Mercer University's 2014-2015 Executive Forum, presented by BB&T, continues Feb. 24 with presentations in Atlanta and Macon by Shan Cooper, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company – Marietta.

Cooper will give a noon lunch presentation in the Trustees Dining Room on the Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus in Atlanta, followed by a 6:30 p.m. dinner presentation in the Presidents Dining Room of the University Center on the Macon campus. Attendance at both events is by invitation only to Executive Forum members.

Cooper serves as general manager of the company's 5,800-employee facility in Marietta, which designs, produces, modifies and maintains military aircraft for the United States and countries around the world. She is also responsible for subassembly sites in Meridian, Mississippi, and Clarksburg, West Virginia. Additionally, she serves as vice president of business ethics for Lockheed Martin Corporation.

"Shan was an obvious first choice of speakers for the Stetson School of Business and Economics, which has been recognized both for its commitment to women and its opportunities for minorities," said Dr. Susan Perles Gilbert, dean of the School. "But what excites me most about Shan's message is the intelligent inspiration she brings regarding ethical decision-making and the importance of building relationships, and how these can translate into amazing opportunities. Her story is remarkable."

Cooper previously served as vice president of human resources for the 36,000 employees of Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS), based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Before moving to IS&GS, Cooper was vice president and deputy of human resources for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, with responsibility for human resources operations and site security for more than 27,000 employees across the country.

She joined Lockheed Martin in 2002 as senior manager of diversity workforce management and progressed through positions of increasing responsibility before being named vice president of diversity and equal opportunity programs in 2004.

Earlier in her career, Cooper held leadership positions with Lucent Technologies, and she consulted with several other Fortune 500 companies.

She has received multiple national honors, including the Women of Color in Technology Corporate Responsibility Award and the YWCA Tribute to Women of Achievement. She was named to Diversity MBA magazine's 2009 Top 100 Under 50 Executives and one of Georgia Trend magazine's Most Influential Georgians in 2012, 2013 and 2014. She received the Pioneer Award from U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine in 2013.

Cooper sits on the boards of the Cobb County and Metro Atlanta chambers of commerce, The Carter Center, Emory University and the Woodruff Arts Center. She is the 2014 chair of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and a member of the Marietta Kiwanis Club, Atlanta Rotary Club and the Georgia Military Affairs Coordinating Committee.

She holds an MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University and is a graduate of the Rutgers Global Executive Masters in Human Resource Leadership Program.

The Executive Forum is a membership organization composed of businesses, organizations and individuals. For more information on membership, call (800) 837-2911 or (478) 301-2943, or visit forum.mercer.edu/membership.