The Southwest Celebration

After earning an Accounting Degree from SMSU, Neal obtained his MBA and a Certified Management Accountant designation. He served as Director of Corporate Accounting and Director of Internal Audit during a 17-year career at SuperValu, and as Corporate Controller at private and public companies. Neal was Snyder’s Drug Stores CFO, and later President, before retiring and working part time in his consulting practice. 

While at SMSU Neal was active in Student Government, serving as Student Body Treasurer and VP-Judicial Affairs, and in Marching and Concert Band and Concert Choir, which toured Europe for 9 weeks during Spring Quarter 1972. 

After serving on SMSU’s Alumni Board for 10 years, he will end his 6 year term on SMSU’s Foundation Board during Homecoming weekend. 

Gary is a 1996 Graduate of Southwest Minnesota State University and received an MS degree from Purdue University in 1998. 

 Gary is currently Vice President, Global Learning & Development for Little Caesars Pizza and champions common learning systems, tools, and programs for Ilitch companies.   The Ilitch companies represent leading brands in the food, sports, and entertainment industries including Little Caesars, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Olympia Development, and Champion Foods.   Previously - Gary was Vice President, Global Learning for IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) responsible for learning needs of a 300,000+ global employee workforce.    

 Gary has served as an Industry Advisory Board Member for SMSU Culinology & Hospitality Management since 2007.    

 SSU/SMSU was a fantastic and formative experience for me.   The size of the school combined with the quality and passion of the entire SMSU team created a great environment for me to learn, grow, and contribute.   The lifelong lessons and friendships from my time at SMSU continue to help me navigate life and work. 

  Gary is married with 2 children and currently lives in the Mankato area. 

Duane Carrow currently serves on Southwest Minnesota State University’s Agricultural Advisory Council the SMSU Foundation Board and he is a charter member of SMSU’s MARL (Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership) Program. As a Foundation Board member, he serves on SMSU’s Properties Committee and the MARL board. Duane feels a strong connection to SMSU witnessing its growth and development since the first brick was laid, he even helped plant and care for the trees that surround the campus on the north and west perimeters. 

Duane served as the Director of Energy Technology for the Minnesota State College and University system. In that capacity he developed the Minnesota State Energy Center of Excellence. He received both an Excellence in Curriculum Programming and an Innovative Partnering and Collaborative award from the Academic and Student Affairs Division. 

In addition to being involved with production agriculture for much of his career Duane served as an AG Fellow for the University of Minnesota Extension service. He is proud to have assisted his peers in agriculture throughout Southwest Minnesota as a Farm Credit Mediator. He was recognized for his outstanding contribution to Minnesota Agriculture by Governor Arne Carlson and Governor Rudy Perpich. 

Although Duane has now moved away from the Marshall area he continues to recognize Southwest Minnesota State University as a flagship for quality education at an affordable price.