“The Business of Professional Sports — The NFL Advantage”

Margaret Requa DeFrancisco was selected in December 2003 as the President/CEO of the Georgia Lottery Corporation following ten years in public service in state and county government in New York which included heading the New York Lottery, the largest in North America. Since coming to Georgia, her focus has been on growing the sales of a very successful lottery, whose profits have supported the HOPE Scholarship and Pre-Kindergarten programs, directly impacting over 2.5 million students in Georgia.

Margaret Requa DeFrancisco was selected in December 2003 as the President/CEO of the Georgia Lottery Corporation following ten years in public service in state and county government in New York which included heading the New York Lottery, the largest in North America. Since coming to Georgia, her focus has been on growing the sales of a very successful lottery, whose profits have supported the HOPE Scholarship and Pre-Kindergarten programs, directly impacting over 2.5 million students in Georgia.

“The Lottery: Big Business, Big Fun!”

Michael L. Eskew is the former chairman and chief executive officer of United Parcel Service from 2002--2007. Mike remains on the board of UPS, and he is also a director of Eli Lilly and Company, 3M Corporation, IBM Corporation and chairs the board of trustees of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Mike began his UPS career in 1972 as an industrial engineering manager in Indiana. He was named corporate vice president for industrial engineering in 1994, group vice president for engineering in 1996, executive vice president in 1999, and vice chairman in 2000. A native of Vincennes, Indiana, Mike graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering. Mike and his wife, Molly, live in the Brookhaven neighborhood of Atlanta and split time between Atlanta and Chicago. Mike is an avid reader and golfer and father of four grown children

“Things I’ve Learned, Relearned, and am Still Learning”

Rich joined the Falcons in December 2003, and currently serves as the club's President and CEO. He is in charge of all business operations and is leading the club's efforts to build a new stadium as the team heads towards the expiration of its lease term at the Georgia Dome. Rich also works closely with General Manager Thomas Dimitroff on contract negotiations and managing the team's annual salary cap.

Sherwood Dodge is the business leader of GE Capital Americas, Equity. GE Equity has been an active mid market minority investor for 15 years and leverages GE's deal flow, industry expertise, operating talent and global reach. Dodge also heads the team that is responsible for acquiring and divesting businesses and portfolios for GE Capital Americas.

“Private Equity: Bringing Good Things to Life”

Paul G. Schempp is an expert on expertise. Named the 2004 Distinguished Scholar by the International Center for Performance Excellence at West Virginia University, he has dedicated his professional life to understanding what it takes to be an expert performer. As a research professor and the Director of the Sport Instruction Research Laboratory at the University of Georgia, he has spent over a decade conducting award winning research into the characteristics and development of expertise. Schempp has more than 25 years of experience in the fields of research, teaching and professional development. Individuals and organizations in business, education and sport have elevated their expertise and achieved exceptional performance by working with Schempp.