The inaugural Bob Wright Symposium on Business Empowerment will feature corporate leaders and executives sharing their business insights, knowledge, and experience.  

The symposium’s founder is Columbus native Bob Wright, who presently serves as Chairman and CEO of FE Holdings, Inc., a firm dedicated to the investment and growth of private and public sector companies. He also serves as Chairman Emeritus of Sentel Corporation, located in Alexandra, Va. 

In 1985, Wright founded Dimensions International, Inc., a provider of technology solutions in government and private sectors. Beginning with only three employees, he expanded Dimensions International into a global leader with more than 1,500 employees located in 10 countries.  Wright served as Chairman and CEO and then later Chairman Emeritus and Senior Advisor of Dimensions International until 2007 when the company was sold to Honeywell International, Inc. 

An advocate for small businesses, Wright was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve as Associate Administrator for Minority Small Business with the U.S. Small Business Administration.  

Wright developed the symposium as a means to educate and inspire current and future business leaders. The speakers are highly respected leaders within their fields and nationally recognized as successful entrepreneurs and industry trailblazers.  

“The speakers will share their inspirational stories of success, along with the obstacles they have had to overcome,” said Wright. “The symposium will help enlighten the community and hopefully inspire others to start a business.”  

Aflac Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dan Amos will serve as the keynote speaker at lunch.  The symposium will be moderated by Emmy award-winning journalist Byron Pitts, who joined ABC News in April 2013 as an anchor and Chief National Correspondent. Speakers for the symposium include: 

• Dr. William F. Pickard, Chairman and CEO of Global Automotive Alliance, LLC, of Bloomfield Heights, Mich. 
•   Deryl McKissack, Chairwoman of the Board, McKissack & McKissack Construction, of Washington, D.C.
•  Earl Stafford, Chief Executive Officer, Wentworth Group, LLC, of Reston, Va.
•  Emanuel Jones, Georgia State Senator, President of the Legacy Automotive Group, of Atlanta, Ga.
• Russell Wright, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SENTEL Corporation, of Alexandria, Va.
• Gale Hill, Owner and Operator, AJH, Inc. dba McDonald’s Restaurants, of Columbus, Ohio
•  Khary Lewis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Infinite Services & Solution, Inc., of Columbus, Ga.
• Sylvester Hester, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Global Automotive, LLC, of Duluth, Ga.
•  Veranda Dickens, Chairman of Seaway Bank and Trust Company, of Chicago, Ill.
•  Tommy W. Dortch, Jr., Chair Emeritus of 100 Black Men of America, and Chairman and CEO of TWD, Inc., of Atlanta, Ga.

The one-day event will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, at the Cunningham Center located on the campus of Columbus State University. Individual registration for the full conference is $150.00. Registration for the event is available online at http://www.bwsbe.com/. 

The event is sponsored by the Delta Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and the Alpha Georgia Education Foundation. For additional sponsorship opportunities, contact Douglas Bryant, 706-566-5875, or [email protected].