The Graham Speaker Series presents a variety of featured guest lecturers ranging from successful local business leaders to notable Penn State alumni to leaders of national prominence. These speakers share their stories, the lessons they have learned, and their advice with our students, faculty, and corporate partners. The Graham Speaker Series is sponsored by The Graham Fellows Program for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Penn State York.
Speaker Series
Dr. David Christiansen
Chancellor, Penn State York
March 21, 2019
Universities are tradition-bound institutions that must constantly evolve to meet the changing needs of society. Dr. Christiansen discussed his leadership experiences in identifying opportunities and effecting change in the complex world of higher education.
Graham Architectural and Graham Engineering Tours, York, Pennsylvania
Graham Companies Leadership
March 15, 2019
Graham Center students experienced the workings of two of the companies owned by Donald Graham, our benefactor. During these two tours, students learned about the planning, engineering, and manufacturing aspects of the businesses.
Maureen LeBoeuf
Retired Brigadier General
February 26, 2019
Retired Brigadier General Maureen LeBoeuf’s career in the U.S. Army spanned twenty-eight years, where she held various staff and leadership positions and flew UH-1 helicopters. Most notable was her assignment as the professor and head of the department of physical education where her position carried the unique title of Master of the Sword.
Kristina Groff
Global Entrepreneurship Week Speaker
November 14, 2018
A 2016 Graham Center Fellow, Communications Arts and Sciences alumnae, and Financial Adviser at Everence, a financial services provider, Groff returned to campus to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week, and shared how her entrepreneurial exposure in The Graham Center at the York campus, helped to shape decisions for her career.
John Polli
Global Entrepreneurship Week Speaker
November 8, 2018
President of Reliance Student Transportation LLC, Polli has been involved in several start-ups in the York area since he graduated from Penn State. He shared his insight on what it takes to be an entrepreneur and a committed community member.
John Gilliland
Campus Advisory Board Member
September 27, 2019
Gilliland is the president and founder of The Investment Real Estate Group of Companies. He shared his knowledge of career paths and development, including how his degree in Dairy Science has led him to be the owner of Investment Real Estate Group. Gilliland is a Pennsylvania native and one of Penn State's biggest fans!
Past Speakers
Financial Literacy
Kristen Ventre, BB&T Bank
April 5, 2018
Graham Center students heard the presentation, Your Financial Wellness: 5 Tips to Help You Take Control of Your Future. Ventre led the discussion that covered critical foundational topics for young adults entering the workforce.
Graham Architectural and Graham Engineering Tours, York, Pennsylvania
Graham Companies Leadership
March 16, 2018
Graham Center students experienced the workings of two of the companies owned by Donald Graham, our benefactor. During these two tours, students learned about the planning, engineering, and manufacturing aspects of the businesses.
Madris Tomes
Device Events, Founder and Owner
March 1, 2018
Tomes is committed to making information on problem devices easily accessible to her customers so that improved health outcomes and patient safety are a priority, while organizations reduce their risks. Tomes is a 1997 Penn State alumnus.
Becky Halstead
Retired Brigadier General U.S. Army
November 8, 2017
Halstead shared her leadership journey with focus on others, not just herself. She inspired Graham students with humor, tenacity, and her stories of her family upbringing and her military experience. Halstead helped students to realize their future roles as leaders in the community and beyond.
Kevin Harter
Penn State Hershey
October 26, 2017
Harter shared his experiences as a health care and technology executive, award-winning serial entrepreneur, and longtime volunteer for education-related initiatives. He spoke of how he forged a partnership with the College of Medicine, Penn State Harrisburg, and the Dickinson School of Law, to develop a unified approach to entrepreneurial development. Harter is a 1990 graduate of Penn State.
Matt Woods
Xact Metal, Founder and CEO
October 19, 2017
Woods educated the group on 3-D metal printing, whose technology has really taken off since 2011. His company has created a more economical printer than their competition. Woods provided samples of items that his printer has created. Woods is a 2015 graduate of Penn State.
Trent Davis
Servants, Inc., Founder
October 12, 2017
Davis shared how he went from CPA to the founder of Servants, Inc., an organization that helps connect people in need with people who want to serve others, locally and around the world. Davis is a 1994 graduate of Penn State.
Gary Eberle
Eberle Winery, Owner
September 27, 2017
Eberle shared stories of his time playing football at Penn State. He then focused on the start of his winery in the 1970s and how it has operated as one of the longest, continuously-run family wineries, Eberle Winery in Paso Robles, California. Eberle received the Wine Lifetime Achievement Award by the California State Fair. He is a 1967 graduate of Penn State.
Amy Guise
Army Corps of Engineers, Chief – Planning Division
April 12, 2017
Guise is the first female Chief, Planning Division, for the Baltimore District and in the North Atlantic Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She leads a team of interdisciplinary professionals addressing water resources issues and policies in the greater Chesapeake area. Guise described the types of jobs available as well as the process for applying for government positions.
Harley-Davidson Plant Tour and Presentation, York, Pennsylvania
Mike Fisher, General Manager
March 31, 2017
Students participated in a 90-minute extensive behind the scenes factory tour for Touring, Softail®, CVO™ and Trike models, lunch, and a presentation with Harley-Davidson administrators who are also Penn State alumni. Fisher is a graduate of Penn State York.
Caputo Brothers Creamery Tour and Presentation, Spring Grove, Pennsylvania
Dave and Rynn Caputo, owners
January 27, 2017
Shifting from two corporate roles to opening Caputo Brothers Creamery, Dave and Rynn shared their story. Students learned the process of stretching their curd into mozzarella cheese, enjoyed a lunch of focaccia, and received a private tour of their facility learning about the hurdles and successes of starting and growing a business.
Taylor Miller
Glatfelter, Corporate Human Resources
December 1, 2016
Miller communicated to the students what companies are looking for when recruiting and hiring. She cautioned the students on pitfalls during the interview process.
Senator Scott Wagner
Pennsylvania State Senator and Penn Waste Owner
November 2, 2016
As an entrepreneur and owner of Penn Waste, Inc., Wagner shared how he applies his entrepreneurial experiences to his role as Senator.
Andrew Caldwell
Penn State York Advising and Career Development Interim Director
September 19, 2016
Caldwell assists students on campus, daily, with decisions on their future. He provided instruction to The Graham Center students on how to navigate through LinkedIn, and how to use it as a tool to connect with other Penn State alumni.
Bob Rhein
President, Penn Air and Hydraulics
April 26, 2016
Rhein shared some of the strategies he applies with his sales team. He helped Graham students to see that situations which may appear to be failures can be learning and building experiences as part of a team.
Melissa Ural
Human Resources Manager
April 14, 2016
Ural provided candid information on the do’s and don’ts of meeting and interviewing with potential employers, and especially the elements of a proper handshake.
Deborah Koller
President of Koller Financial Services
January 28, 2016
Koller encouraged Graham students to work hard and to be open to change. Koller’s career took her in some unexpected directions that ultimately led to her current position as a highly-respected investment adviser. Koller is a 1976 graduate of Penn State York.
Shannon McCully and Steve Carsella
Shannon McCully
Manager, Industrial Engineering at Walt Disney World
Steve Carsella
Senior Art Director for Disney’s Yellow Shoes Creative Group
October 26, 2015
McCully and Carsella shared their stories about their paths to careers with Disney. They also spoke about what they look for when hiring employees. McCully is a 1996 Penn State graduate.
Michael DelGrosso
Vice President, DelGrosso Foods
October 21, 2015
DelGrosso spoke to Graham students about the history and evolution of his family’s business, and how they became one of the most highly rated sauce companies in the country.
Robert Kinsley
President LSC Design
April 13, 2015
Kinsley shared his life lessons learned in college, support of the Greater York area, and his responsibilities of LSC Design.
Theresa Dohner
Human Resources Manager, Graham Architectural Products
April 7, 2015
Dohner provided a human resources viewpoint to résumés and the hiring process.
Susan Byrnes
Founder, Byrnes Health Education Center, York, Pennsylvania
March 16, 2015
Byrnes spoke with The Graham Center students about their roles and future roles they need to play in their communities. Byrnes is a 2002 Penn State graduate.
Jeff Hines
CEO York Water Company
February 19, 2015
Hines shared with The Graham Center students what it is to be a good steward of the community and the companies where they will work one day, as he is with York Water Company.
Gary Eberle
Owner, Eberle Winery
October 24, 2013
Carrie Robbins
Arts Entrepreneur and Designer
October 1-2, 2013
Robert Choi
Co-founder, Volagi Cycles
March 27, 2013
Hon. Thomas Ridge
Former Governor of Pennsylvania
President/CEO of Ridge Global
April 16, 2012
Sheila Johnson
Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
April 15, 2010
Entrepreneur, philanthropist, Co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), and President of the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Washington Mystics.
