World-class business leaders bringing experience to business students

The Charleston Southern University School of Business is launching its Executive in Residence program in January 2014 to bring experienced executives directly into the classroom.

Eleven executives with backgrounds in entrepreneurship, banking, finance, marketing, risk management, corporate governance, international business and more will teach CSU business students how to lead from a Christian perspective.

Byron Davis, retired president of Fisher-Price, received mentoring even before graduating from high school, starting with his dad and including people from church and family friends. “Almost every boss I had was a mentor to me at Fisher-Price,” said Davis.

Davis believes in passing along what he has learned. “Maybe today’s students won’t make the same mistakes,” he said. He joined the executive in residence program because he likes to be around young people.

“They have creative thoughts,” said Davis. “I hope to share some stories. Some of the things they read about in textbooks, such as theory, aren’t so fun, but they can save your bacon when you’re out in the real world. I hope to teach them how things work practically, not just theoretically.”

John Duncan, dean of the School of Business, said, “The executives will help us deliver real-world experience in their areas of expertise to our students.” In addition to addressing specific classes, some of the executives will speak to the entire campus during the University’s regularly scheduled Chapel programs.

“We are asking the executives to incorporate the character qualities we already use from the Character First program as they speak to students. These character qualities add value in all areas and will build better employees as we send students out,” said Duncan. “The executives will discuss values and ethics from a Christian perspective and will teach students how to apply their faith in business settings.”

2014 Executives in Residence

· Garth Cook, Director of Leadership Development and Training, The Boeing Company
· Mary Propes, CEO and Founder, MVP Group International
· Earnie Davenport, Retired Chairman and CEO, Eastman Chemical
· Larry Finney, Founding Partner, Green, Finney & Horton CPAs
· Marian Noronha, CEO, Turbocam International
· Wayne Hall, President and CEO, First Federal; President and CEO, First Financial Holdings, Inc.
· Byron Davis, Retired President, Fisher-Price
· Todd Tyler, Executive Vice President, Commonwealth/Brown and Brown Insurance
· John Gross, Regional Manager, Havertys Furniture; Chairman, The Barnabas Group, Charlotte
· Henry “Hank” Taylor, Vice President of Global Business Development, Charleston Regional Development Alliance; Retired Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force
· Chris Niebuhr, President & COO, Thompson Industrial Services