Executive Staff
Bonnie Murphy
Executive Director & Associate Vice President of Commercial Services
Bonnie Murphy joined Cal Poly Corporation in 2007 as the Executive Director and Associate Vice President of Commercial Services. Prior to assuming her role at CPC she was a real estate portfolio manager. For five years, she oversaw a number of commercial real estate assets.
Her previous higher education experience was as Director of Auxiliary Enterprises at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA, which is the second largest university in Georgia with an enrollment of over 27,000.
Before working in higher education, Bonnie spent over 16 years in retail as a merchandiser, buyer, general manager, and divisional vice president for a $30 million upscale department store.
Bonnie received an undergraduate business degree from Oglethorpe University and a MBA from Mercer University; both in Atlanta, Georgia.
Grant Trexler
Associate Executive Director, Finance and Business Operations
Grant Trexler joined the Cal Poly Corporation in May 2010 as the Associate Executive Director of Finance and Business Operations. For over 25 years, Grant has worked as a top-level financial director for businesses that range from small start-up companies to large universities.
For the past six years, Grant served as the Director of Analytical Services at Texas A&M University where he built strategic business relationships to assist in the financial oversight of various campus commercial enterprises and organizations. He developed business proformas and financial forecasts, assisted in the development of new dining plans, managed the Division of Finance's continuous improvement efforts focusing on process automation, benchmarking, and the creation of metrics. Grant also served as the chair for multiple financial committees.
Grant earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Management and a MBA with an accounting concentration from Cal Poly and is currently completing his doctoral studies at Texas A&M. He is also an active Certified Public Accountant in California.
Starr Lee
Associate Executive Director, Administration
Starr Lee joined Cal Poly Corporation in August 2001 as Associate Executive Director, Administration. She provides legal counsel to CPC and the Cal Poly Housing Corporation. Her career includes serving as a sergeant in the U. S. Army, a director of a nonprofit organization, working as a federal lobbyist stumping for drug patents, and providing marketing support for American Airlines.
Prior to joining CPC, Starr managed business development and post-sales support for various high-tech and Internet companies. She spent two years starting up her own Internet enterprise.
Starr enjoys traveling, and has spent considerable time in Thailand, Abu Dhabi, Russia, Cairo, and Europe for both work and pleasure.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in journalism from Kansas State University, a law degree from the University of San Diego, and a MBA from the University of Texas, Austin.
Joanne Mead
Human Resources Director
Joanne Mead joined the Cal Poly Corporation in 1991 as Personnel Representative and has held the position of Human Resources Director since 1993. Joanne and her staff oversee all aspects of Human Resources for Cal Poly Corporation.
Prior to joining CPC, Joanne worked at Litton Data Systems administering the Retirement and 401k Program, in addition to various other human resource functions.
Joanne graduated from Cal Poly with a Bachelor of Science in Business with a Human Resources concentration. Joanne is involved in numerous Human Resources organizations, and has served as Chair of the Auxiliary Organization Association (AOA) Human Resources Committee.
Philip Davis
Interim Director, El Corral Bookstore / Cal Poly Print & Copy / Cal Poly Downtown
Philip Davis joined Cal Poly Corporation in 1997 as Associate Director of Operations for El Corral Bookstore. In January 2012, Philip was promoted to Interim Director. Philip has over 35 years of retail and bookstore management experience. Prior to assuming his role at CPC, Philip served at De Anza College as their bookstore operations supervisor for almost 15 years. Philip also worked for B. Dalton Bookseller as a store manager at several locations in California.
Philip earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. He also studied Spanish at New York University in Spain (Madrid).
Mike Thornton
Campus Dining Director
Mike Thornton joined Campus Dining in July 2002. Mike has spent the past seven years with Campus Dining, where he has steadily moved up through management roles. A Cal Poly graduate, Thornton studied political science and pre-law. He also served four years in the U.S. Air Force.
Thornton began his cooking career when he was eighteen at a gourmet Italian restaurant and continued working in various restaurants around San Luis Obispo County. He owned and operated two restaurants and a catering company on the Central Coast before joining the Campus Dining staff.
Thornton is passionate about food and customer service and believes in developing a dining program reflective of customer needs and the university's stature.
Photos by Chris Leschinsky
