UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Dean Charles H. Whiteman and the Penn State Smeal College of Business have named two new members to the college’s board of visitors. New board members include Alan R. Guttman, chief executive officer at Guttman Energy Inc., and Lara J. Warner, chief compliance and regulatory affairs officer for Credit Suisse.
"I am pleased to welcome Alan and Lara to Smeal's board of visitors. Alan and Lara bring exceptional leadership experience in their fields to the board. Their insights and advice will be a tremendous asset to the college as we continue our work to provide students with an extraordinary education and to build on our culture of integrity, diversity, service and sustainability," Whiteman said.
Board members serve in an advisory capacity, providing counsel to the dean and other Smeal administrators in areas of strategic importance to the college based on their experience and knowledge of the latest issues and trends affecting business. The board, which features close to 40 members, consists of Smeal alumni and friends from an array of businesses and industries. Members meet once each semester to provide recommendations on new initiatives and offer feedback on matters related to the college.
Guttman graduated from Penn State in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in finance and earned a juris doctor from George Washington University Law School. He started his career with Guttman Energy, one of a group of family-owned companies, in 1972, and currently serves as CEO.
Guttman visited the Smeal College this spring as part of the college's Executive Insights speaker series. The series brings high-profile business leaders to the college to connect with students, faculty and administrators.
"I was struck by the engagement and enthusiasm of everyone I met to get the most out of their Smeal experience. It was inspiring to see bright, motivated students being challenged by knowledgeable and innovative professors and administrators," he said.
In addition to his current role with Guttman Energy, he also serves on the board of directors of Giant Eagle Inc. and the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, where he was the immediate past chairman.
"I look forward to helping ensure that the skills that our graduates go forward with are those that will be needed for the businesses of the future, and also to focus interest in entrepreneurship and the opportunities available in private companies," he said.
Warner is a 1988 graduate of Penn State and holds a bachelor's degree in finance.
"Penn State not only provided me with an excellent education but also shaped my grit, determination and adaptability. I cannot say which I have relied on more as I have achieved the key goals in my life, but each has been critical along the way," she said.
Warner also participated in the Executive Insights series this spring. She began her career with AT&T, where she held a variety of finance and operating positions before assuming the role of chief financial officer for the competitive local exchange unit. She was later named AT&T's director of investor relations. She then spent three years with Lehman Brothers as a senior research analyst before moving to Credit Suisse in 2002.
At Credit Suisse, Warner moved from senior equity research analyst, to head of U.S. equity research, to head of global fixed income research before she was named chief financial officer for the investment banking division in 2010. In 2013, Warner was also named chief operating officer. She assumed her current position as chief compliance and regulatory affairs officer and member of the executive boards of Credit Suisse Group and Credit Suisse, based in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2015.
"I look forward to being an active member of the board of visitors of Smeal College and challenging Penn State to remain a top institution that shapes all aspects of modern-day leadership," she said.
The complete list of board of visitors membership can be found online.