Naba Ahmed
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GoDaddy CEO Blake Irving, Madonna Inn owner Phyllis Madonna and KTTV anchor Laura Diaz will be featured as speakers at this year’s Spring Commencement.
According to Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Humphrey, the President’s Office has a thought-out selection process when picking speakers.
“We always seek to identify speakers that have a connection to our community, powerful personal stories and the ability to deliver a message that inspires our students on their last day at Cal Poly,” Humphrey said in an email to Mustang News.
Speakers are often aligned with the colleges they typically have a connection with, Humphrey said. For example, Blake Irving is a leader in the computer science industry, which is why his speech is part of the College of Engineering ceremony.
Blake Irving
Blake Irving wasn’t always a part of the world’s largest domain name provider and web host. He had to work his way up to becoming CEO and board director of GoDaddy. According to a press release provided by the commencement team and Director of Media Relations Matt Lazier, in 1981, Irving started out at Xerox, moving on to serving as Executive Vice President at Yahoo, as well as serving multiple roles for Microsoft. At GoDaddy, Irving has made contributions by focusing the company on the world’s 200 million independent ventures.
Irving has focused his life on technology for over 30 years, making a name for himself on the Internet.
He will be speaking to the colleges of engineering and architecture and environmental design at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 13.
Phyllis Madonna
This speaker comes from close to home — Madonna Inn. While it is widely recognized for its variety of hotel rooms and cake, who started it all?
Phyllis Madonna has been a resident and business owner in the San Luis Obispo community for more than 60 years.
Madonna has given back to her community in more ways than one. Not only has Madonna demonstrated what it means to be an entrepreneur, she has also supported San Luis Obispo Symphony, Festival Mozaic, I Madonnari, the Performing Arts Center, the SLO International Film Festival and the local women’s shelter.
Her dedication to the community is seen through her sponsorship of Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School, San Luis Obispo High School and Cal Poly. She has been rewarded for actions by being the recipient of San Luis Obispo Woman of the Year, a Cuesta College Woman of Distinction, Cattlewoman of the Year, San Luis Obispo Chamber Citizen of the Year and grand marshal of Cal Poly’s Poly Royal parade and the San Luis Obispo Christmas Parade.
Madonna will also receive an honorary doctorate degree during her speech to the colleges of agriculture, food and environmental sciences and science and mathematics on Saturday, June 13, at 5 p.m.
Laura Diaz
Lastly, we have Laura Diaz, alumna to Cal Poly as well as a 14-time Emmy-winning Southern California journalist who is currently anchoring the evening newscast for Studio 11 LA KTTV.
With her broad experience as an anchor, reporter and producer for several Los Angeles stations such as KABC, KCBS and KTLA, she has proved her expertise.
With all her media contributions, she received the Golden Mike Award and the L.A. Press Club’s highest honor, the Joseph M. Quinn Award for journalistic excellence and distinction.
According to Marketing and Communications Alumni Outreach Specialist Sarah Thien, there are 12,000 alumni in just the greater Los Angeles area, of which Diaz is a part.
“It is always great when successful alumni such as Laura Diaz come back and can share their Learn By Doing experiences with the graduates,” Thien said. “Especially since she is coming from such a major media market in L.A., it is very inspiring to journalism and liberal arts students and important for alumni.”
On Sunday, June 14, Diaz will address the College of Liberal Arts and Orfalea College of Business at 9 a.m.
All ceremonies take place at Spanos Stadium on campus.