Brian Walker, president and chief executive officer of Herman Miller Inc., will present "Leading the Creative Organization" on Thursday, April 12, at 4 p.m. in room 1000 of the A. Paul Schaap Science Center through the Baker Scholar Lecture Series.

The public is invited. Admission is free.

Walker has been president and chief executive officer of Herman Miller Inc. since July 2004. He was named president and chief operating officer of the company in March 2003.

He had earlier served as president of Herman Miller North America (2000), in which he oversaw the company's core business operations for the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Herman Miller, Inc. (1995), where he developed a strong team of finance professionals and an internationally respected finance organization. He had previously held various financial management positions within Herman Miller's international operations.

Walker was instrumental in the adoption of the Economic Value Added (EVA) financial and performance metric at Herman Miller Inc., which has been used as the foundation to improving employee financial literacy and to further align employees' interests with those of the external shareholders.

He serves on the Board of Directors for Briggs & Stratton, and on the international advisory board for Stern Stewart. He also serves on the board of The Right Place, Inc. of greater Grand Rapids, a regional, non-profit economic development organization dedicated to promoting area economic growth through high-quality employment, productivity, and technology. In June 2006 Walker became chairman of The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer's Association (BIFMA). He is also a trustee on the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, a private, not-for-profit public affairs research organization established in 1916 to provide nonpartisan analysis of state and local government organization and finance in Michigan.

Before joining Herman Miller, Inc., he worked as a CPA for the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.

The Hope College Baker Scholars are an elite group of business students who plan a career in business or future graduate business studies. The intent of the Baker Scholars program is to provide the students with learning experiences and opportunities outside the normal curriculum of the college. The students are selected based on their potential as future leaders of America's organizations and institutions.

The A. Paul Schaap Science Center is located on the corner of College Avenue and 12th Street. Room 1000 is adjacent to the ground level of the building's main atrium.