The dedication of the Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation provided an opportune time to gather Baylor-connected leaders from key fields and hear from them about emerging trends during the Hankamer School of Business' Leadership+Innovation Summit. General Electric Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt joined Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr for a conversation on leadership.

The energy forum, led by Ray Perryman, BS' 74, president and CEO of The Perryman Group, included Baylor alumni who have helped shape the energy sector sharing their insights on navigating the ever-changing challenges of their industry. Participants were Halliburton Executive Vice President and CIO Mark McCollum, BBA '80 and a Baylor Regent; XTO co-founder Bob Simpson, BBA '70, MBA '71; and Western Refining Executive Chairman Paul L. Foster, BBA '79 and namesake of the new home for the Hankamer School of Business.

The healthcare forum, moderated by then Baylor Executive Vice President and Provost Ed Trevathan, discussed the complexities and challenges facing the American healthcare system, and featured Baylor Scott & White Health CEO Joel Allison, BA '70; HCA President (American Group) Jon Foster, BBA '84; and Methodist Health System Executive Vice President Laura Irvine, BA '94.

The technology forum, led by AT&T AdWorks President Rick Welday, BBA '90, examined current and projected trends, related threats and opportunities. Panelists included (now retired) Splunk President, CEO and Chairman Godfrey Sullivan, BBA '76; BMC Software Chairman and CEO Bob Beauchamp, a Baylor parent and member of the Board of Regents; and JetPay Payment Services Chairman and CEO Trent Voigt, BS '86.

Almost 100 years ago, Baylor's future president - then-Texas Governor (and Baylor alumnus) Pat Neff - issued a Thanksgiving Day Proclamation in which he lavishly praised our national covenant of freedom. His words from 1924 echo down the corridors of time and ring true in this, the year of our Lord 2016:

An independent survey commissioned by Baylor's Division of Marketing & Communications--part of an ongoing effort to evaluate and improve the University’s connection to its alumni--found 89% feel a special bond or connection to Baylor. Of those 60% say that connection is very strong, and 92% are interested in maintaining a connection with the University.