March 14, 2008
10th African-American Leadership Conference is April 15
MARTIN, Tenn . - “Challenges and Opportunities” is the theme of the 10th annual African-American Leadership Conference, slated 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., April 15, at the West Tennessee Center For Agricultural Research, in Jackson.
The conference is sponsored by WestStar Leadership, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, AT&T, City of Brownsville, City of Covington, USDA Rural Development, West Tennessee Healthcare, Hardin County Government, First South Bank, TLM Associates, Inc., Oldham Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship Studies and the Regional Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (REED) Center at the University of Tennessee at Martin.
The conference will begin with registration, continental breakfast and welcoming remarks by David Belote, WestStar executive director. This year’s keynote speaker is Rodricus Kirby, owner of Small Business Learning Series, in Memphis.
Kirby has been in the forefront of entrepreneurship for several years. He has owned three small businesses – a gaming tournament company, a digital entertainment company and a multimedia design firm. He trains retail store managers, their management teams and associates about technology products, customer service and sales techniques. His client list includes Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Office Depot and Office Max. He also has conducted training seminars for Lowe’s stores across the Midsouth. In late 2006, he developed plans to help aspiring entrepreneurs achieve small business success, and the Small Business Learning Series was founded to show entrepreneurs how to invest in themselves.
Registration and a continental breakfast is slated from 8:30-9 a.m. UT Martin Chancellor Tom Rakes and David Belote, UT Martin WestStar executive director, will speak from 9-9:15 a.m., followed by Kirby from 9:15-10 a.m. “Opportunities and Challenges for the Upcoming Leaders” is the topic of a 10-10:45 a.m. student panel, moderated by Mary Jones, with panelists, Eboni Eaton, Covington High School; Jamie Bond, Technology Center at Covington; Deltra Fowlkes and Stephen Thomas, Dyersburg State Community College; Erin Chambers, UT Martin. “Integrity and Responsibility” is the topic of My Harrison, special agent in charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Memphis, from 11-11:30 a.m. “Networking: The Acquaintance Game” will be presented by Sharon Taylor McKinney, Business Enterprise Resource Office, Tennessee Department of ECD, Memphis, and Shirley Burford, regional director, AT&T, Memphis, from 11:45-noon, followed by lunch from noon-1 p.m. “Healthy Fit” is the last session of the day with Linda Street, consultant, Tahitian Noni International, Memphis, from 1:15-1:45 p.m.
To register, mail form to WestStar, UT Martin, 321 Administration Building, Martin, TN 38238. Email registrations to vgrimes@utm.edu or fax to 731-881-7019. The registration deadline is April 9. The conference fee is $35 per person/$60 for two. The fee includes breakfast and lunch. For more information, contact Virginia Grimes at 731-881-7298 or vgrimes@utm.edu.
###
