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Episode 62: Roger L. Taylor

Interesting People's Ed Sutkowski interviews Roger Taylor, President of Knox College.

Roger, an alumnus and the 18th President of Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, retired in 2002 as a litigation partner in Kirkland & Ellis - a law firm rated as #1 of the top ten most profitable law firms in the world. Among Roger's clients were McDonald's Corporation, Morgan Stanley and Dow Chemical. As President of Knox College, his compensation during his first year was $1.00.

Roger, one of six children, grew up in Ellisville, Spoon River country, and graduated from Cuba High School in 1959. He and his wife, Anne - also a former lawyer - met at Knox College during a freshman mixer. Roger served in the United States Navy, including one year in Vietnam and graduated from Northwestern Law School, having served as editor of its Law Review. Roger details his Knox College "grand plan": one designed to nurture academic excellence, entrance institutional self-confidence and secure financial impregnability.

Roger details his personal grand plan, just what a "college education" buys and offers insights into the soul of one who relinquished quantitative fame and fortune in favor of a qualitative life!

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Episode 61: Professors Douglas L. Wilson and Rodney O. Davis

Interesting People's Ed Sutkowski interviews Douglas Wilson and Rodney Davis, co-directors of the Lincoln Studies Center at Knox College.

Professor Wilson is the author of Lincoln's Sword (2006) - which in 2007 received a $50,000 Lincoln Prize and Honor's Voice: The Transformation of Abraham Lincoln (1998) - which received the 1999 Lincoln Prize, both of which explore the mind and background of Abraham Lincoln. He has received more than 15 honors and awards and has been cited in more than 40 selected publications.

Professor Davis is the author of The History of Illinois by Governor Thomas Ford (1995), is the recipient of more than 12 grants and awards and has been cited in more than 20 selected publications.

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Episode 60: Dr. John Stone and Dr. Allan C. Campbell

Interesting People's Ed Sutkowski interviews Dr. John Stone, physician and author, and Dr. Allan Campbell, physician and pathologist.

Dr. Stone was born in Jackson, Mississippi, the grandson of a general practitioner and son of a production supervisor father and a homemaker mother. Dr. Stone created literature and medicine courses at Oxford University and Emory University Summer Studies, founded the Emergency Medicine and Residency program at Grady Memorial Hospital and taught both English Literature and Medicine at Emory and Oxford University. His 25-page CV reflects publication of 21 articles, ten book chapters, 13 New York Times Magazine essays, lectures at 150 institutions in 40 states, including Yale, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic and the awarding of three honorary degrees. Among his publications are the following: On Doctoring: Stories, Poems, Essays (Third Edition), 1991 (250,000 copies distributed), The Smell of Matches (1972), In All This Rain (1980) and Where Water Begins: New Poems and Prose (1998).

Dr. Campbell was born in Champaign, Illinois. He graduated with honors from the University of Illinois and from Washington University Medical School. His post-graduate education continued at Washington University, Baylor University Medical Center (chief resident) and Parkland Hospital. His research projects include a summer research fellowship at the University of Illinois and the Washington University School of Medicine. He has received not less than nine honors for his research and publications, is a member of 14 professional organizations and has taught at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria where he is chair of its Department of Pathology. He was a physician with Peoria-Tazewell Pathology Group, S.C., where he served as President and as a member of the Board of Directors.

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Episode 59: Joan Root Ericksen

Host Ed Sutkowski talks with Joan Ericksen, an artist who, with her husband Robert, co-founded the Sun Foundation, an organization designed to unite the arts and environmental sciences through educational programs, services, and cooperative efforts for artists, local arts organizations, schools, and the general public.

Joan's life began in the South Side of Chicago and now exists on 1,200 acres of woods and farmlands that also house the teaching facility occupied by The Sun Foundation which she and her husband, Robert C. Ericksen, co-founded in 1973. Joan received her Master's from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan and her Bachelor's in Education from Northern Illinois University. She has studied at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France, and The Art Institute of Chicago. Joan details her lifelong commitment to learning and the advancement of the arts and environmental sciences in underserved rural and urban communities.

In this conversation, Joan, a professional artist and teacher, discusses Professor Howard Gardner's book, Intelligence Reframed, the importance of multiple intelligence, her journey to Central Illinois and the Foundation's mission: to advance the arts and environmental sciences in underserved rural and urban communities by providing quality, innovative and interdisciplinary programs, services community arts access, financial support and cooperative efforts for artists, local arts organizations, schools, underserved populations and the general public.

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Episode 58: James W. Owens

Host Ed Sutkowski interviews the CEOs of Caterpillar Inc. who led the company out of its most difficult financial years to help it become one of the most successful companies in the world. In this episode, Ed talks with Jim Owens, Chairman and CEO from 2004-2010.

Jim, Caterpillar Inc.'s Chairman and CEO from February 2004 to mid-2010, hails from Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Athletically inclined, he displayed an early interest in track and football. Jim's father ran a printing operation for a naval shipyard and his mother was a homemaker. A 1968 graduate of North Carolina State University, Jim earned a degree in textiles--the second largest USA manufacturing industry. A Master's of Textiles in 1970 and a Ph.D. in Economics in 1973 followed.

Jim began his career at Cat in 1975 at age 26 as a chief economist with Caterpillar Overseas SA, Geneva, Switzerland. In 1975, Cat's profits approximated $400 million. In 2004, Cat's profits approximated $2+ billion at which time Cat experienced a global resurgence in economic activity and an insatiable demand from China for construction equipment - a market which was the subject of Jim's focus during his early career. During Jim's tenure, he orchestrated Cat's movement to China rather than the Soviet Union. Jim will have served as CEO of Cat for more than six years; the tenure of a typical Cat CEO averages three years. His mission: to leave Cat better than he found it.

He has served as a member of the Manufacturing Council and as a board member of IBM, FM Global Insurance Company, Alcoa, Inc., and Global Advisory Council to the Conference Board.

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Episode 57: Peter A. Magowan

An interview with Peter Magowan, president and managing general partner of the San Francisco Giants.

Peter's grandfather, Charles Merrill, founded Merrill Lynch & Co.; Peter's father, Robert Anderson Magowan, was the former CEO of Safeway Stores, one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America as based on sales and his mother was Doris Merrill Magowan, whose brother, Charles Edward Merrill, was President of Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia, and her other brother, James I. Merrill was a Pulitzer prize-winning poet. The marriage of Peter's parents begot five sons, Peter, Robin, Merrill, Stephen and Mark. His mother's interests, largely inherited by Peter, included business, philanthropy, the fine arts and associations with stand-out individuals, e.g., Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. He and his spouse, Debbie, are the parents of four daughters and one son: Kim, Hillary, Margo, Kristen and Matthew.

Peter earned a B.S. in American Literature from Stanford University, an M.A. in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University and an M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He served with the U.S. State Department for two years. Peter began his 37-year career with Safeway as a checker, store manager and real estate negotiator. In 1986, Safeway was the subject of an unsolicited takeover and then a defensive leveraged buy-out orchestrated by Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts and thereafter, another public offering. In 1993, after 13 years as Safeway's CEO, Peter resigned to become a member of the investment group which purchased the San Francisco Giants from Bob Lurie. After the purchase, Peter became the president and managing general partner of the San Francisco Giants. Willie Mays was Peter's assistant; Willie McCovey, his senior advisor; Orlando Cepeda, his community representative; and Felipe Alou, his special assistant. Peter retired and resigned as the president and managing general partner effective in 2009.

Peter has served as a director of Caterpillar, Daimler Chrysler, Spring Group PLC, W5 Networks, Inc., Baxter, Cox Communications and Safeway. Among Peter's many honors are Businessman of the Year awarded by the San Francisco Business Times and the Commonwealth Club Distinguished Citizens Award. Peter's non-business interests include skiing, gardening, tennis, fishing, reading and poetry; his favorite book of poetry is The Pitch is on the Way: Poems About Baseball and Life as to which he comments that "Anyone who knows and loves baseball will enjoy this remarkable collection of poems."



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Episode 56: Heidi M. Hurd

Host Ed Sutkowski interviews Heidi M. Hurd, Dean of the College of Law at the University of Illinois.

Heidi M. Hurd, the David C. Baum Professor of Law, served as the 11th and first female Dean of the University of Illinois College of Law; she is a scholar in the areas of torts, criminal law and general jurisprudence. Dean Hurd received her undergraduate degree and Master's degree, both in Philosophy, from Queens University, Ontario, Canada, and her Ph.D. in Philosophy and law degree from the University of Southern California. She is the mother of twins. She was a Professor of Law and Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, served as Associated Dean for Academic Affairs and co-founded and directed the University of Pennsylvania Institute for Law and Philosophy.

Dean Hurd has presented more than 80 lectures at various conferences around the World, has authored numerous articles which have appeared in various prestigious publications including the Yale Law Journal, Stanford Law Review, Michigan Law Review, and The Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues.

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Episode 55: 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.

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Episode 54: Crispian Steele-Perkins

An interview with British trumpet virtuoso Crispian Steele-Perkins while he was in Peoria in October as soloist for the Peoria Symphony Orchestra Concert "Beyond Baroque!"

Born in England in the 1940s, Crispian displays typical British humor in his life's work as a musician. His interest in the trumpet was fostered from age 13 when he received a first place award for his performance of The Lord is a Man of War from Israel in Egypt in the music competitions at Marlborough College.

Crispian views classical music as "the internal language of the soul" and as suggested by E. M. Forster, classical music "reveals the hidden life at its source." He has performed before an audience of more than 130,000 at the Edinburgh Festival. His performances are imbedded in film, movies and television scores including James Bond, Jaws and The Two Towers - Lord of the Rings. Fascination in trumpet - the oldest among the oldest of musical instruments - stems from his study of trumpet playing in medieval times. The trumpet dates back to at least 1500 B.C

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Episode 53: Gail Fosler

An interview with Gail Fosler, president of The Conference Board, Inc., a global research and business membership organization.

As President, Gail directs the future of The Conference Board, an international, member-based, independent economic research organization representing 3,000 businesses located in 65 countries. The Conference Board publishes the Consumer Confidence Index, the Consumer Internet Barometer, the CEO Confidence Survey and other research. More specifically, as noted by Alan Greenspan, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve:

"The Conference Board has been an important institution in my life. It was here I started as an economist. It was here I came into contact with a business world I had never known before... What I learned during my five years at The Conference Board proved invaluable in my later life."

Gail, as an economist, was twice named by the Wall Street Journal as America's most accurate economic forecaster, was a member of the Advisory Panel of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, received the Annual Blue Chip Economic Forecasting Award and has appeared as a guest on news programs on ABC, BBC and CNN. She has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Deschner Corporation, Baxter International, Caterpillar, H.B. Fuller, Unisys, DBS Holdings and John Hancock Mutual Funds and served on the following committees: Bretton Woods, Council on Foreign Relations, Economic Club of New York and National Bureau of Economic Research.

Gail's interest in economics began with her sophomore year paper on economics. She then earned an undergraduate degree in economics from USC and an M.B.A. in finance from New York University. She served on the Congressional staff of the United States Senate Budget Committee and as an assistant vice president/economist for Manufacturers Hanover Trust Division. Her spouse, R. Scott Fosler, is a leader in Innovations in Governance and the former president of the National Academy of Public Administration. He holds a degree from the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy and has served as a senior staff member of Institute of Public Administration and the U.S. National Commission on Productivity. Gail and Scott have one son, Michael. Gail details her passion about dancing, athletics, weight training, creative writing and poetry, her influential adolescent experiences, her math background, and the common denominators among economists. Finally, she expresses what she views to be the impact on her life's journey after the cheering stops.

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Episode 52: Chuck Brown and Al Eskildsen

Interviews with two World War II veterans and foxhole buddies—Chuck Brown and Al Eskildsen.

Chuck Brown , Iwo Jima WWII Veteran Marine buddies, Chuck and Al, enlisted in the volunteer force of choice since "you went into the Marines because you wanted to be the best...we were the best." Grasp their adventures highlighted in remembrance: journey to Camp Pendleton, training program protocol, elimination of self to that of "team," and insight into the invasion process.

Al Eskildsen, Iwo Jima WWII Veteran Iwo Jima comprised only 8 square miles -- 33% of the size of Manhattan. According to the Japanese, the island was a symbolic nature; it contained 16 miles of tunnels, 1,500 man-made caverns and sheltered nearly 23,000 soldiers underground. No drinking water existed. Chuck and Al describe their foxhole experience, their fears and trepidations, their steadfast friendship and finally, the applicable statistics of World War II.

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Episode 51: Lonnie Stewart

Lonnie Stewart, internationally recognized artist and sculptor, has created portraits of such luminaries as Mother Teresa; Diana, Princess of Wales; Pope John Paul II and the Maharana of Udaipur, India. In addition, he has sculpted powerful, life-like busts of subjects ranging from former President and Eureka College alum, Ronald Reagan, to the future Saint, Mother Teresa. Lonnie was born in Galesburg, Illinois; his family soon moved to DeLong, Illinois, population 56. He practices his profession from studios located in Peoria, Illinois and Charleston, South Carolina.

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Episode 50: Sara Paretsky

An interview with Sara Paretsky, a best-selling mystery writer who was in town in March to speak at a Peoria Reads program.

Born and raised in the Midwest, Sara Paretsky's books have been published in 25 countries and translated into nearly 30 languages. Early mentoring by her grandparents fostered Sara's social conscience and interest in social injustices. The daughter of a University of Kansas microbiologist father and a mother who almost attended medical school, Sara and her family, including four brothers, Sara lived in rural Kansas.

Sara holds Honorary Doctor of Letters degrees from several colleges and universities. She was named the Ms. Magazine 1987 Woman of the Year and was awarded The Diamond Dagger of Lifetime Achievement award by the British Crime Writers' Association. Her novel, Blacklist, received The Gold Dagger award for best novel. Sara's plots -- centered on murder, crime concealment, businesses and confrontation -- offer delicious mystery rich in detail and local color.

Sara recalls her life in Chicago's Hyde Park, her educational career and her path as a life insurance marketing manager to the beginning of her writing. One book, V.I. Warshawski, became a movie starring Kathleen Turner as a private detective.

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Episode 49: Rev. Dr. Forrest Krummel, Jr.

Ed Sutkowski, a local attorney and media personality, interviews the Rev. Dr. Forrest Krummel, Jr. of First Federated Church in Peoria.

As one who overcame a speech stuttering impediment and chose a profession which required verbal communication and understanding, Forrest "Frosty" Krummel describes his adolescence, his ministry, the application of Stanislavski acting method and a window to his spiritual beliefs.

Senior Pastor of First Federal Church in Peoria, Illinois, Dr. Krummel received his undergraduate degree from Butler University followed by a theology degree from Louisville Presbyterian Seminary. He then received his Ph.D. from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.

Dr. Krummel compares/contrasts the teachings of Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion, with Robert Wright's presentation, The Evolution of God and Dinesh D'Souza's, What's So Great About Christianity.

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Episode 48: Johnna L. Ingersoll

Host Ed Sutkowski talks with Johnna Ingersoll the current Peoria County Coroner.

Death has been described as the most important legal event of life. Johnna "lives" with death over 2,000 times each year.

Prior to election as Peoria County Coroner, Johnna Ingersoll worked as a Chief Deputy Coroner and part-time law enforcement officer. With rigorous certification requirements to be a Death Investigator, Johnna spends more than 40 hours each week analyzing death situations. "It is what I do."

Johnna explains why she chose a profession that is trauma, sadness and grief as her life's work. From the first autopsy she witnessed, she knew her calling. "Connecting the dots" in helping police, the medical community and families find the answers are the Coroner's obligation. Learn of Johnna's work with the Gift of Hope organization for organ donation - bringing some good out of tragedy.

How does a coroner prepare for each encounter or is it possible to prepare? Johnna must ask who? what? where? how? and why? She explains how she strives to remain emotionally neutral in her work. She must be objective and focused, and she relies on trusted staff for emotional support. Above everything, Johnna's first priority is her job.

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Episode 47: William C. Stone

One of nine children, William Stone grew up in Evansville, Indiana. A competitive edge on the high school athletic field nourished his desire to be successful. It was always, "Let's win the next one."

As founder, Chair and CEO of SS&C Technologies, Inc., William Stone's 1,200 employee company designs, develops and markets a vast range of highly specialized investment software and services to the global financial services industry. Gathering and interpreting data, they strive to make others successful: insurance and pension funds, hedge funds, family officers, treasury banks and credit unions included.

A background in accounting and securities from the University of Hawaii and Marquette University led Mr. Stone to work in the insurance industry and securities brokerage firm. A heart-to-heart discussion with his father about the merits of working for oneself led to the self-discovery of his entrepreneurial nature.

Enjoy the twists and turns of William Stone's fascinating business ventures. He attributes his good fortune to hard work and loyal employees. Sales, services, ideas - the leader must be whatever the team needs in order to thrive.

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Episode 46: Gordon D. Honegger

Meet Gordon Honegger, a "marketing guy," Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hometown Community Bancorp. An avid high school athlete from Forrest, Illinois, Gordon journeyed to University of Illinois and earned a degree in Agricultural Economics. From there followed a Master's from Northwestern and a Ph.D. from Purdue. Hear Gordon's story beginning on the family farm, his early lessons in frugality and the steps that led him to Morton Community Bank. He describes the Bank's remarkable growth, his philosophy of success and the way he and his wife, Jean Ann, make co-leadership/co-ownership work!

With humor and honesty, Gordon looks at entrepreneurial good fortune as a combination of preparation meeting opportunity. He demonstrates the connection of happy productive employees with company growth and expansion. Gordon Honegger chose banking - or banking chose him. Either way, his principles of achievement can be applied to any endeavor.

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Episode 45: Nicholas Smith

"No sane man wants his son to become an actor." So says Nicholas Smith quoting his own father.

Nicholas Smith - the character, Mr. Rumbold, of Are You Being Served? fame knew he wanted to become an actor at age seven. A family show produced by his mother gave him a taste of audience applause, and he loved it. Nicholas Smith's daughter, actress, Catherine Russell, continues the family tradition of performing. As a thespian and parent, he recounts - if one can persuade someone to not become an actor, he or she definitely should not; if he or she cannot be persuaded to do otherwise, then acting is the destination.

Watch and discover the beginnings of the mega popular British series Are You Being Served? Tune in to the demands of rehearsal and production schedules. Nicholas Smith compares and contrasts American and British televisions, situation comedy and why performing in Shakespeare's The Tempest is a goal.

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Episode 44: Jim Les

An NBA player for seven years, (Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings), Jim Les was drafted in the third round, 70th overall by the Atlanta Hawks. Leading the NBA in 1990-91 in three point scores with a .461 average, he scored 1,211 points in 396 NBA games. In 1992 he was second to Craig Hodges in a long distance shootout for the NBA All-Star competition.

Growing up in Niles, Illinois, his #10 jersey was retired at Niles Township High School. He attended Cleveland State University before heading to and graduating from Bradley University. As Bradley's co-captain, most valuable player and a significant part of the team's 29 game winning streak, Jim was named 1986 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and is 10th on the NCAA's all time assists with 884.

A Finance major, Jim earned Dean's List status and began his non-basketball career at Sutro & Co. in Sacramento; he achieved Vice President level with management of more than $50 million in assets with 200 clients. His dream of coaching, however, was realized in 2003 when he was appointed Head Coach at Bradley, his alma mater.

Bradley University basketball, under the leadership of Jim Les, has achieved Sweet 16 status and four consecutive years of 20 plus wins. Though he does not take himself too seriously, Jim is readily grateful for his gifts, opportunities and good fortune. Jim and his wife, Jodie are parents to three children: Tyler, Amber and Hannah.

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Episode 43: Dr. John S. Erwin

Fourteen years of higher education for John Erwin began with a B.A. in religion and English from University of Indianapolis, followed by a Master's of Divinity Degree from Methodist Theological School, Delaware, Ohio. He then obtained a Master's of Art Degree in History and a Ph.D. in American Studies from Indiana University. Erwin continued post-doctorate studies at Ohio State, Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Harvard. Appointed President of ICC in 2001, he currently oversees a budget of $51 million and an enrollment of nearly 12,000 students.

Guided by his grandfather, a high school math teacher, young John Erwin was encouraged to borrow a book from the elder's vast personal library only if he provided a "book report" in a follow up discussion; his love of reading flourished. Becoming a Protestant minister advanced his journey in faith. Interested in premonition he discusses The Power of Premonitions, authored by Larry Dossey, M.D., and their effect and impact on his professional careers.

Married to an elementary school teacher, Dr. Erwin and wife Becky are the proud parents of three children: Lauren, Kristin and Andrew.

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