Jim Parker is President and CEO of Digitell, Inc., a company that specializes in the digital development of conference products. Digitell provides service to over 80 leading organizations. Mr. Parker is a 30-year veteran in the conference industry and a frequent speaker to national organizaitons on a variety of topics including the marketing and distribution of educational materials, "Going Green" initiatives, and virtual technology. He is known throughout the industry for pioneering numerous products and services, including the first multi-media conference CD-ROM, the first conference digital multi-media library, and his latest product release, avatar-based virtual business environments.

Bob and some partners started Touchmark National Bank in January, 2008—just one month after the recession officially started, and just as the financial markets began their meltdown. But Touchmark has been doing quite well, despite that.

Bob will talk about general career issues, business strategy, and the current economic and financial situation. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. Here's your chance to connect with a CFO!

Please contact Dr. James Kurre at k12@psu.edu with any questions.

Stephen J. Gurgovits, Jr. is a Western Pennsylvania native, and currently serves as President and C.E.O. of F.N.B. Capital Corporation, LLC a wholly-owned subsidiary of F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE – FNB).  Mr. Gurgovits is responsible for the overall activities of this merchant banking subsidiary, providing both strategic and operational leadership to the organization with responsibility for its overall planning, growth and success.  Mr. Gurgovits reports directly to the C.E.O of F.N.B. Corporation and the subsidiary’s board of directors.  Mr. Gurgovits specifically handles the implementation of the overall business strategy and deal-making plan, and then effectively oversees the internal and external marketing and execution of this plan. 

In addition to his deal-making services, Mr. Gurgovits coordinates the resources for the proper analysis and due diligence of target company transactions.  These responsibilities include in-depth research and analysis of private equity and mezzanine investment opportunities, and providing direction and oversight to staff for the development of the market and industry research on the target company’s competitive position and future prospects.  Mr. Gurgovits partners with an advisory board and the internal board of directors to structure, research, and negotiate investments in target companies, based on financial analysis, financial modeling, industry research, and overall coordination of additional internal and/or external resources.  Mr. Gurgovits and his team manage the investment portfolio and may advise companies and/or partner with management teams to create profitable and sustainable businesses to protect and secure adequate returns on investment.

Prior to becoming President and C.E.O. of F.N.B. Capital Corporation, LLC, Mr. Gurgovits was Vice President and Regional Senior Portfolio Manager for F.N.B. Investment Advisors, an affiliate of F.N.B. Corporation.  In this position, he was responsible for managing over $150 million in fixed income and equity investment assets for individual and institutional clients.  Mr. Gurgovits graduated with High Distinction from Pennsylvania State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.  He became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1995, and subsequently earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Katz School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh.  Mr. Gurgovits has also earned his CFA Charter designation.

Prior to joining F.N.B. Investment Advisors, Mr. Gurgovits served as Controller and Finance Manager for the Sports & Exhibition Authority (SEA) in Pittsburgh, PA.  In this capacity, Mr. Gurgovits was responsible for the oversight of more than $1 billion in financial transactions relating to the construction of two new professional sports stadiums and the newly expanded David L. Lawrence Convention Center, while overseeing the financial operations of Mellon Arena. 

During his career, Mr. Gurgovits has worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and as a Supervising Senior for KPMG LLP, where he managed financial statement audits, specializing in financial statement preparation, internal control reviews, and SEC reporting requirements, including annual report disclosures for several publicly traded institutions.  He currently serves on several boards, including Thorley Industries, Tri-Tech Forensics, Inc. and the YMCA of Southwest Butler County.

 

CHRISTOPHER T. OLIVIA, M.D. is an experienced physician executive who has managed health insurance companies, hospitals, healthcare facilities, and physician practices with a specialty in turning around distressed businesses.  Dr. Olivia is presently the President and Chief Executive Officer of the West Penn Allegheny System in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  West Penn Allegheny is an academic health system with six hospitals including the nationally recognized Allegheny General Hospital.  The system has $1.7 billion in annual revenue and is the second largest private employer in Western Pennsylvania with over 13,000 employees, 700 employed physicians and 500 residents and fellows.  It serves as a major teaching campus of both Temple University School of Medicine and Drexel University School of Medicine.  In addition, Dr. Olivia presently serves on the Administrative Board of the Association of American Medical Colleges Council of Teaching Hospitals and on the Board of the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania.

Prior to his present position, Dr. Olivia had served as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Cooper Health System (CHS), Southern New Jersey’s only academic medical center and one of three principal teaching hospitals of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.  Cooper University Hospital is the largest hospital in South Jersey and contains the Children’s Regional Hospital and a 450-member faculty group that comprises the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden Campus. Dr. Olivia came to CHS as President of the University Physician group in 2000 prior to becoming the system CEO.  CHS had sustained losses in excess of $50MM in the years immediately preceding his arrival and faced insolvency.  During his tenure as CEO, Cooper had the most financially successful years in its’ 120-year history.  The organization revised its mission/vision statement, reorganized its board and management and developed a new strategic plan under his leadership.  Eight new centers of excellence were created and inpatient services grew 50% and revenue grew 250% to over $750MM.  Under his leadership, Cooper initiated a 5-year, $500MM construction campaign that is the center of the revitalization of the city.  When finished, it will include a new hospital, parking garage/retail center, education and research building, cancer center and systems biology institute.  The investment community recognized Cooper’s success during his tenure as the organization was awarded four bond upgrades/rating changes over four years and now carries an investment grade rating from Moody’s and S&P.  In addition to the above responsibilities, Dr. Olivia held an academic appointment as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School where he trained medical students and Wills Eye Hospital ophthalmology residents.  He served as the Chairman of the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals from 2004-07. 

Prior to coming to Cooper, Dr. Olivia was the Senior Vice President/Chief Medical Officer of Mercy Health Partners and President/Chief Executive Officer of Covenant Health in Springfield, Ohio.  Prior to that, he was employed as a practicing ophthalmologist and a medical director of specialty services for Health Care Plan in Buffalo, New York.  Dr. Olivia has been involved with nine start-up companies as a founder and board member in the health care information technology and services field. He is presently a board member of Philadelphia-based ITA Partners, a leading cancer risk management company and a board member of Foundation Radiology Group, a state of the art diagnostic imaging professional services company.

Dr. Olivia holds a Bachelor degree in Science and Premed from The Pennsylvania State University, a Medical degree from Hahnemann Medical School and a Masters in Business Administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his medical internship at Morristown Memorial/Columbia University and his ophthalmology residency at the University of Buffalo, the State University of New York.  South Jersey Magazine recognized him as a “Top Doc” in New Jersey in 2003 and 2004.  He was awarded the Drexel University College of Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2005 for his accomplishments in medicine and business and the International Healthcare Volunteers Leadership Award in 2006.

Kathryn Nusbaum, CPA, CFP®, MBA is the co-owner and Managing Director of Middle America Planning, Inc., a fee-only financial advisory and consulting firm.   After a successful Wall Street career in New York City, Kathryn and her husband moved their family to Pittsburgh, PA in order to establish their practice and raise their two young daughters.  In addition to advising personal and corporate clients, she is a professional speaker who has presented to thousands of adults and students across the country on effective money skills and aligning conscious decisions with personal goals. She has been quoted in various national publications including Money Magazine, Kiplingers, Real Simple and Morningstar Advisor.  Kathryn is also the author of a True Wealth® guide which will be published and released in 2010.  She maintains ties to her hometown by serving on Penn State Erie’s Council of Fellows Board of Directors.

Invest in Life

Kathryn Nusbaum will be presenting ‘Invest in Life’ to the students of Penn State Erie.  Her discussion will introduce the concepts of True Wealth® and explain how to measure an individual’s personal balance sheet.  This will be an interactive session designed to invigorate students to bring consciousness to their life’s assets which they can leverage to maintain a lifetime of personal financial freedom.

An Alternative to Stimulating the Economy

The FairTax is a non-partisan, grassroots effort to replace our existing complex and convoluted income tax code with a simple, fair and transparent national consumption tax.  Kathryn Nusbaum, CPA, CFP® will walk you through the mechanics and benefits of the proposal.  The mechanics include a national retail sales on new goods and services as well as a monthly rebate that will ensure that no American will pay taxes on basic necessities.  The benefits include enormous tax compliance savings as well as setting the stage for a massive re-awakening American manufacturing – including jobs.  Her discussion will include the impact from the perspective of poor, middle class as well as wealthy Americans. This will be an exciting discussion around the history of our convoluted income tax system and what we can do to dismantle the confusion while galvanizing the economy at the same time.