The Friday, March 21 Boyles Distinguished Lecture will feature Todd M. Campbell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Builders Insurance Group. Join us to hear his talk on “Risk and Reward: The Transformative Power of YES in Business and Life.” Campbell will be the 66th speaker in the long-standing series.
Todd M. Campbell
Todd M. Campbell is President and Chief Executive Officer of Builders Insurance Group (Builders), an A.M. Best “A” rated insurance company located in Atlanta, Georgia. Builders is a super-regional insurer operating in 20+ states and its surplus lines carrier is licensed in 49 jurisdictions in America. Builders, with $370 million in surplus, $1.1 billion in assets under management, $300+mm in annual premium and 200+ employees, has been an integral part of the Worker’s Compensation, General Liability and Commercial Insurance markets in the Southeast for 32 years.
Prior to joining Builders in early 2021, Todd was CEO, for 4 ½ years, of one the fastest growing program insurer in the United States, leading the company from $0 GWP to $650+mm in contracted premium. He also served as a London-based expat CEO for four years, leading a Lloyd’s of London coverholder MGA with offices in London, Paris and Madrid. During his leadership, gross written premiums and profits each doubled and Todd and his company were named Employer of the Year in South England in the prestigious Kent Excellence in Business Awards, for his high impact corporate and cultural change initiatives.
Todd spent the early part of his career as a corporate mergers and acquisitions attorney and political affairs lobbyist representing many insurers and insurance related organizations as lead lobbyist in Georgia. During his practice he was lead attorney on some of the largest health insurer formations and acquisitions in Georgia history, the formation of multiple health care and insurance companies in Georgia, and served as counsel to many insurers doing business in Georgia.
Todd currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Sagicor Life Insurance company, part of Sagicor Financial Corporation, a 150-year-old insurer oper across the Caribbean and Canada, publicly traded on the Toronto Stock exchange, with $22 billion in assets under management.
In June 2024, in recognition of his transformational leadership at Builders, Todd was recognized as a 2024 Most Admired CEO by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Todd received his B.S. in History from Appalachian State University and received his law degree from Mercer University’s Woodruff School of Law in Georgia. Todd was a student leader during his time at Appalachian and served as the university’s second two term student body president in the University’s history. In his junior year, he led the Beer in Boone campaign which resulted in a resounding victory following the voter registration efforts that captured thousands of new student voters in town and a courtroom victory when all the student registrations were challenged as illegal. To improve safety on campus for female students, Todd led the effort to create Mountaineer Escort, which ultimately resulted in the blue light safety system that you see today across campus. Todd and his mentor, Chancellor John Thomas, along with then Boone Mayor, Larry Keeter who was also an ASU professor, formed the Community Board of Relations in an effort to create a forum for dialogue among the Town, business and government leaders, the students and the University. In his senior year he was appointed an ex officio member of the Boone Town Council and was recognized as an outstanding citizen of Boone for his work as a student leader on campus and in Boone.
About Harlan Boyles
The college’s Distinguished Lecture Series began in the Spring of 1988. In October 1991 the Series was dedicated to Treasurer Boyles in honor of his service to the State of North Carolina. An endowment fund was established at that time, with the assistance of U.S. Senator James T. Broyhill (1927 – 2023), to permanently endow the series in Boyles’ name.
Harlan E. Boyles (1929 – 2003) devoted his 49-year career to the citizens of the State of North Carolina. A native of Lincoln County, Boyles was elected to six four-year terms as State Treasurer and served under nine governors. His name was associated throughout the state and the nation with fiscal integrity, hard work and honesty.
Harlan Boyles was dedicated to education, and through his involvement with Appalachian State University and the Walker College of Business, he was able to share his experience, advice and wise counsel with hundreds of students and future business leaders. For eleven years, he came to campus to preside over the bi-annual Harlan E. Boyles Distinguished Lecture Series.
Not only did his association with the Walker College make a difference in many on-campus endeavors, but it also had a tremendous effect on the college’s fund-raising efforts. He was honored with three separate endowments in the college — for the lecture series, student scholarships, and faculty support. These endowments will provide an impact on the college for years to come.
Boyles lectures were held each semester through 2016, and beginning in 2017, the lecture became an annual event.
The 65th event in the Boyles Distinguished Lecture Series will feature Ms. Tammy DeBoer ’91, President of Harris Teeter who will speak on “Cultivating a Thriving Company Culture: Unlocking the Power of People”.
The Boyles Lecture is open to the public with no cost to attend.
Please contact Kim Bock, bockkw@appstate.edu, with questions.
About Tammy DeBoer
Tammy DeBoer, President of Harris Teeter, has more than 30 years of diverse retail experience including operations, merchandising, marketing, brand strategy, mergers and acquisitions. She leads the strategic growth and development of Harris Teeter, a division of Kroger.
Tammy joined Harris Teeter in 2020, leading Operations, Merchandising and Marketing across the company’s 257 stores in seven States and Washington D.C. Tammy also led Finance, Human Resources and Information Systems.
Before joining Harris Teeter, Tammy served as an executive with Family Dollar stores, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dollar Tree, Inc. where she was Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer. Prior to joining Family Dollar, she spent 19 years with Delhaize where she held various leadership roles and led the company through significant strategic growth and development.
Tammy has been recognized several times as “One of the Most Influential Women in Mass Market Retail” by MMR and by Supermarket News as a top “Executives to Watch.” Progressive Grocer named her a “Top Female Executive in the Supermarket Industry,” the Griffin Report listed her as a “Top Female Executive in the Grocery Industry,” and the Mecklenburg Times recognized her as one of the “50 Most Influential Women in Charlotte.”
Most recently, Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer recognized Tammy among their inaugural class of FoRWARD Award winners, and The Shelby Report of the Southeast named Tammy “Female Executive of the Year” in 2022. In 2023, Tammy was recognized as a “Top Woman in Grocery” by Progressive Grocer.
She has served on multiple boards including Charlotte Family Housing, Communities In Schools, Network of Executive Women and currently serves on the Board of Directors for International Fresh Produce Association and Carolinas Food Industry Council (CFIC). She also serves as an Advisory Board Member for Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Tammy holds a bachelor’s degree in Technology from Appalachian State University and completed the Supermarket Business Executive course with Cornell University.
About Harlan Boyles
The college’s Distinguished Lecture Series began in the Spring of 1988. In October 1991 the Series was dedicated to Treasurer Boyles in honor of his service to the State of North Carolina. An endowment fund was established at that time, with the assistance of U.S. Senator James T. Broyhill (1927 – 2023), to permanently endow the series in Boyles’ name.
Harlan E. Boyles (1929 – 2003) devoted his 49-year career to the citizens of the State of North Carolina. A native of Lincoln County, Boyles was elected to six four-year terms as State Treasurer and served under nine governors. His name was associated throughout the state and the nation with fiscal integrity, hard work and honesty.
Harlan Boyles was dedicated to education, and through his involvement with Appalachian State University and the Walker College of Business, he was able to share his experience, advice and wise counsel with hundreds of students and future business leaders. For eleven years, he came to campus to preside over the bi-annual Harlan E. Boyles Distinguished Lecture Series.
Not only did his association with the Walker College make a difference in many on-campus endeavors, but it also had a tremendous effect on the college’s fund-raising efforts. He was honored with three separate endowments in the college — for the lecture series, student scholarships, and faculty support. These endowments will provide an impact on the college for years to come.
Boyles lectures were held each semester through 2016, and beginning in 2017, the lecture became an annual event.
The 63rd Boyles Distinguished Lecture will be held on Thursday, March 17 at 2PM in the Holmes Convocation Center. The lecture will feature Pamela Mars Wright of Mars, Incorporated, who will speak on successful strategies for and lessons learned in family business. The lecture is open to the public with no fee to attend. Some courses offer credit for attendance; check with your professors.
About Pamela Mars Wright
Pamela Mars Wright’s business experience spans operations to governance over her 35 years at Mars, Incorporated. Her roles and focus blended her affinity for technical subjects, the satisfaction of making things and her caring for people. She is a former chair and director of the Mars board which governs the $40 billion business owned by the Mars family. She retired from Mars in 2021 but continues to serve on the Technical Committee.
Pamela Mars Wright began her career with Ted Bates Advertising as an Account Executive. When Mars Wright joined Mars, Incorporated, she shifted her focus and immersed herself in operations and supply chain. Her first job was an Operations Supervisor in what was then Masterfoods USA in Hacketstown, New Jersey. From there she went on to learn the multi-faceted elements of operations, from analysis to shift supervision and from engineering to commercial, becoming a Plant Director in 1989. Over the years she worked across continents and Mars’ Confectionery and Petcare businesses, ultimately serving as Vice President of Manufacturing for Mars Petcare.
In the latter part of her career, Mars Wright focused her energy as an ambassador of Mars with the Associates of acquired businesses. She helped drive successful integrations and merging of cultures, in particular when the company expanded its presence in veterinary health and services, transforming its traditionally more consumer goods portfolio. Pamela was also a director on the Board of Banfield, a network of veterinary hospitals that are part of Mars’ Petcare.
Mars Wright served as Chairman of the Mars Board for four years and 16 years a director, retiring from the Board in 2017. She was also a long-term member of the Mars Scientific Advisory Council. In these governance roles, Mars Wright’s extensive experience, knowledge of supply and natural curiosity were valuable assets. Mars Wright serves as a board member of the Moffitt Cancer Research Center and the Supervisory Boards of Heineken N.V. and SHV, a Dutch family business, as well as a member of the Honorary Senate for Foundation Lindau Nobel Prize winners.
Pamela Mars Wright has a passion for education and has continued to support all her alma maters, formerly serving on the Board of Vassar College as well as the Board of Trustees of Potomac School and chairing the committee on Trustees at Foxcroft School, both in Virginia.
Shuttles
Beginning at 11:00 a.m., courtesy shuttles will loop from Peacock Hall to and from Holmes Center, stopping at Rivers Street Parking Deck until all riders have left the Holmes Center at the conclusion of the lecture.
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