The West Virginia University College of Business and Economics will welcome Tina Bigalke to the B&E Distinguished Speaker Series on Thursday, Feb. 18. Bigalke will speak to the University and local communities at 4:00 p.m. at the Erickson Alumni Center Grand Hall.

Bigalke is Vice President of Human Resources for PepsiCo’s Global Supply, Operations and Research & Development teams, where she sets HR strategy for more than 6,000 associates worldwide. In this role, she is an advisor to PepsiCo’s Chief Science Officer and Vice Chairman, and the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Global Operations.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from WVU in 1990, and is also a 1994 graduate of B&E’s Master of Science in Industrial Relations (MSIR) program. Joining PepsiCo in 2001, Bigalke has also served the Frito-Lay Business Unit in several HR capacities, including HR Senior Director for Corporate Business Innovation, Sales HR Senior Director, and HR Director and manager for various sites.

A resident of Texas, Bigalke currently sits on the Board of Directors for CASA in Collin County, a nonprofit organization that trains advocates to help abused children within the court system or foster care. She also serves as HR Executive Sponsor for Adelante, PepsiCo’s Latino Employee Resource Group.

Bigalke maintains a strong relationship with WVU and B&E by participating in B&E’s MSIR practicum series, as an alumni mentor, and through the establishment of the John T. and Irene K. Grossi Memorial Scholarship in honor of her parents.

“Tina Bigalke is so much more than a graduate of this business school,” said B&E Interim Dean Nancy McIntyre. “She has maintained a strong connection to her alma mater, she has a presence on campus and the scholarship she established will help students for years to come.”

The B&E Distinguished Speaker Series is presented in part by Wells Fargo. The event is free and open to the public.

For further information on the WVU College of Business and Economics, follow B&E on Twitter at @wvucobe or visit www.be.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

bd/02/05/16

CONTACT: Patrick Gregg, College of Business and Economics
304.293.5131, patrick.gregg@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.