Marquette welcomes General Electric CEO as keynote speaker for Business Leaders Forum

Released: 2/10/04

Marquette University is pleased to welcome Jeff Immelt, Chairman of the Board and CEO of General Electric, as part of the Business Leaders Forum on Monday, March 22, 2004. Mr. Immelt's presentation is titled “Growing in an Uncertain World.” Following the luncheon keynote address, he will bring his years of business expertise to students in the College of Business Administration in a personal visit with business students and faculty. The event is open to the public; for registration and complete event information, log on to http://www.marquette.edu/blf or call (414) 288-7431.

Established in 1999, the Business Leaders Forum is a speaker series of Marquette University 's College of Business Administration. The forum provides a setting for nationally recognized business leaders to engage in discussions and interact with students, faculty and local business leaders. The program enables Marquette to build practical knowledge into its rigorous business curriculum, exploring current trends, issues and practices in business.

"Through sharing their time and talents, our featured speakers demonstrate in actions the highest ideals we call our students to embody. We could not ask for better models for our students to emulate,” said Marquette President Robert Wild, S.J.

"The Business Leaders Forum provides our students with an invaluable opportunity to interact and learn from our nation's top business leaders. We greatly appreciate the commitment these speakers have shown to the next generation of leaders through their generosity,” said Dr. David L. Shrock, Dean of Marquette's College of Business Administration.

The Kathleen and Frank Thometz Foundation has made the Business Leaders Forum speaker series possible through a special endowment.

About Mr. Immelt
Jeffrey R. Immelt, 47, is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of GE. Mr. Immelt, the 9th Chairman in GE's 126-year history, was appointed to this post on September 7, 2001 . Previously, Mr. Immelt served as President and Chairman-elect of GE from November 2000, when GE's Board of Directors selected him to succeed John F. Welch. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Immelt had been President and CEO of GE Medical Systems, which is today a $12 billion leader in the healthcare industry.

He began his GE career in 1982. Over the last 22 years, Mr. Immelt has held a series of global leadership roles in GE's Plastics, Appliance, and Medical businesses. He became an Officer of GE in 1989, and joined the GE Capital Board in 1997.

He serves on the board of two non-profit organizations: Catalyst, devoted to advancing women in business; and Robin Hood, focused on addressing poverty in New York City. Mr. Immelt was named the Financial Times ''Man of the Year'' for 2003.

Mr. Immelt holds a B.A. degree in applied mathematics from Dartmouth College (1978) and an M.B.A. from Harvard University (1982). He and his wife, Andrea, have one daughter.