SSTI's 11th Annual Conference

Keynote Speakers
| Schedule | Keynote | Speaker Bios

Opening Keynote Address — Thursday, October 18

Kevin Plank — Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Under Armour, Inc.
Under Armour began in 1995 as an idea of Kevin Plank who, at the time, was special teams captain for the University of Maryland football team. Tired of repeatedly changing the cotton T-shirt under his jersey as it became wet and heavy during the course of a game, he set out to develop a next generation shirt that would remain drier and lighter and consistently perform under the most extreme conditions.

A year of fabric sourcing and product testing resulted in the first Under Armour compression product and a new category of sporting apparel called performance apparel - a synthetic shirt worn beneath an athlete's uniform or equipment that provided a snug, second-skin fit that wouldn't retain moisture or its weight. Since that first prototype, Under Armour products have evolved and expanded to include a wide variety of shirts, shorts, underwear, outerwear, gloves and other offerings. Most recently, in August 2006, Under Armour became an authorized footwear supplier to the National Football League, elevating the company's new line of football cleats to a national stage. Despite the diversification of the line and media attention from publications like Forbes, BusinessWeek and the Wall Street Journal, the focus has remained the same and is evidenced by the distinctive shift in the marketplace championed by the brand - to replace basic cotton garments with innovative performance products that enable the wearer to perform in optimum comfort.

As chairman, chief executive officer and president of Under Armour, Kevin Plank oversaw the company's November 2005 IPO, the first to double on opening day in five years, and the December 2006 move from the NASDAQ to the New York Stock Exchange. And the "PROTECT THIS HOUSE™" and "CLICK-CLACK™" advertising campaigns set industry standards, proving that Under Armour is a brand with true staying power. Capitalizing on the impact of the powerful business ventures that have captured the eyes, ears, and hearts of consumers worldwide, Plank has led Under Armour's evolution from a niche company into a global industry leader. He believes first and foremost that his primary role is to make and deliver great product and, as such, is directly involved with all operations and strategic planning including sales, marketing, and product development. His work to deliver on the brand's Universal Guarantee of Performance has been recognized by Sporting Goods Business, which has named Under Armour "Apparel Supplier of the Year" four years in a row.

While at the helm of Under Armour, Kevin Plank has been awarded a wide variety of accolades that demonstrate his growing influence within the industry. Plank has earned a spot in Sports Business Journal's "40 under 40" Hall of Fame, having been counted among a distinguished group of leaders in the sporting goods industry for the past three years, and was honored in 2006 with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year national award in the Retail and Consumer Products Category.

Kevin Plank earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland. He is an active member of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the American Equipment Managers Association (AEMA).

Lunch Keynote Address — Thursday, October 18

William E. Brit Kirwan — Chancellor, University System of Maryland
On August 1, 2002, William English Kirwan became the third chancellor of the University System of Maryland. A widely respected academic leader, Dr. Kirwan served as president of Ohio State University for four years (1998-2002), and as president of the University of Maryland, College Park for 10 years (1988-1998). Prior to his presidency, he was a member of the University of Maryland faculty for 34 years.

Dr. Kirwan is also a nationally recognized authority on critical issues shaping the higher education landscape. He is a sought after speaker on a wide range of topics, including diversity, access and affordability, cost containment, accountability, economic impact, gender equity, financial aid, partnerships, and innovation.

Dr. Kirwan is co-chair of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and serves on the Board of Directors of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; chairs the College Board’s Commission on Access, Admissions, and Success in Higher Education; and is a member of the Business-Higher Education Forum. He is past Chair of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges’ (NASULGC) Board of Directors and of the American Council on Education’s Board. He is the current Chair of NASULGC’s Committee on Student Learning and Accountability. He was appointed by President Clinton to serve as a member of the National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century and chaired the National Research Council’s Commission on the Mathematical Sciences in the Year 2000. President Bush appointed Dr. Kirwan to the Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore.

Dr. Kirwan received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Kentucky and his master’s and doctoral degrees in mathematics from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in 1962 and 1964, respectively. He is a member of several honorary and professional societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, the American Mathematical Society, and the Mathematical Association of America. In 2002, Dr. Kirwan was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. On February 15, 2007, during ceremonies in Annapolis, Dr. Kirwan became the 16th recipient of the Maryland House of Delegates Speaker’s Medallion, which recognizes Maryland citizens who have demonstrated exemplary service to the House and to the State of Maryland.