Former Seymour Resident Mark Emkes to Speak at Concordia University, St. Paul Commencement

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Mark Emkes

ST. PAUL, MN (05/07/2012)(readMedia)-- Mark Emkes, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration and former resident of Seymour, Ind., is serving as the Concordia University, St. Paul commencement speaker for the graduate programs commencement ceremony May 12 at the Gangelhoff Center on the Concordia campus.

Emkes graduated from DePauw University with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1975 and earned his MBA in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in 1976 and then began a career with Firestone Tire & Rubber Company. He spent more than 20 years in overseas positions with Firestone before being named President of Bridgestone Firestone Latin America in 2000. Prior to retiring in 2010, Emkes was the chairman and CEO of Bridgestone Americas Holdings, Inc., the world's largest tire and rubber company.

Emkes and his family currently reside in Brentwood, Tenn. In addition to his position in Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam's cabinet, he has given his time and expertise in fields outside of business, serving as President of the Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America, on the board of directors of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and on the advisory board of Habitat for Humanity, Nashville, Chapter.

Concordia University, St. Paul is a comprehensive, private university operated under the auspices of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and one of 10 schools that comprise the Concordia University System. Established in 1893, Concordia offers more than 40 liberal arts majors, including business, education, science, fine arts and church professions. Concordia University is also a regional leader in educating adult students, offering accelerated undergraduate and graduate programs in business, health sciences, education, criminal justice, communications and Christian outreach. Concordia is the only private university in Minnesota to offer NCAA Division II athletics for men and women. Visit us on the web: www.csp.edu.

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