2009 Science & Technology Banquet

The University of Minnesota Institute
of Technology Alumni Society presents
Cynthia L. Lesher, retired president and CEO of Northern States Power-Minnesota, an Xcel Energy company, as the keynote speaker at the 2008 Science & Technology Banquet.

Thursday, March 26, 2009
5 p.m. Reception
6:30 p.m. Dinner
7 p.m. Program
Hilton Minneapolis, 1001 Marquette Avenue South

Thank you to our corporate sponsors for their contributions to student scholarships. We couldn't do it without you!

For more information on sponsorships, send an e-mail (stbanquet@umn.edu) or call 612-626-1802. Sponsorships are available starting at $1,000.

Registration is now open

The Science & Technology Banquet is the Institute of Technology’s premier annual networking event and scholarship fundraiser. The event has raised more than $70,000 for student scholarships in the past four years.

Tables of eight, half-tables of four, and individual seats are available for purchase. Guests may also host students at their table. To receive priority seating, reserve your table(s) now and submit the guest list online before the March 17 deadline.

For more information, call 612-626-1802 or email stbanquet@umn.edu.

About Cynthia L. Lesher

CYNTHIA L. LESHER is the retired president and CEO of Northern States Power Company-Minnesota, an Xcel Energy company. During her career at Xcel Energy she served as Xcel Energy’s vice president, chief administrative officer and chief human resources officer, president of NSP Gas, vice president of NSP human resources, and various other positions.

Lesher was appointed chair of the Governor’s Workforce Development Council in 2004 by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. In 2003 she was inducted into the Women’s Economic Roundtable, comprising of the top 100 women leaders in Minnesota.

CityBusiness magazine named her among the Twin Cities’ most innovative women. In 2007 she received the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal’s Lifetime Career Achievement Award. She was selected by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce as 2008 Woman of the Year.

In January 2007, Lesher was named President of the Host Committee for the 2008 Republican National Convention responsible for raising $58 million to fund the convention and to showcase Minneapolis, St. Paul and Minnesota to the world.