Executives-in-Residence

The executive-in-residence program in the Williams College of Business is designed to allow for experienced executives to mentor our students and also work with faculty. Our executives-in-residence meet with each entering freshman student and provide them with career mentoring. They also guest lecture in classes and work with the Dean to achieve the mission of the College. If you wish to participate in this program, please contact Dean Ali Malekzadeh at 513 745-3528 or by e-mail at Malekzadeh@xavier.edu.

• Michael Conaton, retired Vice Chairman, Midland Company
• Gerald DeBrunner, retired Vice Chairman and Office Managing Partner, Deloitte & Touche, LLP
• Donald Dufek, retired from The Kroger Co.; ECR specialist
• Robert J. Kohlhepp, Vice Chairman, Cintas Corporation
• Lawrence Leser, retired chief executive officer, E.W. Scripps Company
• C.P. “Al” Sampson, Vice President of Human Resource, Canadian Pacific Railway; Director, Sampson Consulting
• Mary Anne Gale, retired Vice President of Accelerate Asia and Future of Productivity and Growth, Procter and Gamble

Michael J. Conaton
Michael J. Conaton retired as Vice Chairman of the Midland Company, a position he held from 1961. Prior to that he served as controller of The Maloney Company. Conaton was a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He earned his B.S. degree from Xavier University and was awarded the Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Xavier. Conaton is Chairman of the board of trustees of Xavier University and also served as its Interim President. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Midland Company and has also served on the Board of Directors of Key Bank, N.A., Society National Bank, Ameritrust Company, Athenaeum of Ohio, and the Metropolitan Club among many others. In addition, Conaton was awarded the Paul L. O’Connor Leadership Award for his contributions to Xavier.

Gerald J. DeBrunner
Gerald DeBrunner retired as Vice Chairman and Office Managing Partner, Deloitte & Touche, LLP. A 1959 graduate of Xavier University, DeBrunner joined Deloitte & Touche as a staff accountant and was promoted several times till he attained the position of Vice Chairman and Office Managing Partner. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants. DeBrunner has generously volunteered his time to several social service activities. He currently serves on the board of trustees for Xavier University and is a member of its executive committee. He is also chair of the board of trustees information technology committee. In addition, DeBrunner is active in such other organizations as the Queen City Club, Kenwood Country Club, Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, and Purcell Marian High School.

Donald F. Dufek
Don Dufek retired from The Kroger Co. at the end of 1994. He is now actively working, domestically and internationally, as a “missionary” for ECR initiatives. ECR is Efficient Consumer Response, a cooperative effort between suppliers and distributors to improve efficiencies and provide added value to the consumer. Dufek is now serving as executive-in-residence here at Xavier University.

He has over 40 years experience in the grocery business, including work in wholesaling, independent retailing, small regional chain operations and 32 years with the largest supermarket chain in the United States. He started his career as a bagger and worked all the way up to a corporate officer and Senior Vice President of The Kroger Co. The following are key positions he has held: President, Columbus Marketing Area; Vice President, Store Operations; Vice President, Distribution; Senior Vice President, Operations; Senior Vice President, Logistics. Don is now very involved in worldwide industry activities through work with FMI – Food Marketing Institute, GMA – Grocery Manufacturers of America, UCC – Uniform Code Council and the ECR Operating Committee.

Dufek was educated at Nazareth Hall Seminary, University of Cincinnati Executive Program and the Harvard Advanced Management Program. Don received the first ECR “Path Forward” Award at the 1997 Annual ECR Conference, presented by David Jenkins.

Robert J. Kohlhepp
Robert J. Kohlhepp is currently Vice Chairman of the Cintas Corporation. Starting in 1967, Mr. Kohlhepp has held positions as Controller, General Manager, Vice President and Treasurer at the Cintas Company. In 1979 he was elected Executive Vice President and a member of the company's Board of Directors. In 1984 he was elected President and in 1995 he was elected Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Kohlhepp also holds trustee and director positions at Xavier University, Parker Hannifin Corporation, and Eagles Hospitality Properties Trust. His past trustee and director positions include: Mead Corporation, United Way & Community Chest, Cincinnati Association For the Blind, and Uniform & Textile Service Association. Mr. Kohlhepp is a graduate of the Xavier Universities MBA program.

Lawrence Leser
The Williams College of Business proudly welcomes Larry Leser as executive-in-residence. Leser retired from the E.W. Scripps Company after 28 years of distinguished service, 11 of them as chief executive officer. Leser graduated from St. Xavier High School and received his BSBA in accounting (magna cum laude) from Xavier University in 1957. A Cincinnati native, Leser is also a member of Xavier's board of trustees, joining in 1985. He has served as chairman of the Nucleus Fund Committee of the Cornerstone Campaign, the BMX Fund and The 1831 Society. He is currently national chair of the Father Finn Society. His many contributions to Xavier include the Lawrence A. and Anne J. Leser Scholarship Fund.

C.P. “Al” Sampson
Al Sampson is currently Vice President, Human Resources – Canadian Pacific Railway and Director of Sampson Consulting. He is a widely respected leader and consultant in human resource issues, with significant experience and expertise in management training and development executive assessment and coaching international cross-cultural human resources management and organization development as well as cultural diversity change process management.

During more than 25 years of human resources management, Sampson has provided exceptional and caring leadership of that function at Canadian Pacific Railway, GE’s Corporate R&D Center, GE Aircraft Engines (19 years), Abbott Laboratories, Miller Brewing Company and Cutler-Hammer, Inc.

Sampson has also distinguished himself with his work in academia as an assistant dean and lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Business Administration, and as a member of the board of directors at the College of Mt. St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. He also served as an advisor to Xavier University’s Business School (New Orleans, LA) to help that institution establish an international business center and foreign studies program; and continues to serve on the advisory council for Alfred University School of Business in Alfred, New York, and on The Pennsylvania State University Industrial/Organizational Psychology Advisory Board.

Mary Anne Gale
Mary Anne Gale has been a strong supporter of the WCB international initiatives and while in China  hosted students in the Executive MBA.program for the past three years. She now wants to help mentor the students to work in a global environment. Her vast international experience will significantly enhance the global knowledgeof the WCB.

Since joining Procter & Gamble, Mary Anne Gale has held several positions. Starting out as an Employee Relations Specialist, she moved her way through various managerial positions until becoming a Site Director in 1990. In 1994, Ms. Gale became the Global PS HR Director. Following in 1998, she was named Manager of Global Manufacturing, going on to become Vice President of Global Manufacturing in 1999. In 2000, she moved on to Vice President of Global Supply Chain Operations, adding the title of Vice President of PS Asia to those duties in 2004. In 2007, Gale was appointed Vice President of Accelerate Asia and Future of Productivity and Growth. Ms. Gale recently retired from Procter & Gamble and is excited to share her global experience with Xavier students.

Mrs. Gale received her B.A. in Retailing from Michigan State University in 1971. Before joining Procter & Gamble in 1973, she was affiliated with the J.W. Knapp Company in Lansing, MI and interned with the Selective Service in Washington, D.C.