Speaker Series
The MBA Career Services Office hosts a variety of speakers that share their expertise with students on topics such as interview techniques, career search skills, dining etiquette, industry trends, and other subjects that are designed to enhance career development. Networking with executives, professors and fellow classmates is essential, wisdom gained from these individuals will help you develop your career goals and streamline your job search efforts.
Lowder Speakers
Visiting Speakers Spring 2008
Mr. Gary Fayard Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer The Coca Cola Company |
Mr. C. Reynolds Thompson III Chief Executive Officer Colonial Properties Trust |
Mr. Rubin Hanan President and CEO Champs Sports |
Mr. Jeff Cooke President Access Marketing |
Ms. Cathy Leonhardt Managing Director P. J. Solomon
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Visiting Speakers Fall 2008 (Not a complete list)
Dr. Saul Feldman Retired Chair and CEO United Behavioral Health |
Mr. Rance Sanders President and CEO The Sanders Trust, LLC |
Mr. C. Robert Henrikson President and CEO MetLife Financial |
The Robert E. and Charlotte Lowder
Endowed Executive Professor Program
The Robert E. and Charlotte Lowder Endowed Executive Professor Program in the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration is made possible through a generous endowment made by Robert E. and Charlotte Lowder. Mr. Lowder is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Colonial BancGroup, a multi-bank holding company based in Montgomery, Alabama. The Lowder family ties to The University of Alabama span many years, including service on the Board of Visitors for the College by Edward Lowder, Robert's Lowder's father. The Lowder Endowed Executive Professor Program in the Culverhouse College of Commerce was created to provide students and faculty with an opportunity to interact with prominent executives for an open exchange of views on current issues, and to gain valuable insight into the complexities of the business world. It is through enrichment programs such as the Robert E. and Charlotte Lowder Endowed Professor Program that both students and faculty are able to integrate practical experience into their base of business knowledge in preparing business leaders of tomorrow.
As one Alabama's great business leaders, visionaries and philanthropists, Robert Lowder believes that the future of our state rests with the young, energetic minds that our education system moves into management ranks. The University of Alabama is deeply grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Lowder for their commitment to excellence in higher education and their continued support of the Culverhouse College of Commerce.
Executive Speakers 
Our Executive Briefings brings Presidents, CEO’s, Executive and Senior Vice Presidents of organizations in to share their business insights with you. These are great opportunities to hear and learn from those who have successfully maneuvered the changing landscape of business. We are fortunate to host several of these distinguished guests each year, their advice is priceless.
Corporate Sessions
Informational Sessions and Recruiting Briefings allow you to meet individuals that are here to hire you! Representatives from recruiting organizations will describe their organization, its business, its future, and its culture. Typically several representatives at various levels in the company will be present. If you want to gain a competitive advantage in the job search, don’t miss these presentations!
"While all the programs that are put on by the MBA program are valuable learning tools, one of the best tools is the oppurtunity to listen to industry experts that come on campus and speak about their wide ranging experiences. These speakers can be in a small setting such as a lunch or involve the entire class, but the impact is the same; first hand knowledge from industry leaders in the field taught in a real world context. Besides, many of the speakers come to campus to recruit as well. I should know, I ended up getting a great job out of school from meeting a speaker after he spoke in Dr. Zumpano's class. I now work on his team managing oil producing real estate in the Gulf of Mexico and beyond.!"
Nathan Vaughn, Land Negotiator, Hess Corporation
Nathan Vaughn (left) and David Gober(right), MBA Class of 2005, have joined Hess Corporation in Houston. Nathan and David had the opportunity to interact with executives from Amerada Hess Corporation as a result of a campus visit to Dr. Len Zumpano's Real Estate Class. Dr. Zumpano , often asks industry leaders to come to class and share their perspectives and meet with students.
Alumni Speakers
Recent MBA grads will tell you like it is by sharing their career stories, from the search process, to how they landed their job of choice. They will tell you how life after MBA school is meeting their expectations. We encourage companies to have Manderson MBA alums participate in panel presentations and events on campus. Panel presentations provide an opportunity for alumni to visit campus and promote their company by sharing their professional experiences with our students. An informal panel format provides an atmosphere that lends itself to dialogue between students and professionals.