The inaugural Bob Wright Symposium On Business Empowerment is scheduled for Thursday, August 20, 2015, from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm, at the Cunningham Center, Columbus State University. Dr. Linda Hadley, Dean of the Turner College of Business at CSU, is assisting with the coordination and support of this symposium.

The conference will feature world class business leaders and executives sharing invaluable business insight, knowledge and experience, in addition to networking opportunities for attendees. 

“The symposium is designed to expose members of our community to successful entrepreneurs who are industry trailblazers and respected thought-leaders within their fields,” said Bob Wright. “This is also the first event of its kind to take place in my hometown of Columbus, Georgia, the proud home of several influential minority business and community leaders.” 

The conference will be moderated by ABC News Anchor/Reporter, Byron Pitts, and some of the business leaders scheduled for the event include: 

• Dr. William F. Pickard, Chairman and CEO of Global Automotive Alliance, LLC, of Bloomfield Heights, MI
• Deryl McKissack, Chairwoman of the Board, McKissack & McKissack Construction, of Washington, DC
• 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, OH
• 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, IL
• Tommy W. Dortch, Jr., Chair Emeritus of 100 Black Men of America, and Chairman and CEO of TWD, Inc., of Atlanta, GA 

Individual registration for the full conference is $150.00. 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].