The following prominent executives (who are listed with the company and title they held at the time of their speeches), have participated in the speakers series:

• John A. Allison, chairman and CEO, BB & T Corporation
• Paul Anderson, CEO, Duke Energy Corp.
• Ramani Ayer, president, The Hartford
• John Biggs, chairman emeritus, TIAA-CREF
• John Blystone, CEO, SPX Corporation
• Molly Broad, president, University of North Carolina
• Terry Broderick, retired CEO, Royal & SunAlliance insurance
• David Burner, CEO, Goodrich
• David Carroll, senior executive vice president, Wachovia Corporation
• Sue Cole, regional CEO, U.S. Trust Company and chair, N.C. Citizens for Business and Industry
• Cynthia Cooper, WorldCom whistleblower
• Ed Crutchfield, chairman emeritus, First Union Coporation
• Barbara Desoer, president, consumer products, Bank of America
• Kevin Drehmer, CEO, Digital Optics Corporation
• Gary Green, president and CEO, Compass Group North America
• Dale Halton, president and CEO, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Charlotte
• Col. Jack Jacobs, U.S. Medal of Honor recipient
• Gene Johnson ‘73, chairman and CEO, FairPoint Communications
• Jeffrey Kane, vice president and officer in charge, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Charlotte branch
• Lee Keesler, president and CEO, Arts & Science Council
• Ken Lewis, chairman and CEO, Bank of America
• Beth Monaghan ‘88, president, Monaghan Group
• Richard Moore, N.C. Treasurer
• Tom Nelson, CEO, National Gypsum
• Fountain Odom, attorney and former N.C. Senator
• Ruth Shaw, executive vice president of Duke Energy Corporation
• Steve Sweeney, president, Chartwells
• H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, president and general manager, Lowe’s Motor Speedway
• Cameron Wilkinson, vice president and sales manager, Morgan Stanley
• Paul Wyss, chief economist, Standard & Poor’s

In addition, countless other local business executives have generously given their time and expertise as guest lecturers and panelists in undergraduate and MBA classes.