EIU Media Relations

Executive-in-Residence to Discuss How "Everything Is Possible!"

Joy Schreder, vice president-agency development for State Farm Insurance, will discuss "Everything is Possible - You Can Make It Happen!" when she visits the campus of Eastern Illinois University as an executive-in-residence.

Admission to her presentation, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday (March 22) in Roberson Auditorium, Lumpkin Hall, Room 2030, is free and open to the public.

The open lecture also represents the Grace T. Bair Lecture Series, which helps annually commemorate Women's History and Awareness Month on the EIU campus. In 1936, Grace Thompson Bair became the first graduate of the School of Business and, throughout her career, served as a role model for many women students.

As one of this year's three executives-in-residence, Schreder will spend much of her time at Eastern speaking to business students and faculty.

The School of Business 's Executive-In-Residence Program primarily serves as a student motivational tool. But it also provides opportunity for individuals and firms to discuss their "fit" in the world of business, what their business expects from its professional employees, and what tools and skill sets prospective employees are expected to have.

In order for students to gain an understanding of the concepts and processes fundamental to productive business activity, executives-in-residence discuss the scope of activity and responsibilities of their positions, how activity within their areas is linked to other areas within the organization, and the personal background needed to develop the skills necessary for the position they hold.

Schreder joined State Farm in 1986 as an agent in Williston, N.D. She moved to Waterloo, Iowa, in 1991 to become an agency manager and agency field executive there in 1995. She transferred to Corporate Headquarters in 2002 as an executive assistant to the Chairman's Council before assuming her current position.

Schreder has responsibilities over the Developmental Agency Field Offices in the Great Lakes Zone, Agency Field Services, the Market Agency Field Offices in central Illinois, marketing and agency recruiting.

She received her bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. She earned the Chartered Life Underwriter designation in 2000, the Chartered Financial Consultant designation in 2003, and the Chartered Advisor of Senior Living designation in August 2005.