Path to Success (Mentorship – How it Drove your Success)

The schedule for the 2023 Business Symposium is provided below.

A purpose and career preparation Pfeiffer Life credit will be available for each day attended.

Day 1 Monday February 20th

Opening Discussion —Provost Dr. Mynatt 9:30 – 10:00

Speaker Introductions —Host Dr. Chambers

Danny Sangster (Zaxbys) 10:00am – 10:30

Garry Spence (Spence Advisory Group – Leadership Development) 11:00 – 11:30

Livia Jefferies (Innoviate Consulting) 11:00 – 11:30

Lunch (working lunch -eat at tables during mentorship sessions)

Two-hour breakout sessions 12:00 – 2:30

Closing 2:30 – 3:00

Adjourn at 3:00pm

Day 2 Tuesday February 21st

Opening Discussion —Dean of the Undergraduate College Dr. Thompson 9:30 – 10:00

Speaker Introductions —Host Dr. Chambers

Kenneth Budd (Minority owner of the Winston-Salem Dash) 10:00am – 10:30

Katie Hand (Retired principal) 10:30 – 11:00

Garrett Starnes (The Tomohawk Range & Blade Shop) 10:30 – 11:00

Lunch (working lunch -eat at tables during mentorship sessions)

Two-hour breakout sessions 12:00 – 2:30

Closing 2:30 – 3:00

Adjourn at 3:00pm

Katie Hand Bio:

Born in Newport, RI in 1949. Traveled all over the world as the daughter of a USNavy pilot and a horticulturist mom. I lived in England 2 times as child, as my father was stationed there. This was an opportunity to visit many countries and experience the different cultures. I attended 14 schools in 7 states by the time I graduated from Pfeiffer in 1971. I have taught in 5 states before settling in Fairfax County, VA (northern Virginia). I received a Masters in Reading from the University of North Florida and a Master’s in Public School Administration from The University of Virginia. I have taught school for 21 years and was an Elementary School Principal for 14 years. Now I’m retired, and living 5 houses from the Atlantic Ocean, in Virginia Beach, VA. I enjoy playing tennis and pickleball, gardening and cooking each month, for the Social Outreach at my church.

Livia Jeffries Bio:

Livia is the founder and CEO of Innoviant Consulting.

She is also an accomplished strategist, consultant and change management expert. She is very adept at building and directing highly motivated, results-oriented teams and creating innovative solutions to complex business problems.

Her experience spans over 20 years in strategic planning, organizational design, and change management. Her background spans multiple industry sectors that include government, manufacturing, retail, and financial services. She is experienced in, and possesses a great deal of passion for, leading executive visioning and strategic planning activities, that include organizational design/re-design, team building, leadership, and Diversity, Equity& Inclusion.

Livia holds dual degrees in Industrial engineering from Mississippi State University, a mathematics degree from Jackson State University, as well as an MBA from the University of Michigan Ann-Arbor. She is a high energy, highly regarded and sought-after public speaker & management consultant/ executive coach possessing exceptional relationship management and team building skills. She is also a highly sought-after executive career coach and phenomenal public speaker. Livia currently leads Innoviant Consulting’s people solutions practice as its managing partner.

Ken Budd Bio:

My name is Ken Budd, I graduated from Pfeiffer College in 1984 with a degree in Business, and Computer Information Systems. I started my work career in agriculture, right out of college. My first job was General Manager of Weaver Seed Company. Weaver Seed was a small company that focused on cleaning grains and grass seed for local farmers. Over the next 5 years I was able to grow the business by repositioning the company as a wholesale grass seed company. In 1990 I became part owner in the company, we changed the name to Budd Seed Company. Budd Seed continued to grow through internal growth, and strategic acquisitions. Five years later Budd Seed was the largest turfgrass seed company in the world. Budd Seed controlled over 30,000 acres of turfgrass production and had sales of over $100,000,000.00 In 1999 Budd Seed was sold to a publicly traded company, and I became President and COO of the public company. In 2001, I purchased the public company and took the company private again, operating once again as Budd Seed. In 2004 I sold Budd Seed and retired. In 2014 I became a minority owner of the Winston-Salem Dash, a minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago White Sox. The Winston-Salem Dash has led the league in attendance several years, and consistently attracts over 300,000 fans to the stadium each year. I have been happily married to my college sweetheart, Janie, for 36 years. Janie and I have 4 children and split our time between Winston-Salem and Wilmington NC.

Garry Spence Bio:

Garry Spence helps organizations develop strong leaders, build purpose-driven cultures and achieve top-line growth and bottom-line profitability. He offers a unique combination of inspirational wisdom and practical action based on his own distinguished career as an award-winning sales leader, successful corporate executive, passionate community leader and highly rated motivational speaker.

Garry established Spence Advisory Group to expand his sphere of positive influence and share his knowledge and experience in ways that benefit others. In addition to consulting business leaders, Garry mentors emerging executive talent and coaches entrepreneurial clients to co-create plans that identify and overcome barriers and advance desired results. Garry serves as an advisory board member for several organizations where he provides talent management counsel and helps screen and select potential hires. He is also a regular guest speaker at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School.

Garrett Starnes Bio:

I’m a small business owner and entrepreneur in Albemarle, and the founder of The Tomahawk Throwing Range & Blade Shop, LLC. I started my axe throwing business in September of 2021, but before that I was a Radiology Service Engineer, and graduated from Stanly Community College in 2007.

Danny Sangster Bio:

Favorite Quote:

“May your trails be crooked, winding, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” -Edward Abbey ZAXBY’S EARLY ON I started with Zaxby’s in 1995 to earn some money while in college. I was a cook then cross-trained as a cashier. I was promoted to assistant manager and received a raise to $5.75/hour.

Profession or Industry:

OPERATING/MANAGING PARTNER OF C&D FOODS INC., LSC FOODS, INC, MFAC LLC.

Current and Past Job Duties:

· OPERATIONS LIASON/OWNER • 2017-current : Works with District Managers coaching and mentoring to improve skillsets, repairs and maintains facilities to lower overall operating costs, serves on board of directors voting on policies, procedures, and operational efficiencies to exceed the current standards necessary to optimize business

· DISTRICT MANAGER/GENERAL MANAGER/OWNER • 2004-2016 : Worked directly with General Managers to improve business operations, tracked all cost metrics and communicated with managers to improve efficiencies including cost of goods sold, labor reporting, customer feedback, etc.

· GENERAL MANAGER 2000-2003 : oversaw all operations

Education:

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE-NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT • 1999 • GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

Hobbies and Special Interests:

I’ve found the time to pursue my college degree interests and work part-time as a park ranger for Cabarrus County Parks. I enjoy the outdoors and anything related to natural sciences. I enjoy studying philosophies such as Buddhism and Stoicism. I enjoy carpentry and working with my hands and I like to fix things myself. I live on a small farm with my Wife and two daughters. We have a variety of animals including horses, goats, chickens, dogs, cats, a rabbit and parakeets.