1st Tuesday
Held five times a year, the Carlson School 1st Tuesday Speaker Series invites a marquee business leader to engage in a fireside chat about business challenges involving leadership, innovation, and topical business issues. The goal of this conversation is to uncover insights and create conversations that energize and raise the collective wisdom of our attendees.
The 1st Tuesday Speaker Series began in 1992 to provide an opportunity for alumni and friends of the Carlson School to continue their management education.
Christy Sovereign, '89 BSB
CEO - 2026 Special Olympics USA Games
Christine (Christy) Sovereign is the Chief Executive Officer for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. As an executive on loan from Accenture, she brings 35 years of business and leadership experience coupled with a very personal story, having grown up alongside sister Katie, a distinguished Special Olympics athlete and Global Messenger.
Since Joining Accenture, Christy has built a reputation as a trusted and strategic client advisor. She is an authentic, growth-oriented leader, deeply experienced in driving transformational change and businesses to higher levels of performance. Not only this, but she is passionate about the Twin Cities community and giving back, serving on the boards for Greater MSP, the Carlson School of Management, and the Minnesota Business Partnership.
Throughout her 40+ years of supporting Special Olympics, Christy has been a coach, Unified partner, and board member of Special Olympics Minnesota. Now, she feels very honored to take on this role for the 2026 Games, and she hopes to deliver an incredible experience that leaves a lifetime of memories for all who take part in them.
2025 Speaker Lineup
Tuesday, February 4
Corie Barry, CEO, Best Buy
Tuesday, April 1
Tim Cofer, '92 MBA, CEO, Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP)
Tuesday, June 3
Christy Sovereign, '89 BSB
CEO, 2026 Special Olympics USA Game
Senior Managing Director, Accenture
Tuesday, October 7
Rick Olson, '10 MBA, CEO, The Toro Company
Tuesday, December 2
TBA
1st Tuesday Speaker Series At A Glance
McNamara Alumni Center
200 SE Oak St
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Single Event Pricing
Individual - $25 (includes parking)
Table of Eight - $180
All ticket sales are final and non-refundable unless the event is canceled by the organizer. No refunds or credits will be granted for non-attendance.
11:30 a.m. Registration & Networking
11:50 a.m. Lunch
12:00 p.m. Program begins
1:00 p.m. Program concludes
1st Tuesday Corporate Tables
We value the partnerships with companies in the Twin Cities-area and want to continue to bring the business community together on a monthly basis. To continue our partnership with the business community, we invite you to purchase corporate tables for upcoming 1st Tuesday events.
Benefits of a 1st Tuesday Corporate Table
Priority seating near the front of the room
Recognition of your company's table
Eight reserved seats for your attendees
For questions about 1st Tuesday events, please contact Amy Dostal Dauer at [email protected] or (612)-626-9510.
SPONSORS
