Sam Solomon, chief executive officer for The Coleman Company Inc., will be the featured speaker at Southwestern College’s Opening Convocation Friday, Aug. 27, at 11 a.m. in Richardson Auditorium.

The Opening Convocation will wrap up the festivities for Fall Frenzy 2010 and officially start the academic year. It will also feature the introduction of new faculty, recognition of students included on the Dean’s Honor Roll for the spring 2010 semester, and announcement of the Scholar of the College.
           
Solomon was named president and CEO of The Coleman Company in 2008, after serving as interim president in 2007.  He was recruited to Coleman in 2005 as vice president and chief financial officer.
           
Solomon has 20 years of experience in finance, marketing and operations management at global companies including The Coca-Cola Company, Procter and Gamble, Kidde PLC, SPX Corporation, and most recently, The Coleman Company, Inc., the cornerstone of Jarden Corporation’s Outdoor Solutions Segment.
           
Solomon earned his BSBA at Rider College, where he graduated summa cum laude and was a member of Alpha Epsilon Zeta honor society. He earned his MBA at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.  He is also a licensed CPA.
           
Solomon serves on the boards of directors of the Wichita Community Foundation, the Outdoor Industry Association, the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce, and the board of trustees of Wichita Collegiate School.  He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternities.  Solomon lives in Wichita with his wife, Shari Lovett Solomon, and their two daughters.
           
Fall Frenzy is a multitude of activities intended to welcome freshman, transfer, and returning students to Southwestern.  Activities included Builder Camp, freshman work day, a welcome back barbeque, Sunday sundaes, and the Moundbuilding ceremony.