Business Leaders Share 'Executive Insights' In New Smeal Program

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA (January 31, 2007) – Joseph Amado, vice president and chief information officer of Philip Morris USA, will be the first guest in a new program at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business, which is designed to bring high-profile business leaders to the college to connect with students, faculty, and administrators.

Leadership in Focus: Executive Insights kicks off on Feb. 23 with Amado, who is credited with reshaping Philip Morris' information technology culture to bring the company's IT resources more in line with its business needs. At Smeal, he'll share some of what he's accomplished since taking over the company's massive IT operation in 2000 and discuss how technology can add business value and improve processes.

"We created this program to connect with practiced business leaders to learn what they're really experiencing on the frontlines of today's changing business environment," said Smeal Dean James Thomas. "We're fortunate to initiate the program with Joe Amado. He's on the leading edge of digital transformation and sees every day what's happening at the intersection of business and technology."

Amado will meet with select Smeal faculty members and administrators. He'll participate in an on-stage conversation with Dean Thomas on business strategy and IT alignment, during which audience participation is encouraged. He will also meet in a small-group setting with Smeal student leaders.

Future Executive Insight participants include Jim Turley, chief executive officer of Ernst & Young, and Andrew Seck, vice president of corporate affairs for Shell.

The goal is for Executive Insights to add a different element to the Smeal educational experience. "Learning firsthand from true business leaders and innovators has a real, positive impact on students and adds a new dimension to their education," Thomas said. "This program is just one more thing we're doing at Smeal to offer our students a world-class education."

About Joseph Amado
Amado first joined Philip Morris USA in 1986 as a computer analyst. He served as information technology director of operations before his appointment in June 2000 to vice president and CIO, responsible for the management of all systems development and all of the company's IT assets. He holds a bachelor's degree from Winston-Salem State University, where he sits on the board of trustees.