Greater Dallas Chamber Annual Leadership Luncheon featuring Paul Kruse

The Greater Dallas Chamber and Leadership Dallas are pleased to announce the keynote speaker for their February 22 Annual Leadership Luncheon is Paul Kruse, President and CEO of Blue Bell Creameries. The luncheon, "100 Years of Leadership: The Secret of Blue Bell Ice Cream," will begin at noon with registration at 11:30 AM at the Hilton Anatole. Tickets are $60 for Chamber members and $75 for prospective members and may purchased on line at www.dallaschamber.org/leadership or by calling 214-746-6734.

Kruse represents the third generation of his family to run Blue Bell Creameries, and recently saw the company celebrate its 100th anniversary. With the Kruse family at the helm, Blue Bell has become the third best-selling brand of ice cream in the nation, although it is only sold in 17 states.

Kruse, a lifelong resident of Brenham, graduated from Texas A&M in 1977 with a BBA in accounting and then graduated in 1980 from Baylor University School of Law. Before working at Blue Bell, Kruse practiced law in Brenham. In 1986, he signed on as Blue Bell's chief legal counsel. Kruse was elected to the Blue Bell Board of Directors in 1983 and was named Vice President in 1991. He has been Chief Executive Officer & President since 2004.

Join us as we gain insight into the leadership principles at Blue Bell:

• Being innovative when tradition and consistency are features of your brand

• Secret ingredients - not the ice cream, but the blend of managing the financial and human resources of the company to achieve optimal growth

• How to compete when supermarkets make their own ice cream and consider Blue Bell "the enemy"

• Making tough decisions about whether to focus on depth vs. breadth of market

• Adjusting to distribution pressures

In addition to Kruse’s keynote, the alumni of Leadership Dallas will present the Distinguished Alumni Award. This award will be presented to a Leadership Dallas alumnus who has made a positive difference in the Greater Dallas area. Award winners are selected on the merit and quality of the community service of the individual. The award emphasizes the importance of active involvement in the Greater Dallas region and serves to encourage and provide a role model for others.