka '73
Ted Ruzicka '80
Bernie Schweiss '80
Charlie Sellberg '96
Peter Sheahan '82

Aaron Thompson '03
Tim Torretta '03

 

 

Past Event Speakers and Panelists

A Chat with Frank Bennett '01
Varsity Basketball Coach and
2001 Esto Vir Award Winner
March 2023

 

"The State of the School"
November 2022

 

"The Saint Louis Zoo"
November 2021
Panelists:
Matt Geekie '80
Sr. Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel - Graybar &
Saint Louis Zoo Association Board of Directors
and
Dr. Jeffrey P. Bonner
Dana Brown President & CEO - Saint Louis Zoo

 

"From Chaminade to the Stanley Cup Finals"
November 2019
Chris Butler '05

 

Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe '79
October 2018


"The Business of St. Louis Sports"
April 2018

Panelists:
Matt Poling '94 – Director Corporate Sponsorship, St. Louis Blues
Michael Kunderman '98 – Associate Brand Manager, Anheuser-Busch InBev
Bill McDermott (McBride '66) – Owner, McDermott Design; St. Louis Soccer Hall of Famer and former Television Announcer and Color Analyst for the Columbus Crew of the MLS

 

"St. Louis Regional Economic Outlook"
October 2017

Panelists:
John Eilermann '82 – CEO and Chairman of the Board, McBride and Son Companies
Tim Covington '82 – Senior Vice President, Capital Markets, Wells Fargo Bank
John Handy '81 – President and Chief Operating Officer, Commerce Trust Company

"Impact of Chaminade Family Businesses in Our Community"
March 2017

Panelists:
Don Carmody '60 – Principal – Carmody MacDonald P.C.
Jon Degel '02 – Vice President – Degel Truck Centers
Jim Gorczyca – President/CEO – O’Fallon Brewery (brother of Tom ’73 - VP of Sales)
Greg Twardowski '84 – President/CEO – Whelan Security

"An Evening at TechShop"
October 2016

Chris Ruzicka '78, Director of Business Development, shared the story of TechShop and led tours of the space highlighting each of the areas in the shop.

"The State of Our City"
March 2016
In the wake of the Rams leaving town for Los Angeles, many of us still know St. Louis is a great place to live, work, raise our families and support the Blues and Cardinals. Our panelists will offer their two-cents as to why St. Louis has a bright future ahead.
Panelists:
Paul Blum '02
Member of the Board | MICA Project and
Product Manager | Boeing
Matt Geekie '80
Senior V.P./General Counsel | Graybar Electric Company, Inc.;
President | Saint Louis Zoo Association Board of Directors and
Chairman of the Board | St. Louis OASIS Institute
Richard Reilly '77
Art and Sustainability Collaborator | Richard Reilly Studio
Chris Ruzicka '78
Director of Business Development | TechShop in the Cortex District and
Principal | Ruzicka Marketing Services LLC

"St. Louis Regional Economic Outlook"
October 2015
Panelists:
David A. Peacock
Chaminade Parent
Former President, Anheuser-Busch
Currently Entrepreneur and Civic Advocate
Eli Hoisington
Vice President and Design Principal at HOK

"Dynamic Opportunities in the St. Louis Region"
March 2015

Panelists:
Kevin Haar '75, President & CEO | Appistry, Inc.
Jeff Rainford | Former Chief of Staff to St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay

"St. Louis Regional Economic Outlook"
October 2014
Panelists:
Chris Chivetta '80, Hastings+Chivetta | Principal
Bill Corrigan '77, Armstrong Teasdale | Partner
Michael Gallagher, past parent, Accenture | Managing Director
Steve Smith '74, The Lawrence Group | Founding Principal/CEO

 

"Today's Healthcare Law and its Effects - Today, Tomorrow and in the Future"
March 2014

Fred W. Rottnek M.D. '82 - Director of Community Medicine, Saint Louis University
Lou Rotter '81 - Chief Contracting Officer, SSM Healthcare
Joe Bottani '98 - Partner, Arch Brokerage

 

"The Economic Status of the St. Louis Region, A Business Owner's Perspective"
October, 2013
Paul McKee '63

 

"The Economic Status of the St. Louis Region with a focus on Real Estate and Lending Practices"
April 2013
Peter Sheahan '82, Partner, NAI Desco
Jack Schreiber '68, President, Commerce Bank
Lowell K. "Chip" Wood, Jr. '72, Owner, L.K. Wood Realtors

 

"The Economic Status of the St. Louis Region"
October 2012

Bill Hinderer '69, President, Tacony Corporation
Peter Desloge '79, CEO, Watlow Electric
Clayton Brown '81, CEO, The International Companies
Jeff Bauer '83, Partner, Color Art Integrated Interiors