Dell Executives To Discuss Company's Evolving Supply Chain Model At Smeal

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA (September 19, 2007) – Two Dell executives are scheduled to visit Penn State next month to meet with students and administrators and discuss Dell business strategies with students.

Smeal College of Business alumnus Paul Bell '82, senior vice president and president of the Americas, and John Mullen, vice president of higher education, will visit Penn State on Oct. 11 and 12.

Bell is scheduled to participate in an interactive, on-stage discussion moderated by Kevin Morooney, vice provost and chief information officer of Penn State. The conversation will focus on Dell's evolving "direct model" supply chain, but audience members are encouraged to ask questions about all aspects of Dell's business operations.

The talk should be of particular interest to students who are studying supply chain and marketing, given Dell's recent move to sell computers through traditional retail outlets, in addition to their direct Internet and phone sales. This channel strategy shift at the company is requiring changes in how its products are manufactured, warehoused, shipped, and marketed.

Bell's discussion begins at 11 a.m. on Oct. 12 in Smeal's Struthers Auditorium. It is open to all Smeal and IST students and faculty.

In addition to Bell's talk, Mullen is scheduled to be a guest in Smeal classes to discuss Dell's sales and marketing efforts and the computer company's changing supply chain strategy.

The two executives will also tour Smeal's Trading Room and engage with members of the college's student-managed Nittany Lion Fund, a $5 million stock portfolio. Also on the agenda are meetings with Penn State President Graham Spanier, Smeal Dean James Thomas, and Henry Foley, dean of the College of Information Sciences and Technology.

About Paul Bell
Bell serves as senior vice president and president of the Americas at Dell. In this role he is responsible for all business operations across the region.

Prior to his current role, he served as senior vice president of Europe, Middle East, and Africa, managing all business operations and manufacturing activities in the region. Previously, he was senior vice president and general manager of the Worldwide Home and Small Business Group.

Before joining Dell in 1996, Bell was a consultant with Bain and Company.

Bell has bachelor's degrees in fine arts and business administration from Penn State and an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Organization and Management.

About John Mullen
Mullen serves as vice president of sales for Dell's Higher Education Sector. He is responsible for the performance and direction of the segmented business Dell has established in order to meet the needs of higher education customers in the United States.

Prior to joining Dell, Mullen spent 13 years at Hewlett-Packard, most recently as manager of the company's Eastern Region Services Business. Other assignments while at Hewlett-Packard included global account services manager, North American services sales and marketing manager, as well as other management positions.

Mullen holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University and an M.B.A. from Santa Clara University.