By Alec Jennings
University News Service
January 25, 2010

Adventurer, entrepreneur and video game developer Richard Garriott will deliver the keynote address for the 2010 Business Leadership Week Feb. 8-12 at Texas State University-San Marcos.

Garriott's speech, "Dreams we can Follow" will be held Monday, Feb. 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the Alkek Library Teaching Theatre (250). It will focus on topics of creativity and personal exploration as a connection to the Business Leadership Week theme, "Business Mind: Moving in New Directions."

Garriott, son of Owen Garriott, former NASA astronaut, is most recently recognized for participating in a short-term mission to the International Space Station. Furthermore, he is chairman of the board for Space Adventures, a company that sends private citizens into space. He is also widely recognized as a video game developer creating fantasy computer games.

"His creativity, persistence, love of adventure and exploration are something all of us can relate to and be inspired by," said Letitia Tunnell, communication coordinator, McCoy College of Business Administration. "He knew what he wanted to do with his life at a very young age and through his determination succeeded – probably more than he could possibly have imagined."

Tunnell said the speech, along with most events at Business Leadership Week, connect with Texas State's Common Experience Theme, "The Whole Mind." Other speakers presenting throughout the week include:

• John Oehlke, vice president of the south region for Coca-Cola North America, will be presenting his perspective on business leadership, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2 – 3:15 p.m., Dennis and Cindy McCoy Teaching Theatre, 233 McCoy Hall.
• Diane Gottsman, nationally known etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Texas, will lead the etiquette dinner, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 6 – 9 p.m., Reed Bentley Parr Room, 11th floor, J.C. Kellam (early registration fee of $8 is required).
• Ron Kessler, founder of the Ron Kessler Group, will discuss his 35 years of experience finding creative solutions for businesses, civic organizations and government agencies in a workshop on cultivating leadership skills, Thursday, Feb. 11, 3 – 5 p.m., LBJ Student Center, room 3-15.1.
• Robert Konopaske, an associate professor of management, has lived and worked internationally and held management positions with a large nonprofit organization and a Fortune 500 multinational firm. He will close the week by leading a panel discussion on real world, ethical and whole-mind leadership, 2 – 3:30 p.m., McCoy Hall 233.

For more information about Business Leadership Week, please contact Ashley Hulme in the McCoy College Academic Advising Center at (512) 245-1993, ah36@txstate.edu, or visit their website www.business.txstate.edu/businessleadershipweek/menu.html.