Center for the Study of Canada to Host Upcoming Speakers

North Country Distinguished Business Address

The inaugural North Country Distinguished Business Address will feature John Dieker, general manager for Bombardier Transportation in Plattsburgh. His speech will be held on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 4 p.m. in the Krinovitz Recital Hall, Hawkins Hall.

Dieker will present, "A World Leader Present, Right Here in Plattsburgh." Dieker has served as general manager for Bombardier's Plattsburgh operations since Dec. 1, 2003.

Prior to joining Bombardier, Dieker acquired more than 28 years of experience working in the aerospace industry.

He has held positions in operations management and general management of large manufacturing operations for Sino Swearingen Aircraft for two years as vice president and general manager.

Prior to Sino Swearingen, Dieker worked for 23 years for Raytheon Aircraft Company in key leadership positions at their Salina, Kan., Little Rock, Ark. and Wichita, Kan. operations.

Dieker received his bachelor's degree in human resources management from Friends University in Wichita, Kan., and a Six Sigma Expert Certification from the Raytheon Learning Institute.

Bombardier Transportation is the global leader in the rail equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its wide range of products include passenger rail vehicles and total transit systems. Bombardier also manufactures locomotives, propulsion and controls and provide rail control solutions.  As of Jan. 1, 2005, Bombardier Transportation employed over 31,500 people in 21 countries. 

The Plattsburgh, N.Y., facility is the company's primary manufacturing site in the United States. At the present time, the facility employs more than 600 people producing commuter rail cars.

The Distinguished Quebec Address

The Distinguished Quebec Address is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. in the Hyman and Frances Krinovitz Recital Hall, Hawkins Hall. The address will be given by Larry Smith, president and CEO of the Canadian Football League team, Montreal Alouettes.

Smith is one of the most recognized figures in the Quebec community. Montreal fans first got to know him as a star fullback from 1972 to 1980, and then as president and CEO of the team from 1997 to 2001, when he led the Alouettes' organization through one of the most important periods of the franchise history.

After two years as president and publisher of the Montreal Gazette in 2002 and 2003, Smith reassumed the presidency of the Alouettes in March 2004.

He graduated from Bishop's University in 1972 with a bachelor's degree of arts in economics. In 1976, Smith earned his bachelor of civil law degree from McGill University.

Both addresses are free and open to the public.

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