A successful Kelley School of Business MBA graduate and global businessman returns to the Kelley School’s Indianapolis campus in March to continue his role as the inaugural Randall L. Tobias Chair and Executive in Residence.
Martin G. Carver (MBA, 1972) will visit the IUPUI campus from March 1-5. His schedule includes several classroom stops and opportunities for students, faculty and alumni to visit with him and discuss his views on business and education today.
Carver is recognized as a world-class businessman. He regularly speaks on topics such as building a sustainable corporate culture, encouraging effective leadership and promoting a passionate workforce.
During his first campus visit in November, Carver indicated his interest in growing his relationship with the business school and said he enjoyed interacting in the classroom.
“Martin Carver exemplifies one of the strong traits of Kelley MBAs. He built a world-class business and now, having sold it, wants to work with students to pass on his knowledge and enthusiasm,” said Philip Cochran, associate dean for Indianapolis programs.
A portion of his visit will coincide with the Tobias Leadership Conference, slated for March 4-5, where he will visit with the many leadership academics and practitioners scheduled to speak at the annual event. The conference is hosted by Indiana University’s Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence, housed at Kelley Indianapolis.
Carver helped Bandag, Inc., become a global leader in tire-treading materials, equipment and tire-management services to dealers in more than 100 countries. In the 1980s and 1990s, Bandag became the world’s largest supplier of material and equipment to the tire retreading industry. Bridgestone bought the company in 2007.
Carver spoke in November to several Kelley classes, including those focusing on operations processes, wage and salary administration and leadership. He also met with recent Evening MBA alumni and current Evening MBA students.
He offers a colorful history for his career path. In 1979, Carver was named regional vice president of Heavy Duty Parts, Inc., then a Bandag subsidiary. He became chairman of the board of Bandag in 1981 and CEO the following year.
Carver continued Bandag’s success; the company was recognized as one of the “Great Companies of the ‘90s” by “Financial World” and placed on the Fortune 500 annual list of the largest industrial companies in the United States.
In 1988, he was selected to the Kelley School of Business Academy of Alumni Fellows, a distinguished group who has earned the stature of business leaders and managers by their demonstrated successes in business organizations and their contributions to management philosophies and practices.
Carver also is a motorsports enthusiast who set the world land speed record for diesel trucks in 1988 while driving the “Bandag Bandit,” equipped with Bandag retreads.
He also is known for his extensive community involvement and remains a huge supporter of the University of Iowa athletics. The Muscatine, Iowa, native continues to support business and the arts at the university as well. The University of Iowa Alumni Association has honored Carver with the Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement.
Watch a video interview of Carver conducted during his first visit below.
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