Keynotes & Speakers
Keynotes
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John A. Challenger
- CEO
- Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.
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Read Bio
John A. Challenger is chief executive officer of global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., which pioneered employment-transition counseling as an employer-paid benefit in the 1960s.
A recognized thought leader on workplace, labor, and economic issues, his insight is frequently sought out by major foreign and domestic broadcast and print media.
In 2003, Challenger gave testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business on the issue of permanent job loss in a global economy. In 2002, at the height of the turmoil over corporate governance, The Wall Street Journal invited Challenger to address the issue in a bylined article that appeared in The Journal on June 25, 2002. He served on the labor/human resource committee of The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for a three-year term.
Challenger was the keynote speaker at The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business "Summit at Fisher" conference in 2003, and at the UCLA Anderson School of Management in 2004. He delivered addresses before the World Future Society In 1998, 2001, and 2003. He has also addressed the annual conference of the Ethics Officers Association and conferences of leading business executives in Japan.
Challenger serves on the President's Circle steering committee of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is president and board member of the Japan America Society of Chicago. In 2004, he served on the Host Committee for the Annual Midwest U.S.-Japan Association Conference. Challenger is also a member of the board of the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago and chaired the organization's 2005 Summit, during which he conducted an interview with former Labor Secretary Alexis Herman.
Challenger is active in YPO/WPO and Chief Executives Organization. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Union League Club and is active in the Economic Club of Chicago, Chicago Club and Metropolitan Club. He also was a member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago International Film Festival. In 2007, Challenger was listed among the Who's Who in Chicago Business, published annually by Crain's Chicago Business.
A graduate of Harvard University, Challenger currently serves as Regional Director Great Lakes of the Harvard Alumni Association. He also sits on the board of the Harvard Club of Chicago and served as its President from 2002 to 2004. Challenger serves on the Parent's Council of Miami (Ohio) University, where his oldest son is a student.
Challenger resides in Winnetka, Illinois, with his wife Nancy and five children.
Speakers
The Second City GRC Comedy Club: Comply with Me!
A Unique Perspective on a Serious Topic from The Second City Players
Improvisational comedy as practiced in Chicago has always had its roots in the "news of the day" and social commentary.
Through the use of humor, the improv comedian provides a unique perspective to historical events and stimulates communications, collaboration, and innovation.
Join the historic Second City improvisational troupe, whose alumni range from John Belushi to Stephen Colbert, for a memorable closing keynote.
Power Player Breakfast Guest Speaker
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Steve Dreyer
- U.S. practice leader for Utilities & Infrastructure Ratings
- Standard & Poor's
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Read Bio
Steve Dreyer is U.S. practice leader for Utilities & Infrastructure Ratings, overseeing a group of analysts providing credit ratings and research on investor-owned electric, gas, and water utilities, independent power producers, gas pipelines, project finance, and public-private infrastructure partnerships. He also leads S&P's initiative to apply Enterprise Risk Management to the credit analysis process for corporate ratings globally.
From 2000 to 2006, Steve was North American practice leader for Insurance Ratings. He joined Standard & Poor's in 1990 with its acquisition of ratings firm Insurance Solvency International, Ltd., whose U.S. subsidiary he managed. Previously he was responsible for insurance industry forecasting at Chase Econometrics.
Steve earned a B.A. in Statistics from the University of Delaware and did graduate work at Drexel University. He completed executive development programs at the University of Virginia (1996), Columbia University (2005) and INSEAD (2007).
Steve was named to Insurance Newscast's "List of 100 Most Powerful People in Insurance in North America" from 2002 to 2006. In 2003, he contributed to the Greater New York Safety Council's "Roundtables on Sector Preparedness", reporting to the 9-11 Commission. He is a director of the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association, which sets ethical standards in the sale of life insurance and annuities.
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