Well-known author to address corporate restructuringFeb. 19, 2010 KALAMAZOO--A Western Michigan University alumnus who went on to become a nationally known author and speaker on the economy, the automotive industry and corporate restructuring will speak Friday, Feb. 26, at his alma mater as part of the Keystone Breakfast Speaker Series. Sheldon L. Stone, who earned bachelor's and master's degrees from WMU in 1978 and 1979, respectively, is a partner at Amherst Partners. He will discuss "Strategic Corporate Restructuring: 2010 and Beyond" in the Dean's Conference Room of Schneider Hall, home of the Haworth College of Business. The event is free and open to the public and begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. followed by the presentation at 8 a.m. Reservations are required and may be made by calling (269) 387-5050. Parking is available in the nearby Fetzer Center parking lot. Amherst Partners advises companies on strategy and restructuring planning and implementation. Besides being a partner, Stone heads the business' Restructuring and Turnaround Practice. He also has held executive positions in the retail, technology and automotive supplier industries. His industry experience has been in such sectors as automotive original equipment manufacturers and suppliers, construction and engineering, building materials, retail, real estate and technology. Stone's experience includes a position as interim president and COO for a $45 million automotive supplier. While in that position, he directed the company to an 8.7 percent pre-tax profit in a year, overcoming the previous two years' losses, totaling $3.1 million. Additionally, Stone was the division general manager for DFS Galleria in Honolulu, Hawaii. There, he grew this flagship from $260 million to $420 million in two-and-a-half years, while significantly increasing margin. Prior to that position, Stone was corporate group director of planning at DFS. He was also with Booz Allen Hamilton and Plante & Moran. Stone has been featured regularly on NBC, PBS' "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer," the Fox Business Network, Fox News and NPR's "Morning Edition." He is frequently quoted in Bloomberg News and The Financial Times. In addition to his WMU degrees, he received a master's in business administration from Georgetown University and is fluent in Japanese. The speaker series is underwritten through the generosity of Keystone Community Bank. It provides an opportunity for the local community to hear prominent business leaders, WMU faculty, alumni and friends of the Haworth College of Business discuss current business issues and corporate strategies as well as key information regarding the continuing progress of the college. Media contact: Valorie Juergens, (269) 387-5964, valorie.juergens@wmich.edu WMU News |
