Conference Speakers
Doug Burgum
One of North Dakota’s leading businessman and innovators, his vision and leadership led Great Plains Software to international presence, an initial public offering and a $1.1 billion acquisition by Microsoft Corporation .
Doug Burgum is a visionary who led Great Plains Software to international presence, an initial public offering in 1997 and a $1.1 billion acquisition by Microsoft Corporation in 2001.
Under Mr. Burgum’s leadership, Great Plains was named four times to FORTUNE magazine’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work for in America,” a distinction also held by Microsoft Corporation during his tenure there as senior vice president.
He has established the Doug Burgum Family Fund, which focuses its charitable giving on youth and education. He currently serves on the advisory council for the Stanford Graduate School of Business and is co-founder and chairman of Arthur Ventures, a technology venture fund. He serves on the board of directors for Arthur Companies, Inc., a privately-held diversified agribusiness, and for SuccessFactors, Inc., one of the fastest growing public software companies and the leading provider of on-demand employee performance and talent management solutions.
In 2006, Mr. Burgum founded the Kilbourne Group, whose mission is to save and restore historic buildings in downtown Fargo, North Dakota through green initiatives.
[ + ] Read More Dr. Joseph A. Chapman
North Dakota State University’s 13th president, noted for his ability to coordinate collaborative efforts and his commitment to e nhance and integrate research programs.
Joseph A. Chapman took over his duties as North Dakota State University’s 13th president in June 1999. Noted for his ability to coordinate collaborative efforts and his commitment to enhance and integrate research programs, Chapman has guided the university to its current “Research Universities (high research activity)” ranking in the Carnegie Foundation’s classification system.
Under Chapman’s leadership, research expenditures exceed $100 million. This more than doubles the amount spent in 1999 when Chapman came to NDSU, and makes NDSU the largest research enterprise in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. He sought partnerships from the private sector to enable expansion of NDSU’s Research and Technology Park—partnerships that almost immediately generated results.
In addition, Chapman’s goal of 12,000 enrolled students was met in fall 2005, and doctoral degree programs have increased from 18 in 1999 to 38 in 2005. He is the recipient of the 2006 North Dakota Chamber of Commerce Greater North Dakotan Award, and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators prestigious national President’s Award in 2005.
Chapman earned his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate from Oregon State University, Corvallis. He lists 11 books and editorships, eight monographs, 31 book chapters and symposia proceedings, 67 journal publications and more than 100 reports and popular articles.
Joseph and Gale Chapman have two daughters, Valerie and Jennifer.
[ + ] Read More Senator Byron L. Dorgan
Currently serving a third term in the U.S. Senate. In November 2004, re-elected with nearly 70 percent of the vote after serving two previous terms in the Senate and six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives
Byron L. Dorgan was re–elected to a third term in the U.S. Senate in November 2004 with nearly 70 percent of the vote after serving two previous terms in the Senate and six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Since 1996, he has served in the Democratic Leadership as an Assistant Democratic Floor Leader, and since 1998, also as Chairman of the Senate Democratic Policy committee. He is the first North Dakotan to serve in the Senate Leadership.
In addition, Senator Dorgan serves on four other Senate Committees. He is Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, Chairman of the Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee within the Appropriations Committee. Also, he is Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee within the Energy & Natural Resources Committee, and he is a senior member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee where he chairs the Interstate Commerce, Trade and Tourism Subcommittee.
Throughout his career in both the House and Senate, Senator Dorgan has worked to advance the interests of rural America. Top priorities have been creating good–paying jobs and greater economic opportunity in North Dakota.
Senator Dorgan conceived and created the Red River Valley Research Corridor, an effort to connect North Dakota’s world class colleges and universities to federal high tech research and training efforts. The effort not only strengthens the nation, but also expands economic growth in North Dakota by bringing high tech federal research and training projects to North Dakota’s institutions of higher learning.
Using his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Dorgan has secured more than $480 million in federal funding for Research Corridor projects. The funding has created or expanded world class research centers, attracted high tech companies, and created good-paying jobs in North Dakota.
Through Senator Dorgan’s Research Corridor investments, North Dakota has advanced to become the fastest growing state in federal research and development, according to the National Science Foundation. The Milken Institute’s 2008 State Technology and Science Index study reported North Dakota’s “meteoric rise” in technology, research and development, as the state moved up 14 positions in four years.
A 2006 study found that, since its creation in 2002, the Red River Valley Research Corridor has generated $759 million in positive economic impact and added thousands of jobs to the regional economy.
Senator Dorgan is also working to position North Dakota to play a vital role in the nation’s effort to achieve energy independence by reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. He has aggressively supported further oil production in North Dakota. Earlier this year, he asked the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct an up-to-date study regarding the Bakken Shale Formation, which is thousands of feet underneath western North Dakota and eastern Montana. Their study found up to 4.3 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. He is working to make significant long–term investment in renewable fuels, such as bio–fuels, wind energy and ethanol. He is also working to develop clean coal technology, increase energy efficiency, and the use of hydrogen.
Senator Dorgan is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Take This Job and Ship It: How Corporate Greed and Brain–Dead Politics Are Selling Out America. This book, released in July of 2006, makes the case that exporting American jobs is a flawed long–term economic strategy that is turning into an economic disaster.
Senator Dorgan was raised in the farming community of Regent, North Dakota. His family worked in the farm equipment and petroleum business and raised cattle and horses. He graduated from a high school class of nine students. He is married to Kim Dorgan and has four children: Scott, Shelly (deceased), Brendon and Haley.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Dakota and earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Denver. He later worked for a Denver–based aerospace firm.
Senator Dorgan’s public service career began at age 26, when he was appointed to the office of State Tax Commissioner in North Dakota. He was the youngest constitutional officer in North Dakota’s history. He was re–elected to that office by large margins in 1972 and 1976, and was chosen one of “Ten Outstanding State Officials” in the United States by the Washington Monthly magazine.
[ + ] Read More Dean Kamen
Founder and president of DEKA Research & Development Corporation; Time Magazine has called him the modern day “Thomas Edison”. He holds more than 440 patents, including the first wearable insulin pump for diabetics and the widely recognized two-wheeled human transport device called the Segway.
Dean Kamen is an inventor, entrepreneur and tireless advocate for science and technology. He is the founder and president of DEKA Research & Development Corporation, where he develops internally-generated inventions and provides research and development for major corporate clients. He holds more than 440 U.S. and foreign patents for innovative devices that have expanded the frontiers of healthcare worldwide.
His many notable inventions include the first wearable insulin pump for diabetics, the HomeChoice™ portable peritoneal dialysis machine, the INDEPENDENCE® IBOT® Mobility System, and the Segway® Human Transporter.
Among Mr. Kamen’s proudest accomplishments is founding FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization dedicated to motivating the next generation to understand, use and enjoy science and technology.
Mr. Kamen was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1997, received the Heinz Award in 1998, and was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 2000. He received the Lemelson-MIT Prize in 2002 and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame™ in May 2005.
[ + ] Read More Dr. Robert Kelly
University of North Dakota’s 11th president, Kelley earned his bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, and his master's degree and doctorate, both in cell and developmental biology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Robert Kelley, began serving as the 11th president of the University of North Dakota July 1, 2008.
Kelley had served as the Dean of the College of Health Sciences and as professor of medical education and public health at the University of Wyoming, since 1999.
Kelley earned his bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, in 1965, and his master's degree in 1966 and doctorate in 1969, both in cell and developmental biology from the University of California, Berkeley.
He has been in his present position since 1999. Prior to that, he was associate vice chancellor for research and executive associate dean of the graduate college at the University of Illinois at Chicago, professor of biological sciences at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and professor of anatomy and cell biology at the College of Medicine, both at the University of Illinois at Chicago. At the University of New Mexico, he served as chair of anatomy and senior executive associate dean, as well as other faculty capacities. He has also taught at the University of California, Berkeley.
Kelley has served as chair of the Assembly for the Association of American Medical Colleges, chaired the Council of Academic Societies for the AAMC, and was a member of the executive board of the National Board of Medical Examiners, which is responsible for the U.S. medical licensure examination. In addition, he has served the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on several study sections, served on the director's advisory board for NIH strategic planning, and chaired the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program advisory committee in the NIH Division of Research Resources. That program helped support research for historically black universities, tribal colleges, and "minority-majority" institutions. He is currently principal investigator for the University of Wyoming/Northern Rockies INBRE (IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence), an NIH program which promotes biomedical research and connects the state's community colleges with the University of Wyoming.
He and his wife, Marcia Jean, have four children.
[ + ] Read More Dr. Raymond L. Orbach
Under Secretary for Science, Department of Energy; he is responsible for planning, coordinating and overseeing the department’s research and development programs, its 17 national laboratories, and its scientific and engineering education activities.
As Under Secretary for Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Dr. Orbach serves as Secretary Samuel W. Bodman’s advisor on science policy as well as on the scientific aspects of all that DOE does, from basic research, to nuclear energy, to the environmental clean-up of Cold War legacy sites, to defense programs. He is responsible for planning, coordinating and overseeing the Department’s research and development programs and its 17 national laboratories as well as its scientific and engineering education activities.
Secretary Bodman has tasked Dr. Orbach with leading the Department’s efforts to transfer technologies from DOE national laboratories and facilities to the global marketplace, naming Dr. Orbach as the Department’s Technology Transfer Coordinator and as chair of the DOE Technology Transfer Policy Board.
Dr. Orbach is a fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has held numerous visiting professorships at universities around the world and serves as a member of 20 scientific, professional and civic boards.
[ + ] Read More Dr. Craig Venter
Founder, chairman and president of the J. Craig Venter Institute; he has been placed on Time Magazine’s 2007 and 2008 “100 Most Influential People in the World” list, and is regarded as one of the leading scientists of the 21st century for his invaluable contributions to genomic research.
J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., is regarded as one of the leading scientists of the 21st century for his invaluable contributions to genomic research. He is founder, chairman and president of the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), a not-for-profit, research organization with more than 400 scientists and staff dedicated to genomic research as well as the exploration of social and ethical issues in genomics.
Dr. Venter is also founder and CEO of Synthetic Genomics Inc., a privately held company dedicated to developing and commercializing synthetic genomic advances. The company is currently focused on solving pressing societal needs such as producing new alternative energies and biochemicals.
In 1992 Dr. Venter founded The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), a not-for-profit research institute, where in 1995 he and his team decoded the genome of the first free-living organism, the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae.
His human genome research was published in February 2001 in the journal Science. He and his teams continue to blaze new trails in genomics research and have published more than 50 genomes and numerous important papers on environmental genomics, synthetic genomics and the first complete diploid genome.
[ + ] Read MoreQuestions? Please contact Lanelle by e-mail,
lanelle@spiderandcompany.com, or by phone, (701) 478-6885.
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