Landmark Executive-in-Residence 2009-2010 Speaker Series

The Old Dominion University College of Business and Public Administration 2009-2010 Landmark Executive-in-Residence speaker seriesfeature four University alumni, including three graduates of the CBPA. The speakers were as follows:

Kevin Burke will speak Thursday, September 17, 12:30-1:20 p.m. in Constant Hall 1005. Lunch will be served beginning at 12:15 p.m. Burke is the Managing Partner of Trinity Capital, an investment banking firm with offices in Los Angeles and New York City. The firm provides financial advice to middle market businesses regarding mergers and acquisitions, leveraged and management buyouts, debt restructuring, and private placements of debt and equity.

Prior to founding Trinity Capital, Burke was Executive Vice President of Franchise Mortgage Acceptance Company (NASDAQ: FMAX), responsible for Capital Markets and Administration. He was instrumental in developing and broadening the $15 billion franchise loan securitization market. Burke began his career as an investment banker with Dillon, Read & Co. and later joined L.F. Rothschild & Co. In this role, he worked with private and public corporations and state and local governments nationwide. He was also a Director and Regional Manager for Prudential Securities.

Currently, Burke sits on the boards of several not-for profit, public service and corporate entities. He is a frequent industry lecturer and speaker. He received a BSBA in Economics from Old Dominion University and holds an MBA from the College of William and Mary.

Renée Warren will speak Thursday, November 5, 12:30-1:20 p.m. in Constant Hall 1005. Lunch will be served beginning at 12:15 p.m. Warren is co-president of Noelle-Elaine Media, Inc., a New York City based event management, media relations and video production firm, founded in 1993 with business partner Kirsten Poe Hill. She has led numerous successful public relations and event planning accounts and created a myriad of award-winning video productions. She heads several of the company's large-scale events, conferences, and financial media relations campaigns.

An Old Dominion University alumna, Warren earned a joint BS in Criminal Justice and Speech Communications. She holds a certificate in Finance from New York Institute of Finance and earned an MA from Columbia University. She began her career as an associate producer for WTKR-TV, the CBS affiliate in Norfolk, VA. She worked in print media in Hampton Roads before relocating to New York City to cover the stock market for Dow Jones & Company's wire service.

Warren is the co-author of You Buy the Peanut Butter, I'll Get the Bread: The Absolutely True Adventures of Best Friends in Business (Plume), sharing the lessons two best friends learned in making their business dreams come true.

Meyera Oberndorf will speak Thursday, January 28, 2010 from 12:30-1:20 p.m. in Constant Hall 1005. She is the former mayor of the city Virginia Beach, Virginia. Elected to the City Council in 1976, she was the first woman ever elected to public office in Virginia Beach. In 1988, she again made history when she was the first woman elected major in the city's first direct election for that office. She held that office for 20 years.

As mayor, Oberndorf was recognized nationwide. She served on the executive committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and was past president of the Virginia Municipal League. She also served as vice chairwoman of the National League of Cities International Task Force and as past chairwoman of the Hampton Roads Mayors and Chairs and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.Newsweek magazine selected Oberndorf as one of the nation's 25 most dynamic mayors. She was chosen Newsmaker of the Year by the Virginia Press Women. In tribute to her long career of public service, the city's central library was renamed the "Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library."

An Old Dominion alumna, Oberndorf earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education. In 1998, she was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

Walter Ewell will speak Tuesday, March 30, 2010 from 12:30-1:20 p.m. in Constant Hall 1005. Ewell is founder of "FranchiseRepublic," a Hampton Roads based company providing franchise development services, including packaging, financing, regulatory guidance, and long-term marketing and operational oversight. The company also works with existing franchises to improve their competitive positions.

A Certified Franchise Executive, Ewell has 30 years of experience as a corporate and franchise development specialist, helping build five of the top 50 worldwide franchise companies. His experience includes key roles in startups and mature international corporations as a consultant, board member and senior executive. He has worked in a variety of industries from hospitality and airlines to retail and services.

Ewell began his career developing franchise plans for Econo Lodges of America and consulting in hotel franchises such as Super 8, Radisson, and Omni. He developed the franchise plan for Jackson Hewitt and has worked for Ben Franklin, Liberty Tax and Zero's Subs. For a period of five years, he was President of Geeks On Call, which has been ranked among the top 30 fastest growing franchises in the world. An Old Dominion alumnus, Ewell received a BSBA in Finance.

About Landmark Executive-in-Residence The Landmark Executive-in-Residence speaker series is designed to enrich students' entrepreneurial spirit, their awareness of the success that can be built on their academic experience, and their understanding of the importance of leading with integrity. The program is dedicated to bringing accomplished business leaders, many of whom are our own alumni, to campus to share their history and vision, giving students the opportunity to learn first-hand the strategies and experiences that forge great ethical global leaders. Established in 2001, the Landmark Executive-in-Residence program is funded by an endowment from a group of former Landmark Communications executives in honor of Frank Batten Sr., chairman of the executive committee of the Landmark board and first rector of the Old Dominion University Board of Visitors.