Episode 102: Dr. C. Alvin Bowman
An interview with Dr. Al Bowman, president of Illinois State University.
Dr. Bowman was appointed President of Illinois State University on March 1, 2004, having served as the Chairman of its Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology and director of its Down Syndrome Speech-Language Clinic. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois where he received its distinguished alum designation in 2007, a Master's Degree from Eastern Illinois University and a Bachelor's Degree from Augustana College. He serves as a director of the Commerce Bank, BroMenn Healthcare and McLean County Museum of History. His wife, Linda, earned Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in speech pathology from ISU and is an academic advisor at ISU; they have two daughters.
Dr. Bowman details the value of an education, those who have succeeded without a college education, the functions of his role as the President, and his nearly 24-hour a day commitment to the University.
Episode 101: David Commanday
An interview with David Commanday, music director of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra.
David began his musical career at age six as a pianist and cellist. He is married to Karla; they have three children, all of whom have demonstrated exceptional musical talents.
He is a cum laude graduate of Harvard University, having majored in psychology, science, music and languages; the Vienna Hochschule fur Musik with highest honors in orchestra conducting and was the recipient of the Austrian State scholarship. David has collaborated with Rudolf Nureyev, Yo-Yo Ma, Monica Mancini, and Ellis Marsalis and has conducted for the Las Vegas Philharmonic, National Symphony, Israel Philharmonic, South Carolina Philharmonic and the Joffrey Ballet. He served as the music director of the 80-musician Peoria Symphony Orchestra and secured the following, among others, as its guest artists: Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Chee Yun, André Watts and Bobby McFerrin.
David describes his view of the preparation for a performance, his feelings during and after the completion of the performance, the intersection of psychology and music, the role of the conductor, the role of the orchestra and each individual musician, his views of classical music and the existence or absence of any spiritual connection between the musician and a higher power.
Episode 100: Robert A. Clifford
Interesting People's Ed Sutkowski interviews Robert A. Clifford, Esq. Bob was designated by the Illinois Super Lawyers Publication as "Chicago's most likeable tough guy" and as "Chicago's most feared attorney." In 1993, he was designated as one of the top 10 litigators in the United States, having secured a verdict in the amount of $28 million. He founded his Chicago-based, nationally recognized law firm more than 25 years ago; it specializes in personal injury, aviation, transportation, medical malpractice and product liability cases. He is a member of the Inner Circle - an organization comprised of only the top 100 trial lawyers in the United States. His firm has participated in every commercial airline case filed during the 20-year period beginning in May of 1977. Among his more publicized cases are the internationally acclaimed Rachel Barton's claim which resulted in a verdict of $30 million, the Bob Collins disc jockey case, the Dick Ebersol case and currently, the cases arising out of the September 11th crash. His 35-page CV lists articles which have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and the National Law Journal. He has appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America, Today Show, CNN, MSNBC and Wall Street Week. Born on the South Side of Chicago - Mudville at 121st and Laflin -- Bob's father was a carpenter and mother a homemaker. He graduated from Marist High School. At age 16 he attended and was inspired by a Dale Carnegie course. Graduation from DePaul Law School followed. Bob and his wife are the parents of four children.
Episode 99: Meyers Leonard
Host Ed Sutkowski talks with Meyers Leonard who was the First Round 2012 NBA Draft Pick for the Portland Trail Blazers. Seven foot, one and one-quarter inch, 245 pounds, Meyers Leonard, a native of Robinson, Illinois, population 7,000, was the 11th first round pick of the Portland Trailblazers in the 2012 NBA draft. Only 1 in 5,000 high school basketball players make it to the NBA; of the more than 3,000 college basketball players, only 60 are drafted. Meyers discussed his Robinson family and high school teammates, his positive relationship with Elle Bielfeldt, the average NBA "career length" of 4.71 years, and his pre-tax compensation of approximately $1.8 million, post-tax, $900,000. His biggest thrill in sports was "...winning state my senior year," as predicted by his 5th grade basketball coach. He completed 3 academic years and 2 chronological years at the University of Illinois College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The Portland Trail Blazers is owned and controlled by Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder. The Trail Blazers has featured 6 Hall of Fame players - Scottie Pippen, Bill Walton, Clyde Drexler, Lenny Wilkens, Drazen Petrovic and Arvydas Sabonsi.
Episode 98: Phil Luciano
Host Ed Sutkowski talks with Phil Luciano who is an award winning columnist at the Peoria Journal Star. Phil, a graduate of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, began his journalistic career as an editor of The Northern Star, NIU's student newspaper. He experienced his first professional experience by contributing to the removal of NIU's then-current President, Clyde Wingfield. Phil then received his MA in public affairs reporting from Sangamon State, now known as the University of Illinois at Springfield; he has taught various courses, e.g., English, philosophy, sociology, algebra and business communications, at various teaching institutions: Bradley, Knox College, Illinois Central College, Robert Morris College and Midstate College. Phil, the author of more than 3,000 columns during his 15+ year career with the Peoria Journal Star, has hosted 3 radio programs and has received 3 Illinois Associated Press awards for best columnist, 2 Illinois Press Association awards and other awards for excellence in journalism. During the interview, Phil defined "journalism," his role as a columnist, the impact of journalistic errors on the reporting of political events, the "New Journalism" approach as embodied in Truman Capote's 1965 book, "In Cold Blood," and the tension between capitalism and journalism. He compared and contrasted the financial performance of the owner of the Peoria Journal Star, Gatehouse Media, with that of the New York Times and Gannett Inc. and expressed his views on the future of his profession.
Episode 97: Rev. Dr. Joseph M Meyer
Host Ed Sutkowski talks with Rev. Dr. Joseph M. Meyer who is the Senior Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church. Pastor Joe received his Doctor of Ministry in Homiletics - the study of composition and delivery of a sermon, including all forms of preaching, viz., sermon, homily and catechetical instruction. He discussed his view as to the beginning of the world, the role of religion and the composition of the human brain - 90 billion neurons linked by 100 trillion synapses as contrasted with the WWW's 20 billion pages and 1 trillion links - as detailed in "Brain Bugs," Dean Buonomano's 2011 best seller. Pastor Joe responded to Buonomano's view that "...religion's most precious offering may be that is has served as a permanent oasis of hope and consultation in the face of harsh realities."
Episode 96: Mauri A. Ditzler, Ph.D.
Mauri A. Ditzler, Ph.D., a 1975 summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, graduate of Wabash College, majored in chemistry, with a minor in speech. In 1979, he received his Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Duke University and attained full professor status at the College of Holy Cross in 1987. Dr. Ditzler was the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences at Milliken University and returned to Wabash College in 1999. He was appointed the 13th President of Monmouth College in 2005. Dr. Ditzler discussed the differences and similarities between his qualitative and quantitative views of the world, the mission of today's college, the challenges and forces that bear on delivery of a collegiate education, the future of education and his view of the future of the collegiate experience. He discussed the themes expressed by Andrew Delbanco in his 2012 best seller, "College - What It Was, Is, And Should Be." Monmouth College, located on 83 acres in Monmouth, Illinois, was founded on April 18, 1953; its enrollment approximates 1,360 students of which 54.5% are women and 44.5% are men. Monmouth employs 130 faculty of which 92 are full-time and 38 are part-time; and 78% of the faculty has Ph.D.s. The average class size approximates less than 19 students. It offers 10 varsity sports for men and 10 for women. It has a $38 million science and business complex with 51 off campus programs and 52 on campus programs. As of June 30, 2011, Monmouth's endowment approximated $79 million as contrasted with the $1.26 billion endowment of Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa.
Episode 95: Stephen L. Ferguson, Esq.
Stephen L. Ferguson, Esq., is chairman of the Board of Cook Incorporated, a Bloomington, Indiana based privately held manufacturer of medical devices. Since deceased Bill Cook and his surviving spouse, Gayle, formed Cook in 1963 with a $1,500 investment. It now manufacturers more than 16,000 products used in over 42 medical specialties, employs 12,500 individuals world wide in 17 locations in 4 continents. Its sales exceed $1.7 billion; the $1,500 investment is now worth approximately $6 billion. Steve, a 1963 graduate of Wabash College, with distinction, and a 1966 graduate of Indiana University School of Law, with honors, was a member of the Indiana General Assembly from 1967 to 1974. Steve describes Bill Cook's unusual and focused hiring philosophy: Phyllis McCullough, a since retired president, joined Cook as a receptionist/secretary; Kemp Hawkins, its current president, was the band director at the local high school; and April Lavender, its current vice president for regulatory affairs, is a high school graduate. Bill, a native of Canton, Illinois, the newest location for a more than $15 million Cook investment shall create more than 300 jobs. Bill urged his colleagues to "...think out of the box," to "be friendly but not become a friend" and a person "learns a business in business and not in school." Both Bill, to the tune of more than $500 million, and Steve have shared their enviable economic success with various charities and economic development activities, including the restoration of the West Baden Springs Hotel and the French Lick Casino.
Episode 94: Marilyn Webb
Host Ed Sutkowski talks with Marilyn Webb distinguished professor of journalism and author of 'The Good Death: The New American Search to Reshape the End of Life'. Marilyn is co-founder of the journalism program at Knox College. She previously taught at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University and as editor-in-chief of Psychology Today. She was a senior editor at Woman's Day and McCall's magazines and the author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated book, The Good Death: The New American Search too Reshape the End of Life." In addressing the treatment of distress, rather than disease, in light of one's impending death, Marilyn spent 6 years, interviewed 300 health care professionals and detailed the terminal experiences of 15 patients and their families. She suggested that the composition experience and the interviews with the patients "allowed me to reshape the private puzzle of my life, it was an immense gift, and for that, I will always remain grateful." She discussed her passion for journalism, teaching, her role as an intellectual procreator, Tuesdays with Morrie (1997) and Mortality (2012) by Christopher Hitchens.
Episode 93: Benita S. Katzenellenbogen, Ph.D.
Dr. Benita Katzenellenbogen, Swanlund Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was named the recipient of the 2011 Women in Endocrinology Mentor Award. She is an internationally recognized scientist in the field of molecular endocrinology, with a focus on estrogen signaling and breast cancer. Dr. Katzenellenbogen has published over 300 research articles in peer reviewed journals and has won numerous research awards, including the Endocrine Society's Roy O. Greep Lecture Award (2006) and the Susan G. Komen Foundation Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction (2009). Her research accomplishments, as well as her loyalty and dedication to her trainees, have made her a highly sought after mentor by young scientists from all over the world. She leads by example and has created an environment in her laboratory and community of past trainees that fosters scientific exploration, career development, and a cooperative spirit. Dr. Katzenellenbogen's dedication to the career advancement of her trainees-undergraduates, graduate students, and post docs-continues well after they leave her laboratory. She has also participated in a wide variety of organized activities aimed at promoting the careers of junior investigators and eliminating discrimination against women scientists. Through her efforts with the Endocrine Society, both as President (2000-2001) and a member of many society committees, she has worked to provide opportunities to young scientists and helped to create a level playing field for women in science. Beyond this, through her own career success and outreach, she has served as a role model to women in and outside of her own laboratory and university.
Episode 92: Don Carrel - Full Unedited Interview
Don Carrel - Full Interview (This video is the full unedited copy and did not air on WTVP. Not Closed Captioned.) Don Carrel graduated from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas with a bachelor's degree in business management, married his college sweetheart, Karen and became a father of two sons, Christopher and Matthew. Five years after his marriage, he reported to Karen that he was gay and that a divorce was the only solution. Don now resides in Mission, Kansas with his partner Chris and theirs dogs, Ellie and Emma. Don has been living with AIDS since 1995. He suspects he was infected with HIV in 1981. Thirty years later, less than 2% of people with HIV worldwide have lived long enough to share their stories. While lying in a hospital bed with pneumocystis pneumonia - the most common form of death for someone with AIDS - Don had a riveting dream that would dramatically change his life and possibly the lives of more than 150,000 teenagers. After making a full recovery, Don set out to teach young people what they needed to know about HIV prevention so that they wouldn't wind up in his shoes. His lofty goal: to stomp out AIDS. Sixteen years later, Don has thousands of thank-you letters from teens who have heard his compelling school presentations. Today, Don hopes to reach an even wider audience with his book, My Dream to Trample AIDS.
Episode 91: Don Carrel
Don Carrel graduated from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas with a bachelor's degree in business management, married his college sweetheart, Karen and became a father of two sons, Christopher and Matthew. Five years after his marriage, he reported to Karen that he was gay and that a divorce was the only solution. Don now resides in Mission, Kansas with his partner Chris and theirs dogs, Ellie and Emma. Don has been living with AIDS since 1995. He suspects he was infected with HIV in 1981. Thirty years later, less than 2% of people with HIV worldwide have lived long enough to share their stories. While lying in a hospital bed with pneumocystis pneumonia - the most common form of death for someone with AIDS - Don had a riveting dream that would dramatically change his life and possibly the lives of more than 150,000 teenagers. After making a full recovery, Don set out to teach young people what they needed to know about HIV prevention so that they wouldn't wind up in his shoes. His lofty goal: to stomp out AIDS. Sixteen years later, Don has thousands of thank-you letters from teens who have heard his compelling school presentations. Today, Don hopes to reach an even wider audience with his book, My Dream to Trample AIDS.
Episode 90: Robert Vega
Robert J. Vega was born and raised in Humboldt Park, then his mother moved him at 12 to Indiana for better school options. A stint in the U.S. Navy turned Vega into a teacher. Commissioned as a bugler on the historic U.S.S. Constitution battleship, Vega presented naval artifacts to schoolchildren on a tour called "Ironsides Across the Nation." The connection stuck with him, so did his family musical roots (which included mariachi bands), and he became a music teacher at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He was the first one in his family to go to college. In 2008, he landed a job with the Noble Network, which now is comprised of 70 Chicago communities, 12 campuses and 7,900 students, 98% of which are minorities and 90% of which come from low income families. He single-handedly built the program that now includes six band classes, a total of 348 students, plus a jazz ensemble. He views himself as a demanding teacher who creates disciplined musicians from children who've never before held an instrument. "As he tells it, music changed his life," said Assistant Superintendant Eric Thomas, Vega's former principal who nominated him for the People magazine honor. "He transforms kids, he works with kids who literally are starting from scratch in music. He teaches the kids the value of practice and with enough hard work magic can happen to them." Vega, a single dad of a 3-year-old and 6-year-old, said he'll throw his $4,000 prize money into his school's budding theater program. It's hard to take credit," he said, "when there have been so many people along the way." "I was so excited to show the kids: Hard work pays off, hard work pays off," he said after returning from the New York celebration of the magazine's Oct. 12 issue. "This is a success story I'm hoping they will cherish." His enthusiasm is more than infectious.
Episode 89: Stephen A. Cullinan, M.D. and James B. Gerstner, M.D.
Stephen A. Cullinan, M.D.,
Stephen A. Cullinan, M.D. is from Pekin, Illinois. He graduated from Northwestern University, University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago, interned and was a resident at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan and received a fellowship in oncology/hematology at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Cullinan is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology, is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria and has authored or co-authored more than 30 medical publications.
James B. Gerstner, M.D.,
James B. Gerstner, M.D. is from Tremont, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago, interned and was a resident at LaCrosse Lutheran Hospital, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, received a fellowship in oncology/hematology at the Mayo Clinic and was chief of the Department of Medicine of the US Army Medical Corps at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. Dr. Gerstner is board certified in internal medicine and hematology, was part of the teaching staff at Mayo Medical School and Peoria School of Medicine.
In 1977, Dr. Cullinan formed Oncology Hematology Associates of Central Illinois, predecessor in name to Illinois CancerCare. In 1979, Dr. Gerstner joined Dr. Cullinan. Illinois CancerCare currently employs more than 270 individuals, is staffed with 14 medical oncologist, 3 gynecological oncologists and 16 nurse practitioners. In 1978, it became affiliated with the North Central Cancer Treatment Group, now with 406 treating locations in 28 states and Canada. Illinois CancerCare is ranked ninth in patient participation, ahead of the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida and the Cleveland Clinic and the University of Iowa.
Both Dr. Cullinan and Dr. Gerstner retired from Illinois CancerCare in 2007.
Episode 88: Fred Barnes
Host Ed Sutkowski talks with Fred Barnes who's been a FOX News political commentator; a guest on Bret Baier/Special Report; a national political reporter and columnist; a book author; and the Co-Founder/Executive Editor of 'The Weekly Standard'.
Fred Barnes is co-founder and executive editor of The Weekly Standard. From 1985 to 1995, he served as senior editor and White House correspondent for The New Republic. He covered the Supreme Court and the White House for the Washington Star before moving on to the Baltimore Sun in 1979. He served as the national political correspondent for the Sun and wrote the "Presswatch" media column for the American Spectator. From 1998 to 2009, he was host, along with Mort Kondracke, of the Beltway Boys on FOX News. Barnes appears regularly on FOX's Special Report with Bret Baier. From 1988 to 1998, he was a regular panelist on The McLaughlin Group. He has also appeared on Fox News Sunday, CBS This Morning, Nightline, Meet the Press, Face the Nation, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. In addition, Barnes hosts Issues in the News on Voice of America. Formerly, he was chief correspondent on the PBS series National Desk and host of What's the Story? on Radio America. Barnes authored the book Rebel in Chief: Inside the Bold and Controversial Presidency of George W. Bush (2006) based on his exclusive interviews with top administration officials -- as well as President Bush. Over the years, he has written for Reader's Digest, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Spectator, Washingtonian, The Public Interest, Policy Review and both the Sunday Telegraph and Sunday Times of London. The Media Guide has given Barnes four stars -- its highest rating -- and called him "a great political reporter-columnist" whose material is "exquisitely timed."
Episode 87: John B. Wahlfeld
Host Ed Sutkowski talks with John B. Wahlfeld an historian, businessman, and financial development officer.
In June of 1968, John received a Bachelor's Degree from Principia College, was drafted and served from 1968 to 1972 in the U.S. Army and received his Master's in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1974. Given the untimely passing of his father, John, together with his cousin, Ted, co-managed Wahlfeld Manufacturing Company, a Peoria-based, 106-year old family business with more than $25 million in gross sales. The company sold and marketed building materials and products to lumber dealers and home centers throughout Illinois and Eastern Iowa. Given the economic downturn, the family sold the assets of the company to a New York Stock Exchange organization. After the sale, John became a Major Gifts, Financial Development Officer of the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross. John has been a member of more than nine community organizations, eight industry organizations and has participated in more than eight continuing education programs. His experiences span three distinct categories: the academic; the entrepreneurial and the charitable.
Episode 86: Neal D. Barnard M.D.
Host Ed Sutkowski talks with Neal D. Barnard, M.D., who is a clinical researcher, author, leading advocate for nutritional low-fat vegan diets, and Founder and President of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Neal D. Barnard, M.D. is an American physician, author, clinical researcher and founding president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, an international network of physicians, scientists and laypeople who promote preventative medicine, conduct clinical research and promote higher standards in research. An advocate of low-fat vegan diets, he has also conducted research into alternatives to animal experimentation and has been active in the animal protection movement. As of 2012, he is an adjunct associate professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, serves as president of The Cancer Project and heads the Washington Center for Clinical Research, a PCRM subsidiary.
Barnard is the author of more than 50 published research papers on nutrition and its impact on human health and 12 books, including The 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart (2011), Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes (2007), Breaking Food Seduction (2003) and Power Foods For the Brain (2013).
Episode 85: Diane Rehm
Host Ed Sutkowski talks with Diane Rehm an author, and the host NPR/WAMU's The Diane Rehm Show.
Diane Rehm is a native Washingtonian who began her radio career in 1973 as a volunteer producer for WAMU 88.5, the NPR Member Station in Washington, D.C. She was hired as an assistant producer and later became the host and producer of two health-oriented programs. In 1979, she began hosting WAMU's local morning talk show, Kaleidoscope, later renamed as The Diane Rehm Show in 1984.
More than 2.4 million listeners across the country tune in to her show, which has grown form a local morning call-in show to one of public broadcasting's most popular programs. The Diane Rehm Show was recognized for achievements in social media; its Twitter account (@drshow) won a 2010 Shorty Award for best producer of short, real-time content in news.
The Diane Rehm Show was named to the Top 10 list of the most powerful programs in public radio for 2007 and 2008. In 2010, Diane won a Peabody Award, widely considered among the most prestigious and selective prizes in electronic media, for her more than 30 years in public broadcasting.
Many of the nation's prominent newsmakers, journalist and authors have appeared on her show, including then-Sen. Barack Obama, former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, former vice President dick Cheney, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Sen. John McCain, Nobel Laureate and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison, and Photographer Annie Leibovitz. In 2000, Diane became the first radio talk show host to interview a sitting president in the Oval Office when she interviewed President Bill Clinton.
In 1998, Diane's career nearly ended because of spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological voice disorder that causes strained, difficult speech. She sought and ultimately received treatment, returned to the show, and called attention to her condition. The National. Council on Communicative Disorders recognized her work with a Communication Award. ABC's Nightline, with Ted Koppel as the host, devoted an entire program to a conversation with Diane about her disorder. In 2011, she was awarded the voice Education Research Awareness Award from The Voice Foundation for her sustained contributions to the field of voice communication.
She is a successful author of three autobiographical books: Finding My Voice (Knopf, 1999), in which she describes her childhood, marriage, career and voice disorder; Toward Commitment: A Dialogue about Marriage (Knopf, 2002), a deeply personal book co-authored by her husband, John; and her most recent book written about her beloved dog, Life With Maxie (Gibbs Smith, 2010).
Diane has been named "Washingtonian of the Year" and one of the "150 Most Influential People in Washington" by Washingtonian magazine. She has also been included several times on the magazine's list of the "100 Most Powerful Women," most recently in 2011.
The Diane Rehm Show is produced at WAMU 88.5 and distributed by NPR, NPR Worldwide and Sirius XM satellite radio. It can be heard on more than 170 stations nationwide. The program is also broadcast in Germany, Japan and Finland. It can be streamed online at drshow.org.
Episode 84: David J. Downey
Host Ed Sutkowski talks with David J. Downey an All American, All Big Ten, University of Illinois Basketball Star, and Founder & President of The Downey Group, Inc.
While a student at the University of Illinois, David J. Downey was a star basketball player and as part of the 100th Anniversary of Illinois Basketball Celebration, was chosen as a member of the All Century Team. In addition to being selected by his teammates as Illinois' Most Valuable Player three consecutive years, he was named All Big 10 and All American and won the Big 10 Conference Medal of Honor for Proficiency in Scholarship and Athletics. He still holds the single game scoring record - 53 points - set in 1963 when he led the basketball team to a Big Ten Championship.
After admission to the Illinois Bar in 1966, Dave received his Chartered Life Underwriter designation the same year and decided to continue his career in life insurance. Today, he is one of fewer than 20 individuals in the world to have qualified to the Top of the Table for the entire period of its existence. He has served as national President of the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (1984) and as International President of the Top of the Table (1980). He has testified on behalf of the life insurance industry before Congress, the Treasury Department, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and FASB.
Dave, founder of The Downey Group, Inc., has over 40 years' experience as a life insurance producer. A native of Canton, Illinois, he became an agent for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1962, while still an undergraduate. He received his Bachelor of Science in 1963 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his Juris Doctorate degree in 1966 from the University of Illinois College of Law.
The Downey Group, Inc. became a member of the M Financial Group in 1983. Dave is currently a member of the Board of Directors of M Financial Holdings and of M Life Insurance Company, a reinsurance company. He is a frequent speaker at local, state and national meetings of lawyers, accountants, life insurance agents and various business groups. Dave has conducted seminars in 42 states and 10 foreign countries and spoken at annual meeting s of the Million Dollar Round Table, the American Society of Chartered Life Underwriters, the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting, the National Association of Life Underwriters, the International Forum and Top of the Table.
Dave is presently a member of the University of Illinois Foundation Board, where he is Chair of the Investment Policy Committee, and the University of Illinois College of Business Board of Overseers. He is a board member of First Busey Corporation and The Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, Inc. Formerly, he was a member of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, and the University of Illinois Athletic Board. He is a University of Illinois Adjunct Professor of Finance.
Episode 83: Isaac W. Oliver, Ph.D.
Isaac W. Oliver earned his Ph.D. at the Department of Near Eastern Studies at the University of Michigan in 2012. He has also studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in France, Argentina, and Austria. Isaac speaks English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Modern Hebrew; he is a citizen of the United States and Brazil. He has taught courses on the New Testament, the historical Jesus, and biblical Hebrew at the University of Michigan and Andrews University. At Bradley University, he teaches courses on the New Testament, the Hebrew Bible, Jewish-Christian relations and on other religions. Isaac was raised a Christian, converted to Judaism and is married to a Christian.
Isaac is interested in the exploration of Jewish-Christian relations both in antiquity and the modern period, reading the New Testament and other early Christian writings with their Jewish matrix and as to Jewish literature, Second Temple Judaism, and rabbinic writings. His dissertation, "Torah Praxis after 70 CE: Reading Matthew and Luke-Acts as Jewish Texts," focuses on the question of Sabbath keeping, kashrut (dietary laws), and circumcision in the gospels of Matthew and Luke as well as the Acts of the Apostles. Isaac is the associated editor of the Reviews of the Enoch Seminar, a digital book review service of the Enoch Seminary Online which is committed to the publication of book reviews on Jews and Christians in Antiquity. He is the secretary of the Enoch Graduate Seminar, a biannual conference on Second Temple Judaism and Christian origins.
