University Park

Forum Speaker Series continues with talk by ESPN, Disney executive

The 2009-10 Penn State Forum Speaker Series continues on Friday, Sept. 25 with a talk by George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN Inc. and ABC Sports, and co-chairman of Disney Media Networks. Bodenheimer will give a talk titled, "ESPN at 30: The Evolution Continues," from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the ballroom at the Nittany Lion Inn.

An ESPN and cable industry pioneer, Bodenheimer was named ESPN’s fifth president in 1998, and since then he has led an unprecedented period of growth for ESPN. Bodenheimer’s path to leadership mirrors that of ESPN itself, with his sharp focus on creativity and cutting-edge innovation, his emphasis on always enhancing value to ESPN’s fans and business partners, and his conviction for teamwork. In 2003, he was also appointed president of ABC Sports, overseeing all the multimedia sports assets of the Walt Disney Company, and in 2004 he assumed the role of co-chairman of the Disney Media Networks, encompassing strategic planning for Disney’s media assets.

Bodenheimer’s vision has led to numerous company- and industry-leading innovations in integral sales and marketing, original programming, rights and business acquisitions, and new technologies, highlighted by ESPN’s state-of-the-art digital center. He established an organizational structure with leaders focusing on six areas: content across all media, technology, international, sales and marketing, finance and administration.

Bodenheimer joined the company after college in January 1981 as a driver in the mailroom. He rose through the ranks, becoming executive vice president of sales and marketing in 1996. He was graduated from Denison University in 1980 with a bachelor of arts degree in economics.

Co-sponsored by the Penn State Bookstore and the offices of the Executive Vice President and Provost and the Senior Vice President for Finance and Business, the Penn State Forum Speaker Series is open to the general public. Tickets for the Penn State Forum are $15. To purchase tickets for any or all of these events, contact the ID+ Office, located at 103 HUB-Robeson Building, University Park, call (814) 865-7590, or visit http://www.idcard.psu.edu/forums/ online for more information.

To suggest future Penn State Forum speakers, contact Gail Hurley, chair of the forum committee, at gah5@psu.edu, or coordinator Carol Griffin at cjg3@psu.edu.

The following speakers are scheduled to appear as a part of this year's forum speaker series. For the complete list of speakers and their bios, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/40651 online.

Benjamin Solomon Carson
Neurosurgeon
“Healthcare and Healthy Lifestyle”
Tuesday, Oct. 13
President’s Hall, Penn Stater, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Barbara J. Rolls
Professor of nutrition, Penn State
“Feeling Full on Fewer Calories”
Monday, Nov. 16
President’s Hall, Penn Stater, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Anthony T. Leach
Penn State Laureate
“M.L. King Holiday – A Choral Reflection”
Friday, Jan. 15, 2010
President’s Hall, Penn Stater, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Stephen L. Baker
Senior writer, BusinessWeek
“The Numerati: How Our Lives Will be Monitored, Measured and Managed in the Coming Age of Big Data”
Monday, Feb. 15, 2010
Ballroom, Nittany Lion Inn, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Justin Catanoso
Author
“My Cousin the Saint: A Search for Faith, Family and Miracles”
Monday, March 15, 2010
Ballroom, Nittany Lion Inn, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lisa See
Author
“The Secrets We Keep: Finding the Lost Voice of China, Women, and Our Families”
Monday, April 5, 2010
President’s Hall, Penn Stater, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo
Former president of Nigeria
"Corruption, The Greatest Single Bane of Our Society Today”
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Ballroom, Nittany Lion Inn, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

George Bodenheimer. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated January 9, 2015