Overland Park Businessman Joins Benedictine College Staff
Geenens to Lead Graduate Business Programs

Benedictine College has announced the hiring of Dave Geenens, former president and CEO of AVP, Inc. in Overland Park, Kan., as the new executive director for its Executive MBA (EMBA) and traditional MBA programs.  Benedictine’s EMBA is one of the premiere graduate programs for business people in the area and is the only one-year program available.  Geenens will assume his responsibilities on July 1.

“I went through an executive MBA program and I know what that’s all about,” he said.  “For me, it was career changing, but it was also life changing.  The combination of faith and work is important to me and often times the dots are not easily connected between those two things.  Benedictine’s focus on faith, scholarship and community indicates it is the way to go.”

Geenens led AVP, a hospitality service company with more than 1,500 employees in 34 states, since 2006.  During that time, the company more than doubled in annual sales.  Prior to AVP, he had founded Inhance Leadership, LLC, an executive consulting and leadership coaching enterprise.  He also served as president of Impact Design, Inc., one of the largest screen printers in the country.  He graduated from Baker University in 1983 with a degree in accounting and earned his MBA from Rockhurst University in 1990.  He has a background as an auditor, CPA and business manager.

Geenens has written numerous articles and is the author of the book ARISE! Life-Changing Truths for the Tormented Leader.  He is currently working on a second book, Cooperative Competency: Leadership Lenses for the Post-modern World.  He has also been a motivational speaker, giving presentations at conferences like the Jesus Awakening Movement of America, Man in the Mirror and Campus Crusade Greek Leadership.  He and his wife, Terry, have three children and live in Overland Park, Kan.

“We are excited about bringing Dave on board in the School of Business,” said Stephen D. Minnis, president of Benedictine College.  “His background in business management combined with his leadership coaching ability make him the ideal person to direct our popular graduate business programs.”