Rick Brajer, CEO/FORMER SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (NC)/PRIVATE EQUITY ADVISORSeptember 9-14, 2021
BS Chemical Engineering (Purdue University), MBA (Stanford University Graduate School of Business)
The son of Yugoslavian immigrants, Rick brings over twenty years of president and CEO level leadership experience operating within venture, private equity, public (IPO), and public service (cabinet level government) environments.
Rick began his career at Procter & Gamble and at McKinsey & Company, environments deeply ingrained with proud teams, proud cultures and fact-based decision making. From 1990 to 2002, he held various leadership roles at Becton Dickinson, ultimately serving as a president and executive officer of the corporation. Following Becton Dickinson, Rick led LipoScience, Inc., a venture-backed company, as the company’s CEO from turn-around stage to its successful initial public offering (IPO) in January 2013.
Recently, Rick led system-wide reform efforts through public service, as North Carolina's Secretary of Health and Human Services. This was a cabinet-level position for a $20 billion agency with approximately 15,000 employees.
He currently serves as Chairman, CEO, and as a board member in private equity-backed health care service companies which focus on vulnerable adults (intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health needs, substance use challenges, the elderly), both in community and long-term care settings.
TOPIC AREAS: Faith and Leadership, From Engineering to Business, Healthcare, Public Service, Organizational leadership, Change Leadership, Taking Ownership of Your Unique Career
Art Norins, FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN, CEO AT RS11 Inc. September 24-27, 2021
BS Industrial Engineering (Purdue University)
From the start, Art has always dreamt of the next big thing while leading others to create it together.
Ever the consummate learner and a builder driven by his deep care about the planet and its inhabitants, Art has evolved from a “corn-fed kid from Indiana" selling Twinkies in grade school to running a large landscaping business in high school—into a proven, world-class, visionary serial entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Art is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of RS11 Inc., a venture-backed startup that is democratizing Big Data/AI to turbocharge micro (sole proprietors), small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). As a technology platform enabling 1 + 1 = 11, RS11 seeks to unlock the power of community with data and to put wind in the sails of millions of MSMEs globally through a press of the “Digital Transformation Easy Button.” Currently, an easy-to-use “Coach/MBA in the pocket” application provides powerful business intelligence to the hotel industry, soon every business across all industries will know their business value and how to increase it. In order to create a “World of 11”, 11% of profits go towards investing in quality early childhood development and education with the RS11 Foundation.
Art’s previous venture Nor1 Inc., an innovative business intelligence analytics company, was recently acquired by Oracle. He took Nor1 from idea to reality; a global footprint with headquarters in Silicon Valley, offices in Asia/Australia/Europe, and international clients in 70+ countries.
Art’s extensive travel across 100+ countries spanning six continents has given him a truly global perspective and connection to our common humanity. He is engaged in numerous philanthropic initiatives including work in Sub-Saharan Africa. He serves on Purdue University's Strategic Alliance Council and the Indiana Institute of Global Health Board to name a few. He is an avid mentor and angel investor. Art is a patent holder and earned an Engineering degree from Purdue University.
TOPIC AREAS: Industrial Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy, Global Health, Investment
November 4-9, 2021
Rodney Glass, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AT HID GLOBALBS ’92, Organizational Leadership and Supervision (Purdue University)
Rodney Glass is the chief operating officer and senior vice president at HID Global, a worldwide leader in trusted identity solutions that provides millions of people convenient access to physical and digital places and connects things that can be identified, verified, and tracked digitally. HID Global has over 4,000 employees worldwide and operates international offices that support more than 100 countries.
Rodney is a strategic, dynamic, and results-driven leader with over 25 years of experience delivering transformative business operations for mission-critical and enterprise-scale projects across industries. He is a visionary focused on providing business success while enabling team growth, retention, and development. In his previous role, Rodney worked for Motorola and Ford Motor company, driving operational excellence, profitability, and customer experience across multiple industries.
While at Purdue, Rodney served as student body president and was an active member at his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, as well as part of the Board of Trustees that collaborates with the Dean of Students Office. He actively engages with the Purdue community by regularly participating in speaking events at the university and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.
TOPIC AREAS: Corporate Leadership, Business Growth and Operational Excellence, High-Performance Teams, Identification Technology, Innovation, Employee Relationships
Rodrick Glass, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AT CREATIVE REALITIES, INC.BS ‘92, Organizational Leadership and Supervision, MS '94, Industrial Distribution (both Purdue University), MBA Depaul University – Charles H. Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.
With an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for driving growth and profitability within startup and mid-sized businesses, Rodrick has multidisciplinary expertise in sales and business development, cultural transformations, financial and operational processes, and business turnaround. He endeavors to be a servant leader and focuses on developing talent, building strong relationships and advocating for his team and customers.
Rodrick has served as executive vice president of sales and business development with Creative Realities, a digital marketing technologies innovator, for the past 4 years. Prior to his current role he also served as founder, president and chief executive officer for Allure Fusion Media where he built a team from three employees to more than 100, expanding and contracting company operations as dictated by market conditions and stakeholder expectations to maintain profitability. Rodrick feels his greatest success has been in his ability to develop and foster long-lasting business relationships that provide customers with value and results.
While at Purdue, Rodrick was active in student life including serving as president of The Society of Minority Managers, counselor and staff resident at Harrison Hall and Cary Quadrangle, as well as vice president for Purdue Student Government. Rodrick continues to work with Purdue as a board member for the Purdue Alumni Association, and as an active speaker on campus. Rodrick and his brother Rodney have also endowed two scholarship programs for student leaders.
TOPIC AREAS: Entrepreneurship, Business Development, Digital Marketing, Contracts, Sales, Cultural Transformation, Employee Mentorship