The Penn State Behrend Speaker Series brings distinguished and accomplished individuals to campus to inspire thought and spark conversation about compelling issues and events. Our guest speakers, with their unique perspectives, enhance understanding of current events; community and economic development; and political, business, and societal challenges.
The Speaker Series is made possible by the college's Student Activity Fee, the Division of Student Affairs, and the Harriet Behrend Ninow Memorial Lecture Series Fund.
The Pennsylvania State University encourages qualified persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact Brenda Zinram in advance of your participation or visit.
Spring 2025 Speakers
Kurt Duska
Tuesday, February 18
5:30 p.m.
001 Burke Center
Kurt Duska has been involved with plastics for more than 45 years, including both injection molding and recycling. As the owner/president of Engineered Plastics LLC, he grew the business to include starting two plastics recycling facilities, one in Erie, Pennsylvania (2006), and the other in Sanford, North Carolina (2012).
In 2010, Kurt was a founding member of the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, which included ten of the largest medical manufacturers and Waste Management to reduce medical waste. In 2010, Kurt started a plastics recycling program at the Cleveland Clinic that helped drive sustainability in the medical field.
Kurt’s focus was to develop circular programs for waste plastic by engineering solutions and creating demand from end customers. This ranged from manufacturers in food, medical, packaging, and fiber optics to personal care. Often the scrap was converted to usable plastic that was molded at Engineered Plastics. With success in helping brands and manufacturers improve sustainability, he began trials and studies to support niche post-consumer recycling (PCR) programs.
After retiring from Engineered Plastics, Kurt grew his consulting business, Kurt Duska Sales & Consulting, and focused on sustainability. These programs included supporting recycling facilities startups, developing facilities/brands recycling programs, utilization of recycled content, and research and development on typically non-recyclable plastics. Kurt has depended on Penn State Behrend’s plastic lab and staff to challenge the existing concepts of recycling.
Kurt volunteers for the Pennsylvania Department of International Business Development and the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center, and often presents on manufacturing sustainability.
Fall 2024 Speakers
Vincent Intrieri
Thursday, November 7
7:30 p.m.
180 Burke Center
Vincent J. Intrieri ’84 is the founder and CEO of VDA Capital Management LLC. Prior to founding his private investment firm in 2017, Intrieri was senior managing director of Icahn Capital LP for twenty years and served as director or partner for a number of Icahn subsidiaries and holding companies
Intrieri was described by Fortune Magazine as “one of Carl Icahn’s two chief scouts and dealmakers … a CPA with a sharp eye for salvageable bankruptcy situations.” Prior to joining Icahn, Intrieri served as a portfolio manager for distressed investments at the New York City investment firm Elliot Associates. He also worked at Price Waterhouse in Dallas and was a partner with Arthur Anderson in Chicago. A nontraditional student who worked full-time while attending Penn State Behrend, he began his accounting career in Erie, before joining Coopers and Lybrand in Pittsburgh.
Intrieri sits on the boards of directors of Conduent Inc., Hertz Global Holdings, Navistar International, and Transocean Ltd.
In 2012, Intrieri and his wife, Joanne, gifted the initial $100,000 to create the Intrieri Family Student Managed Fund, a real-world portfolio overseen by Black School of Business students. With additional gifts from the Intrieris and others and reinvested profits, the fund balance now is $708,000.
Intrieri is a member of the Penn State Behrend Campaign Committee. He also is active with the Black School of Business, sitting on its Advisory Board. Intrieri has lectured on global business operations and the future of global corporations. He also annually hosts a lunch in New York City for members of the Penn State Behrend Economics Club, Black School of Business faculty, and alumni.
Adam Fracassi-Wier, Deputy Director of Elections
Monday, October 21
7:30 p.m.
Metzgar Center Lobby
Adam Fracassi-Wier graduated from Penn State Behrend in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, International Studies, and English. During his time at Penn State, he served as editor-in-chief of the Behrend Beacon and was actively involved in Kappa Delta Rho National Fraternity, the Student Government Association, the Interfraternity Council, THON, and the Political Science Society. He earned his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law in 2014. Fracassi-Wier's career includes serving as Michigan's assistant attorney general from 2015 to 2018, as an adjunct professor at Michigan State University College of Law, and currently as deputy director of elections at the Michigan Bureau of Elections.
Previous Speakers
A list of previous speakers is available.