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Private equity subject of next Haworth series talk

March 13, 2008

KALAMAZOO--Bill Bolton, retired president of Jewel-Osco, will discuss "The Role of Private Equity in America Today" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, on the Western Michigan University campus in Kalamazoo.

Bolton's presentation is part of WMU's 2007-08 Haworth College of Business Distinguished Speaker Series. The free, public talk will be held in Schneider Hall, and those wishing to attend are asked to reserve a place by Wednesday, March 19. A question-and-answer period and reception in Bolton's honor will follow the talk.

A 1968 graduate, Bolton was the Jewel Food Stores sponsored student in WMU's Food and Consumer Package Goods Marketing Program. After graduating, he completed a store management program with Jewel Foods and progressed through several key positions.

Subsequently, Bolton was appointed president of Jewel Food Stores and Chicagoland Osco Drug Stores, then promoted to chief operating officer, markets, for Jewel Foods' parent company, American Stores. His primary responsibility in the latter post was for the development and return on investment of a $1 billion capital budget.

Bolton left American Stores to become chairman and chief operating officer of Bruno's Supermarkets. He also is the founder and principal of the Taranis Management Group, LLC, a consulting company that works with private equity firms focused on retail, restaurant and consumer goods companies. He consults individually and in affiliation with Leo Shapiro and Associates for such clients as McDonald's and Circuit City.

Bolton is a member of several corporate boards of directors and previously served as chairman of the Greater Chicago Food Depository and the LaGrange (Ill.) Police and Fire Commission.

To register to attend the talk on "The Role of Private Equity in America Today," call the dean's office in WMU's Haworth College of Business at (269) 387-5050.

Media contact: Jeanne Baron, (269) 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu

WMU News
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