Posted by William Nunnelley on 2007-07-17

Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom will be the keynote speaker at the Samford Business Network Birmingham breakfast Aug. 8 at the Harbert Center at 7-8:30 a.m. He will speak on future economic development trends in Alabama.

Since his election in November, he has played a key role in economic development, and most recently worked with Gov. Bob Riley and the Alabama Development Office in acquiring ThyssenKrupp Steel's first North American facility. The German steel-making giant will build its new plant near Mobile.

As Governor in the early 1990s, Folsom personally solidified the deal that brought Mercedes Benz International, Inc., to Alabama, thus putting into motion an economic development boom for the state.

"Lt. Gov. Folsom has played such a strong role in the economic development strategies of the state," said Dean Beck A. Taylor of the Samford University School of Business. "The Samford Business Network Birmingham Chapter is honored to have him speak, and we are looking forward to hearing his thoughts on the future of Alabama's economic development."

The Birmingham meeting is free, but reservations are required. Please register at www.samfordbusinessnetwork.org or call (205) 726-2364. The breakfast is sponsored by Haskell Slaughter.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.