Weikel Speaker Series
The M. Keith Weikel Speaker Series enables Wisconsin MBA students to interact with and learn from accomplished business leaders and alumni. Executives from both the private and public sectors are invited to campus to address students. Students deepen their leadership skills by hearing the distinct perspectives of these visiting business leaders. Pre- and post-receptions create exclusive networking opportunities for students.
Made Possible through Alumni Support
The series was established in 2004 with a gift by John J. Oros (BBA ‘71) and his wife, Anne Wackman. Oros is managing director at J.C. Flowers & Co., LLC. Today, the series continues as the M. Keith Weikel MBA Leadership Speaker Series thanks to a gift by M. Keith Weikel (PhD, Marketing and Economics, ‘66) and his wife Barbara. Weikel retired as senior executive vice president and COO of ManorCare, Inc. in Toledo, Ohio, in 2006. He has served as a director of Laboratory Corporation of America, director for Direct Supply, Inc., and director emeritus for Manor Care, Inc. He is a member of the Federation of American Health Systems and the Alliance for Quality Long Term Care.
2025-2026 Academic Year Speakers
Matt Seitz
5:30–8:00 p.m.
Fluno Center’s Howard Auditorium (1st floor)
- Matt Seitz leads initiatives to advance AI research, fosters industry partnerships, and prepares students for AI leadership roles.
- He has over 30 years of experience helping organizations solve business challenges through technology.
- Former Google Retail Director of Performance, where he assisted top U.S. retailers leverage AI-powered advertising and analytics to drive growth.
- Pioneered Google’s retail insights program across merchandising, stores, and retail media.
- Led Google’s omnichannel strategy and built a playbook to help CFOs better evaluate financial impact of digital investments.
- Executive advisor on AI and E-Commerce for the Keystone Group.
- Led systems integration and global supply chain transformation at McDonald’s and digital / social media analytics at Abbott Laboratories.
Bradley Olsen
5:00–7:00 p.m.
Overture room of the Gordon Dining & Events Center
- Brad Olsen has more than four decades of experience span cross‑border real estate transactions exceeding $10 billion.
- He established Atlantic Partners, Ltd. in 1995.
- He has been an active supporter of the real estate program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since the early 1980s.
- Instrumental in the development of its international real estate curriculum.
- Retired in 2021 but continues to advise a developer based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
- Serves on the Advisory Board of the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate at the Wisconsin School of Business.
- Graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School.
Patrick G Halter
5:00–7:00 p.m.
Overture room of the Gordon Dining & Events Center
- Patrick G Halter led one of the world’s largest real estate and multi‑asset investment platforms over a 40‑year career.
- Built a team of 850 investment professionals serving clients in 80 markets and continuously recognized by Pension & Investments as “Best Places to Work in Money Management”.
- He joined Principal in 1984 in the commercial real estate division and eventually served as CEO of Principal Real Estate Investors from 2003 to 2018.
- He was active in the investment industry.
- Served on the boards of 15 investment boutiques and the Principal Mutual fund board.
- He was also a member of the Board of Governors for the Investment Company Institute and a past Chairman of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Managers (NAREIM).
- An alumnus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he earned both a bachelors degree and a MBA in Finance.
Featured Previous Speakers
Here are just a few of the many inspiring leaders who have joined the Wisconsin School of Business for the Weikel Series (listed alphabetically).
Cynthia Chu
Thasunda Brown Duckett
Joe Duran
Peter Faricy
Roger W. Ferguson, Jr.
Alice L. Ferris, MBA, CFRE, ACFRE
Gayle Fuguitt
Eric Hansotia
Joan Lamm-Tennant
Richard Lane
Ann Mukherjee
Thomas Perez
Marc S. Pritchard
Marvin A. Riley
Cheryl Stallworth
Jill Timm
Bob Trunzo
Aaron S. Williams
