Contact: Bob Ratliff
Some of the nation's most successful and innovative businesspersons are participating this fall in the Entrepreneurship Lecture Series at Mississippi State.
Funded through the university's Jack Hatcher Chair for Engineering Entrepreneurship, the series is part of a new College of Engineering emphasis on preparing students to develop businesses based on new technologies.
"The lecture series is one of the ways we are preparing those who someday plan to be in business for themselves," said engineering dean Wayne Bennett. "Each speaker will draw on their personal experiences in addressing an area of business start-up."
The public programs will be held on Tuesdays from 2:15-3:45 p.m. in the George Eastman Auditorium of the Swalm Chemical Engineering Building. The Sept. 12 program features a discussion on financing new businesses led by Billy and Linda Howard, chairman and president, respectively, of Howard Industries.
Other scheduled speakers and their topics include:
--Sept. 19: Doug Marchant, president EPN Corp., challenges and opportunities in a software startup company.
--Sept. 26: Tony Stovall, president of Gulf South Capital Fund, the future of starting a business in Mississippi.
--Oct. 3: Rodger Johnson, president, Knology Holding Co., the best way to organize a new business.
--Oct. 17: Bill Yates, president of Yates Construction Co., "Mistakes I've Made and Lessons I've Learned."
--Oct. 19: Franklin Myers, president of Cooper Energy Services, legal issues for the start-up company.
--Oct. 24: Fred Burke, president, Central Pharmacy Services, organizing successful teams.
--Oct. 31: Danny Windham and Jerry Moore, co-founders of Adtran, secrets of marketing.
--Nov. 7: Stan Prevost, vice president and co-founder of Phase IV, the engineering design process and making a profit.
--Nov. 14: Mickey Holliman, president of U.S. Furniture Lines, strategies of product manufacturing.
--Nov.21: John Denson, retired president of Lockheed Martin Idaho and founder of Lockheed's Entrepreneurship Program, "How to Discover the Next Great Idea."
Earlier speakers in the series have included Gerald Thames, managing partner of Lehman Brothers, and David McMillen, president of HMC Technologies.
For additional information about the College of Engineering Entrepreneurship Lecture Series, telephone (662) 325-7183.