Sports marketing magnate and local business leader named Citadel commencement speakers

CHARLESTON, SC – April 9, 2012 – Sports marketing leader Harvey W. Schiller and The InterTech Group President Jonathan Zucker will deliver commencement addresses to the Class of 2012 at The Citadel this May. 

Schiller, Citadel Class of 1960, will deliver the commencement speech to the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, while Zucker, graduate college Class of 2006, will speak to the graduating class in The Citadel Graduate College. Commencement exercises will be held on Saturday, May 5 at 9 a.m. for the Corps of Cadets and at 4 p.m. for the Graduate College. 

“We’re absolutely honored to have both Dr. Schiller and Mr. Zucker giving our commencement addresses this year,” said Samuel Hines, provost and dean of the college. “To have two alumni who have both been so successful in their fields will be inspiring to our cadet and our graduate college students.” 

Since graduating from The Citadel in 1960, Schiller has gone from flying over the skies of Vietnam to being named one of Sporting News’ “100 Most Powerful People in Sports.” As an Air Force combat pilot from 1962 to 1986, Schiller earned numerous commendations including the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medals and the Meritorious Service Medal among others. With more than 5,000 flying hours, Schiller rose to achieve the rank of brigadier general. 

In 1984, Schiller served as the Los Angeles Olympic Games boxing competition director. Later as the executive director/secretary general of the United States Olympic Committee from 1990 to 1994, Schiller was a key figure in helping the organization to improve its financial health as well as land the Atlanta and Salt Lake City games. Schiller has also been a commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, CEO of YankeeNets, past president of the International Baseball Federation, and vice-president of programming at Turner Sports Inc.

Zucker, a 2006 graduate MBA graduate of The Citadel, is a distinguished business and community leader.

As president of The InterTech Group, he has helped lead the North Charleston-based business to become the 110th largest privately held company in the country. He is also president of Z-Man Fishing Products Inc., a Ladson based manufacturer of fishing merchandise with more “peg” space in retailers such as Wal-Mart and Bass Pro Shops over a one year period than any other company.

Mr. Zucker has also served as a consultant with CSS International, where he counseled on supply chain management, distribution, inventory, order processing and customer relationship management. He has been contracted by numerous pharmaceutical manufacturers to ensure that their inventory, manufacturing, warehouse management, and quality assurance systems are compliant with Food and Drug Administration requirements. Mr. Zucker also previously worked as a consultant with DigiTerra, Inc., with a focus on providing business process and systems consulting services to his clients. His other roles include analyst work at Nortel Networks, Inc. and Blackbaud, Inc.

In addition to his success in business, Zucker is also vice president on the board of directors of the Charleston Animal Society and is a board member of the South Carolina Aquarium.

Click on Citadel Commencement Week activities for more information about the Class of 2012