Champions of Industry

Carroll University with The Sullivan School of Business and Technology is proud to bring back the Champions of Industry series hosted by Dean Tim Sullivan ’75 entailing a “fireside chat” with audience participation. The sessions are scheduled from 4 - 5 p.m. in Shattuck Auditorium and are open to the campus community and the public. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

Steve Burd ’71 
CEO of Burd Health 
Champion of Retail and Wellness 

Steve spent a decade in consulting, starting at Arthur D. Little before establishing his own practice. For eight of those years, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company (KKR) was his sole client, where he handled everything from due diligence to ensuring successful leveraged buyouts (LBOs).

In 1991, Steve served as acting CEO of Fred Meyer, an older KKR investment, for nine months before recruiting a permanent CEO. By late 1992, KKR asked him to join Safeway as President, and he became CEO six months later. Under his leadership, Safeway’s value increased 24-fold over six years, achieving a return 120 times the original investment. This remains KKR’s most successful investment. Steve led Safeway for 20 years and founded or co-founded six start-ups, collectively valued over $5 billion.

At Safeway, Steve introduced a highly effective wellness plan, reducing per capita healthcare costs by 50% over eight years. After retiring, he founded Burd Health, aimed at reducing healthcare costs for self-insured employers and enhancing workforce health. Recently, Burd Health has been developing a Cancer Care Service, projected to lower cancer deaths by 30-40% and cut treatment costs by 38%.