Top CEOs from around the country will be presenting strategies and tactics for “Competing in Tough Economic Times” on Tuesday, April 30. Anyone interested in learning these techniques is invited to attend. The keynote speaker is Bill Yeargin, CEO of Correct Craft. Correct Craft is a luxury powerboat company in business for over eight decades and the oldest family-owned boat company in the United States. Correct Craft has a history of innovative strategies such as being the first boat company in 1926 to trailer boats by semi on the road rather than rail-system. They were also the first boat company to use tow pylons as early as 1936. During World War II, the government commissioned Correct Craft, in what was later dubbed by National Geographic as the “Miracle Production,” to build 400 boats in 15 days. Correct Craft holds over 15 United States patents for various towing and hull designs which were deemed novel. The National Marine Manufacturer’s Association awarded them the Customer Satisfaction Index Award eight years in a row for achieving a 90 percent or higher standard of excellence for customer service.
In addition, WOWO Radio political analyst Pat Miller will moderate the event. He will be joined by panelists John Bachmann, former Edward Jones CEO; Tobias Buck, Paragon Medical CEO; Sheryl Conley, OrthoWorx CEO; Kevan Johnston, Hy-Vac Group president; and John Zeglis, former AT&T CEO. About 40 student volunteers from Grace College are involved in the planning and execution of the event.
“Grace College School of Business and the Gordon Institute for Enterprise Development are excited about sponsoring this large-scale event in partnership with Silveus Insurance,” said Alan Grossnickle, director of the Gordon Institute. “We are pleased that this topic will help provide strategies to help businesses continue to be competitive in our current economic state.”
The forum, held at the Orthopaedic Capital Center located at 601 Wooster Road on the Grace campus, is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 11:45 a.m. Admission is $40 per person, which includes a networking breakfast to kick off the event. RSVP by visiting www.graceceo.com. For more information or questions please email Dee Anna Muraski at muraskd@grace.edu.