Peter F. Secchia Breakfast Lecture Series
The Peter F. Secchia Breakfast Lecture Series is an outreach of the Seidman College of Business that launched in the fall of 2006; the result of a generous gift by Peter (former Ambassador to Italy; 1989-1993) and his wife, Joan Secchia.
For over fifteen years, Secchia Breakfasts have contributed to community connections and business innovation – both hallmarks of West Michigan - by promoting creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship through showcasing successful business models. Community members, business professionals, alums, and current students can attend these breakfasts at no cost to learn from regional, state, and national industry leaders who share their expertise and experiences.
Upcoming Lecture - April 21, 2026
Secchia Breakfast: The Heart ❤︎ of AI: Robots, Relationships, and Reality
Join Michael DeWilde and Brian Bowdle on Tuesday, April 21 for a conversation on the ethical and psychological sides of forming real emotional connections with AI, and what that could mean moving forward. Alongside additional panelists, they’ll explore how these connections are shaping human behavior, emotional trust, and the way we define relationships in a world where technology feels increasingly personal.
Past Lecture - September 24, 2025
Secchia Breakfast: AI at Scale: How Industry Leaders Are Embracing the Future of Work
On September 24, 2025, a crowd of faculty, community members, and alumni joined in this insightful discussion with Siemens Software. The topic? AI at Scale: How Industry Leaders Are Embracing the Future of Work. Moderated by Joseph Metzger, PreSales Solutions Consultant, he asked our panelists real-life questions that explored how organizations across industries are unlocking value from AI while managing risk. The panelists were comprised of Kevin Drooger, Vice President, Process and Solutions Consulting, Craig Muscott, Director of Software Asset Management, Dave Athey, Manager, AI & Emerging Technologies, and Stephen Crescenti, Solutions Consultant. This was a unique opportunity that engaged with a timely topic that’s continuing to shape the future of business.
Watch the Recording(opens in new tab)
Past Lectures
September 24, 2025
Panelists from Siemens Software:
Kevin Drooger, Vice President, Process and Solutions Consulting
Craig Muscott, Director of Software Asset Management
Dave Athey, Manager, AI & Emerging Technologies
Stephen Crescenti, Solutions Consultant
Moderator from Siemens Software:
Joseph Metzger, PreSales Solutions Consultant
Topic: AI at Scale: How Industry Leaders Are Embracing the Future of Work
May 2, 2025
Panelists:
Adam Madigan, Chief Operating Officer of BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
Brian Gill, Legal Counsel of tesa tape North America
Angela Gamalski, Partner of Honigman Law Firm
Moderator:
Sonja Johnson, Executive Director, Van Andel Global Trade Center, GVSU
Topic: Adapting to 2025 Global Tariffs
View May 2025 Presentation
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February 18, 2025
Panelists:
Michael DeWilde, Professor of Management and Director of the Koeze Business Ethics Initiative
Tim Gutwald, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Mentavi Health
Mark Johnson, Co-Founder and Partner of Michigan Software Labs
Moderator:
Keith Brophy, CEO of Mentavi Health
Topic: Ethical AI in Business: Challenges, Choices, and Consequences
View February 2025 Presentation
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November 21, 2024
Panelists:
Dr. Anthony Chang, Founder and CEO of BAMF Health
Michael Marsiglia, Co-CEO of Atomic Object
Danche Gjorgjievski, Chief Technical Officer and Executive Vice President of ADAC Automotive
Moderator:
Keith Brophy, CEO of Mentavi Health
Topic: The Impact and Application of Artificial Intelligence
View November 2024 Presentation
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November 1, 2023
Speaker: Miliand Pan, CEO of Amway
Topic: 7 Leadership Learnings
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March 22, 2023
Panelists:
Mark White, President and CEO of Shape Corp
Robert Niemiec, Managing Partner of Twistthink
Stacy Paul, Aerospace Engineer and CEO of Array of Engineers (AoE)
Topic: Convergence of Engineering, Business and Technology
View march 2023 Presentation
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January 27, 2023
Panelists:
Tom Hill, CEO and Board Member of Marketlab
Tom Husby, CEO and President of ADAC Automotive
Alison Mast, Senior Managing Director and President of Western Michigan of Northern Trust Wealth Management
Topic: Leadership Transitions, Opportunities, and Obstacles
View January 2023 Presentation
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There were no Peter F. Secchia Breakfast Lectures held in 2022.
November 11, 2021
Panelists:
Jordan Aldrich, Director of Corporate Human Resources at Meijer Inc.
Ryan Anderson, VP of Global Research & Insights of MillerKnoll
Jennifer Tyler, Director Integrated Business Planning of Dematic
Moderator:
Dr. Benjamin Walsh, Associate Professor of Management at Seidman College of Business
Topic: Future of WorkRead
View november 2021 Presentation
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February 25, 2020
Speaker: Tory Richardson, A.A.E., President & CEO of Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Topic: Soaring Higher
View February 2020 Presentation
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September 12, 2019
Speaker: Philomena Mantella, President of GVSU
Topic: The Future of Education
View September 2019 Presentation
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April 17, 2019
Speaker: Gerry Anderson, CEO/Chairman of DTE Energy
Topic: Leading with Purpose - How I Discovered that the Soft Side of Business is the Hard Side
View April 2019 Presentation
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October 3, 2018
Speaker: Missy Young, Chief Information Officer of Switch, Inc.
Topic: Artificial Intelligence: Keeping the Human in Humanity
View October 2018 Presentation
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March 21, 2018
Panelists:
Fred Keller, Founder/Chair of Cascade Engineering
John Kennedy, President/CEO of Autocam Medical
Spencer Stiles, President of Stryker Instruments
Topic: Convergence of Automation and Work
View March 2018 Presentation
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November 29, 2017
Panelists:
Mike VanGessel, CEO of Rockford Construction
Ryan VerWys, ICCF
Matt McLogan, Grand Valley State University
Topic: Westside Story
View November 2017 Presentation
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October 2, 2017
Speaker: Jim Hackett, President and CEO of Ford Motor Co.
Topic: Technology and Human Promise
No streaming available
February 13, 2017
Speaker: The Honorable Mike Rogers, former U.S. House Intelligence Committee Chair
Topic: Global security means local problems: Space. Cyber. Expansionism. Politics.
No streaming available
October 31, 2016
Speaker: Lou Anna K. Simon, President of Michigan State University
Topic: Land-Grant Engagement for the 21st Century
View October 2016 Presentation
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September 27, 2016
Speaker: Birgit Klohs, President of The Right Place
Topic: Why West Michigan Works
View September 2016 Presentation
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March 29, 2016
Speaker: Mary Kramer, Crain's Detroit Business, Publisher and on the GVSU Board of Trustees
Topic: Hurray for Hush Puppies: Why West Michigan Companies are Adding Women to Their Corporate Boards
View March 2016 Presentation
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November 6, 2015
Speaker: Doug Conant, Former President/CEO of Campbell Soup Co.
Topic: 35 Years in the Rearview Mirror... Life Lessons from the Corporate Journey
View November 2015 Presentation
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October 15, 2015
Speaker: Alan Steinman, Ph.D., Director of Annis Water Resources Institute, GVSU
Topic: Michigan's Blue Economy: Why Water Matters
View October 2015 Presentation
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March 30, 2015
Speaker: Governor John Engler
Topic: The State of Our State and Union
View March 2015 Presentation
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November 19, 2014
Speaker: Bill Currie, Matt Missad, Peter Secchia - Universal Forest Products
Topic: Business Lessons Learned
View November 2014 Presentation
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September 18, 2014
Speaker: Michael Finney President & CEO of MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Corporation)
Topic: When Michigan Means Business
View September 2014 Presentation
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May 1, 2014
Speaker: Stuart Hart, S.C. Johnson Professor of Sustainable Global Enterprise at Cornell University; President, Enterprise for a Sustainable World; Founder, Emergent Institute
Topic: Entrepreneurship for a Sustainable World
View May 2014 Presentation
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February 12, 2014
Speaker: R. D. Musser III, President/CEO of the Grand Hotel Mackinac Island
Topic: Sustaining a Grand Vision Through Three Centuries
View February 2014 Presentation
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November 12, 2013
Speaker: Dick DeVos, President of Windquest Group
Topic: So What Does Make West Michigan So Special?
View November 2013 Presentation
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April 16, 2013
Speaker: Brandon Solano, Vice President of Franchise Development at Domino's Pizza
Topic: A Smart Risk: Domino's Pizza Turn Around
No streaming available
September 19, 2012
Speaker: John Russell, CEO of Consumers Energy
Topic: Our Promise to our Customers and to Michigan
View September 2012 Presentation
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February 10, 2012
Speaker: Mike Rogers, U.S. Congressman
View February 2012 Presentation
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November 8, 2011
Speaker: Franco Bianchi
Topic: From West Michigan to the World - The Haworth Way
View November 2011 Presentation
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March 22, 2011
Speakers:
Gary Tilkin, CEO/President of Global Forex Trading
Boris Schlossberg, Director of Currency Research at Global Forex Trading
Topic: Three Themes That Can Move Currencies This Year
No streaming available
November 9, 2010
Speaker: Richard C. Breon, President/CEO of Spectrum Health
Topic: Healthcare Reform: What It Means to Spectrum Health and Grand Rapids
No streaming available
April 14, 2010
Speaker: Doug DeVos, President of Amway Corporation
Topic: 10 Pillars of Economic Wisdom
No streaming available
October 13, 2009
Panelists:
Dr. John Tiemstra
Dr. Daniel Giedeman
Dr. Hari Singh
Dr. Gary Wolfram
Larry Reed
Harry Veryser
Moderator:
Dr. Paul Isely.
Topic: Debating Today's Economic Recovery
No streaming available
October 12, 2009
Speakers:
Jonathon Alter, Newsweek Magazine
Amity Shales, Bloomberg
Topic: Nothing to Fear: What the1929 Economic Collapse Can Teach Us Today
No streaming available
February 24, 2009
Speaker: Mary Ellen Sheets, Founder and Chair of Two Men and a Truck®
Topic: Innovation: Two Men and a Truck
View February 2009 Presentation
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November 11, 2008
Speaker: Blake Krueger, Wolverine World Wide Inc.
Topic: Global Leadership through Innovation
No streaming available
February 28, 2009
Speaker: Mark Murray, President of Meijer, Inc.
Topic: The Skills We'll Need to Return to Growth
No streaming available
September 27, 2007
Speaker: Tom Izzo, Head Basketball Coach at Michigan State University
Topic: The Business of Basketball
No streaming available
November 8, 2006
Speaker: George Hamilton, President of Dow Automotive
Topic: Chemistry and Cars
No streaming available