COD president provides closing address at annual DuPage Education Summit

College of DuPage President Robert L. Breuder addressed more than 100 business and educational leaders at a recent forum sponsored by Choose DuPage and the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges at the College of DuPage Glen Ellyn campus.

During his remarks, President Breuder noted that both education and the corporate world have the same drivers: price, product, place, people and promotion.

“We at College of DuPage understand the importance of running this institution like a business,” Breuder said. “Things are so different today. We have to be self-sufficient, responsive and dynamic to meet the needs of the changing community we serve…We must remain change-focused to be the viable institution you expect us to be.”

The inaugural DuPage County Education Summit: “Bridging the Great Divide – A Business and Educational Forum,” was held on Dec. 8. The event served as a forum for discussing issues of educational viability and addressing the workforce needs of employers now and in the future to strengthen the local, regional and global economy. A greater understanding of workforce development needs was also gained, and available and necessary resources were identified.

In addition to President Robert L. Breuder, and John Curran, DuPage County Board Member, District 3; the program featured a panel representing higher education and business/industry, including Dr. Lawrence B. Carroll, Psy.D., M.B.A., Executive Director, Center for Professional Excellence, Elmhurst College; Dr. Joseph Collins, Executive Vice President, College of DuPage; Lois Grugg, B.A., M.A., Vice President of Human Resources, Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare; Dave Johnson, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Molex, Inc.; Jason Kamp, Vice President of Sales and Operations, MarketSphere Consulting, LLC; Dr. Anne Kaplan, Vice President, Division of Outreach, Engagement and Information Technologies, Northern Illinois University; Jim Vick, Dean of Student Central, Addison Campus, DeVry University; and Julie Wood, Chief People Office, Crowe Horwath, LLP, and was facilitated by Greg Bedalov, President and CEO, Choose DuPage.

College of DuPage is the second largest single-campus community college in the nation outside of California. Serving nearly 30,000 each term, COD is the second largest provider of higher education in Illinois.

Choose DuPage is the public, private nonprofit economic development organization that promotes DuPage County as a premier business location through active and effective partnerships with 39 communities.

The Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities is the oldest private college association in the nation. The Federation is an advocacy organization that represents the public policy interests of Illinois' nonprofit private colleges and universities. With a membership of 61 institutions from all regions of the state, the Federation is a unified voice on behalf of the independent sector of higher education in Illinois.