Founders & CEOs Launch Nichols Distinguished Alumni Leadership Forum

What do the President and CEO of Winn Dixie Stores, Inc., a founding member of investment management giant BlackRock and the founder and CEO of Dunbar Security all have in common? They each hold a degree from Nichols College. In a series that engages students, faculty, and alumni with some of Nichols most successful alumni, the alumni relations department has created the Distinguished Alumni Leadership Forum. This forum creates a platform for Nichols students and alumni to interact with renowned business leaders that began their successful journeys on the hill.

During the address, the selected alumni share their experiences at Nichols and how they used those experiences to become the successful business people they are today. Following the address, selected students, faculty, and alumni are also given the opportunity to enjoy lunch with the alumni and continue discussion with them on a more personal level. The Distinguished Alumni Leadership Forum is another great Nichols College program that has been created to shape young leaders through a practical learning experience.

Peter L. Lynch ‘74
President, Chairman & CEO
Winn Dixie Stores, Inc.
October 22, 2008
12:15 in Davis 205/207

In 2004, Mr. Lynch took America's venerated but ailing grocery chain out of bankruptcy, saving 521 stores and 55,000 jobs. Lynch communicated directly to the public with the message "Getting better all the time," signaling a new era in customer service and regeneration. Employees and customers alike rallied behind Winn Dixie to make this a remarkable turnaround story that is still playing out in public. Mr. Lynch, a Nichols Trustee, addressed students in October 2008.

Keith T. Anderson '81, Vice Chairman, Global Chief Investment Officer - Fixed Income
BlackRock
Monday, November 26, 7:00 PM
Davis 205/207

Mr. Anderson is a founder of the behemoth BlackRock, which recently bought the asset management division of Merrill Lynch. The deal rocketed BlackRock into the upper echelon of asset management companies with an asset base of $1 trillion. Mr. Anderson studied economics and finance at Nichols and earned his MBA at Rice University. His 3-year fund performance is 16%.

John F. Blais Honorary '06
Founder& President
BlaisCo, LLC
September 18
http://www.nichols.edu/news/forum.html

Renowned entrepreneur and leading philanthropist Jack Blais launched the Distinguished Alumni Leadership Forum with a lecture at Nichols on September 18, 2007

He is the founder and president of BlaisCo, LLC of Framingham, MA a holding company specializing in high-technology firms, and an active partner in Capital Risk Management, Inc., a world wide consulting firm.

James L. Dunbar '51
Founder, Chairman & CEO
Dunbar Security
Friday, October 19

The Dunbar company, founded in New England in 1956, is one of America's most noted and well regarded security companies. It took the unusual path of remaining family owned and is today made up of six subsidiaries that together comprise one of the largest and strongest entities in the security industry. Dunbar continues to develop as "The Most Trusted Name In Security."

Mr. Dunbar received Nichols College's first President's Medal for Distinguished Business Leadership at the annual President's Society Dinner on October 19th.