Posted by Kara Kennedy on 2008-10-15

German Consul General, Dr. Lutz Hermann Gorgens will address area business leaders at a breakfast and then students at Samford University on Thursday, October 16 as part of the Brock International Business Speakers Series hosted by Samford University's Brock School of Business.

During a 7:30 a.m. breakfast with area business leaders, at the Wynfrey, the Consul General is expected to address issues that relate to the importance of the economic development partnership between the State of Alabama and Germany. After the breakfast, he will address students during a 10 a.m. convocation at Samford's Reid Chapel on the importance of living in a global economy as well as the significance of the partnership between Alabama and Germany.

German investments in Alabama have played an integral role in the economic boom that has been going on for more than a decade. Mercedes Benz USA International was one of the first such investments in Alabama. Most recently, the German company ThyssenKrupp announced the building of facilities in South Alabama.

Dr. Lutz Hermann Gorgens' has served the Federal Republic of Germany for more than 30 years as a Head of State representing Germany around the world. Before becoming Consul General in Atlanta, Dr. Gorgens was the Head of Unit for European Internal Market Affairs in the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. In 2006, he became the Deputy Consul General in Atlanta and in 2007, the Consul General.

"The partnership between Alabama and Germany has a long and vibrant history, and is a very valuable global strategic partner with our state," said Beck A. Taylor, dean of the Brock School of Business. "I believe it is important for our students to learn from our strategic partners, like Germany, especially when they play such a key role in the globalization and growth of Alabama's economy."

The event on October 16 at the Wynfrey is open and free to the public. For more information contact (205) 726-2364 or log onto samford.edu/business.

 
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.