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Finding Opportunity in Crisis – An Innovator’s Perspective

RECORDED ON MONDAY, MAY 4 | 4:00 p.m. CT

Presented by Chuck Swoboda, Eng ’89, Marquette University’s Innovator-in-Residence, host of the Innovators on Tap podcast and author of The Innovator’s Spirit; and Mike Broeker, Deputy Director of Athletics, Marquette University

Join the Marquette community for a virtual happy hour! Raise your glass and hear from Marquette University’s Innovator-in-Residence Chuck Swoboda, Eng ’89. Chuck is the retired CEO and Chairman of Cree, a podcast host and an author who is driven by the belief that innovation is about people, not process. Chuck will be joined by special guest Mike Broeker.

Learn more about The Innovator's Spirit

More about this session

Chuck Swoboda, Eng ’89, is an author, international speaker, podcast host, and the Innovator-in-Residence at Marquette University.  He served as chairman and CEO of Cree for 16 years where his team successfully led the LED lighting revolution not just by creating new products, but by focusing on solving old problems in completely new ways. Under his leadership, the company grew from just over $6 million in annual revenue in 1993 to over $1.6 billion as they transformed Cree from a start-up into a global market leader with 6,500 employees worldwide. After retiring from Cree, Chuck founded consulting firm Cape Point Advisors, which focuses on innovation and technology disruption. In September 2019, Marquette named Chuck its very first Innovator-in-Residence. He launched his Innovators on Tap podcast and is the author of The Innovator's Spirit. Chuck served on Marquette’s Board of Trustees for 12 years, including two as chairman, and currently serves on the board of Anixter International, Vesper Technologies, KnowBio LLC, and Lonerider Brewing Company.

Mike Broeker currently serves as deputy director of athletics at Marquette University. Mike has played an integral role in the department's growth over the last decade by helping foster a mission-driven culture while building an infrastructure to support student-athlete success in and out of competition. Mike manages day-to-day operations with a directed focus on external operations and revenue generation, provides guidance and support to the administrative and coaching staffs, and sport oversight for the men's basketball program. Mike joined the Marquette Athletics staff in November 2003 as assistant athletic director for media relations after nearly four years as a member of the basketball communications group at the National Basketball Association. While at the NBA, he worked to generate awareness for the league, its executive staff, events and initiatives and served as the primary contact for local and national electronic media outlets.