Collin Sower, senior risk manager of Micron Technology, will present “Quantifying Global Operational Risks at Micron” from 5–6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, in Todd 216 on the Pullman campus.
The presentation is the 33rd annual Walton Lecture for the Carson College of Business, free to the public.
Sower has more than 25 years’ experience in the facilities department and another five years in risk management at Micron Technology, a global semiconductor memory company headquartered in Boise, Idaho. Sower’s extensive knowledge of facilities systems that support semiconductor manufacturing is a natural bridge toward identifying risks to the manufacturing process within Micron. During the lecture, he will discuss a risk identification method he developed that has been accepted by insurers as a viable way of addressing risks with limited resources of people, time, and money.
As the leader in innovative memory solutions, Micron is the only company manufacturing today’s major memory and storage technologies: DRAM, NAND, and NOR. By providing foundational capability for creations like AI and 5G across data center, the intelligent edge, and consumer devices, Micron provides innovation across health care, automotive, communications, and other industries. Micron, a Fortune 500 company with offices in more than 30 cities worldwide, reported $25.11 billion in total revenue in 2024.
“Collin Sower’s innovative approach to quantifying operational risk is a true advancement in enterprise risk management,” said Mike McNamara, professor of finance and management science. “It is important to expose future business leaders to executive-level insights within a field that’s constantly evolving due to new technology and global challenges.”
Each fall, the Walton Lecture brings a distinguished leader in insurance and risk management to campus to share professional perspectives. The lecture is hosted by the WSU Carson College of Business’s Department of Finance and Management Science and made possible through an endowment from the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Washington. The endowment honors Max Walton, the group’s past president.
