Thinking About Your Legacy

Meet the Faculty: Chris Stevens

Chris Stevens
Co-Founding Director, Inspired Leadership Initiative
Associate Teaching Professor, Mendoza College of Business 

Chris Stevens (’74) is a former Irish basketball player and past member of the Notre Dame Monogram Club Board of Directors. He is one of the three original developers of the Keurig Premium Coffee System and currently is an associate teaching professor in the Mendoza College of Business.

Before joining Keurig in 1996, Chris worked in a variety of senior sales, marketing, and management positions at companies like Procter and Gamble and Anheuser-Busch. Leveraging his more than 20 years of experience, Chris developed the Keurig brand, sales, distribution, and marketing strategies, playing a key role in the success and growth of the company. He was also responsible for all aspects of Keurig’s corporate social responsibility practices as part of its commitment to donate at least five percent of pre-tax profits to environmental and social causes.

In the fall of 2012, Chris joined the Mendoza College of Business as a professional specialist teaching undergraduate courses. After retiring from Keurig in 2013, he began teaching M.B.A. courses in business problem-solving, change management, and entrepreneurship at Notre Dame’s South Bend and Chicago campuses. In 2017, he joined Mendoza as a full-time faculty member.

Chris is also the founder and CEO of CS 74 Ventures LLC, a holding company for more than 20 initiatives, in which Chris invests or owns, that commit at least 50 percent of their profits to charitable and social causes. He has been an angel investor in several start-ups; has done acting, broadcasting, and voice-over work; and is the executive producer of the award-winning movie Three Days of Hamlet. He also authored Fighting to Give, a book he self-published about a Notre Dame classmate who died after a courageous battle against ALS; 100 percent of the proceeds fund research for Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Chris received his B.S. in Economics from Notre Dame.

Meet the Panelists

Tom Bard, ILI Alum Cohort 3

Tom Bard’s degree in electrical engineering provided entry to the Navy Nuclear Submarine program, then to business school and ultimately, he enjoyed a 43-year career in real estate investment, development, and management. Mr. Bard was actively involved in a variety of geographical markets and all types of commercial properties: office, industrial, retail, apartments, and condominiums. He was a partner in three different businesses—the last of which was ScanlanKemperBard Companies—before retiring in 2014 in Portland, OR. Although Mr. Bard acknowledges real estate is generally thought to be dealing in hard assets, a rewarding, challenging and enjoyable aspect of the business for him was the fascinating diversity of people he encountered. He says he never thought that he had a job. After retirement, he has contributed to the development and ongoing management of PDX Commons, the senior cohousing project where he lives. During his time in the ILI, Tom experienced very meaningful and enduring relationships with fellow cohort members, exposure to extraordinary Notre Dame faculty, and access to the South Bend Community. Following his completion of the program, Tom has decided to spend an additional year, independently, to explore how he can contribute in a small way to a renaissance of South Bend, for example the city’s launching  of the “Undesign the Redline” exhibit to promote equitable housing.

Cathy David, ILI Alum Cohort 2

Cathy David is a lifelong student of leadership and organizational behavior. Before joining the ILI, she retired as an executive vice president at Pier 1 Imports. She has been president of multiple companies and led the team that launched target.com.  She has owned a restaurant, co-founded a social and sports league, and raised and raced thoroughbred horses.  Currently she is having fun as the Chief Merchandising Officer for World Market and has the broad responsibility of leading the team that buys all the products sold in store and online for the brand.  Born in Queens NY, Cathy has lived in 8 states and traveled to all 7 continents.  She has been featured in the Fort Worth Business CEO Magazine, chaired the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce International Committee for many years, and served as a Regent at the University of Portland. She is currently a member of the Undergraduate Experience Advisory Council at Notre Dame and a Board member for Volunteers of America Texas.  She received her B.B.A. in marketing from the University of Notre Dame and her M.B.A. from Northwestern University.

Michele Kellrooney, ILI Alum Cohort 3

Michele Kellrooney was born in Akron, Ohio. She graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and worked in dinner theaters, summer stock, and touring theaters. After marrying and moving to Chicago, Ms Kellrooney was employed as education coordinator at libraries, nature centers, science museums and returned to school for education. She earned a B.S. and M.Ed. and taught in the Nashville Public Schools until her next relocation—this time to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Three moves and three teaching positions later, she was accepted into the Inspired Leadership Initiative. This time of transformation led to service in Kolongo, Uganda and Sitka, Alaska where she and her husband currently reside. 

Marty Whalen, ILI Alum Cohort 1

Marty Whalen served as CEO of Martin Whalen Office Solutions, a third-generation, family owned business providing office machines and document technology to businesses in Illinois since 1936.  After selling the business, he participated in the first cohort of the Inspired Leadership Initiative at Notre Dame.  Now splitting time between LaPorte, Indiana and Bozeman, Montana, he is enjoying retirement but he remains active as a co-founder of Crossroads Solar, a domestic producer of solar panels based in South Bend.  Crossroads Solar is a mission-driven business – all employees are formerly incarcerated people transitioning back into society.

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Featured Speakers: 

• Chris Stevens, Co-Founding Director, Inspired Leadership Initiative
  Associate Teaching Professor, Mendoza College of Business 
• Tom Bard, ILI Alum Cohort 3
• Cathy David, ILI Alum Cohort 2
• Michele Kellrooney, ILI Alum Cohort 3
• Marty Whalen, ILI Alum Cohort 1