Tennessee Tech University

Monday, November 9

• Beth Null Dorris, State Farm-“The Simple Truths of Service”- JH Room 218, 3:30-5:00pm

• Oral Communication Workshop- 5:00pm, JH Room 302

• Written Communication Workshop- 6:30pm, JH Room 302

Tuesday, November 10

• Melinda Keifer, Director of Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development-“Get Involved, Get Ahead”-JH  Room 218, 5:00-6:30pm

• Oral Communication Workshop-11:00am, JH Room 302

Wednesday, November 11

• Henry Fincher, Tennessee State Representative-“Make Me Marketable”-JH Room 218, 3:30-5:00pm

Thursday, November 12

• Alice Camuti, TTU Career Services Director-“Business Etiquette”-JH Room 218, 3:00-4:20pm

• Written Communication Workshop- 11:00am, JH 302

• Written Communication Workshop- 5:00pm, JH302

• Oral Communication Workshop-6:30pm, JH 302

Friday, November 13

• Don Calcote, CEO Community Bank of the Cumberlands-“Business in Real Life”-JH Room 218, 12:00pm-1:30pm

"The Simple Truths of Service"

Location: Johnson Hall Room 218
Time: 3:30-5:00pm

Speaker Biography:

Beth Null Dorris is a 20-year agent for State Farm Insurance in Springfield, TN. She is a graduate of Tennessee Tech University with a BS degree in English/journalism and an MA in History. A native of White County, Beth worked for the Tennessean as a reporter before joining State Farm in 1989. She is proud to be a second-generation State Farm agent.

"Get Involved, Get Ahead"

With Special Guest Speaker Melinda Keifer, Director of Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

Location: Johnson Hall Room 218
Time: 5:00-6:30pm

Speaker Biography:

Melinda Keifer is the Three-Star Program Director for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD). She oversees the Governor’s Three Star program, a 28-year-old community development program that assists communities with the strategic planning necessary to create new employment opportunities, improve family income and develop a strong leadership base for economic development. The Three-Star program has been recognized as a “Best Practices” program by the Southern Growth Policy Board.

As director of the program, Keifer helps certified communities implement their strategic plans, establish obtainable goals and create criteria and performance metrics to target and track success. Under Keifer’s leadership, the department has certified 25 new Three-Star communities in the last four years.

Prior to joining ECD, Keifer had a 10-year stint as the executive director of CityScape, Cookeville’s Main Street program. While there, Keifer and the Main Street board of directors were able to facilitate over $9 million in public/private investment in downtown Cookeville, including the opening of the Cookeville Community Farmers Market and the completion of the $1.2 million Leslie Town Centre, which is home to the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce and a 500-plus conference facility.

Keifer is a board member of the Tennessee Preservation Trust and WCTE-TV, a PBS affiliate in Tennessee’s Upper Cumberland, and a member of the Tennessee Tech College of Business Alumni Association. Keifer is as instructor at the Community Development Institute at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Ark. and a co-chair of the Cumberland Region Tomorrow Quality Growth Steering Committee-Reinvesting in Towns, Cities and Communities. She is a former recipient of the Distinguished Leadership Award from the National Association of Community Leadership and a 2007 appointee to the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence Board of Examiners.

"Make Me Marketable"

With Special Guest Speaker Henry Fincher, Tennessee State Representative

Location: Johnson Hall Room 218
Time: 3:30-5:00pm

Speaker Biography:

Henry D. "Hank" Fincher is a native of Putnam County, Tennessee. Born in 1969, he attended public schools in Putnam County, graduating from Cookeville High School in 1987. While at Cookeville High, Henry played football and was an award winning debater. After graduating from CHS, Henry went to the University of Tennessee - Knoxville and graduated in 1991. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1994 and returned to Tennessee to practice law.

Henry opened a law office in his hometown in 1997 and has practiced law there ever since. He focuses his practice on complex personal injury and probate litigation. Henry is one of the only double-certified specialists in the fields of civil trial litigation and elder law. He helps people who have been hurt and who are trying to help their elderly family members cope with the aging process.

"The best part of practicing law is that I get to help someone every day," says Henry.

Henry lives with his wife, Missy, and their daughter, Katherine, in his family's home in Cookeville. Active in his community, Henry is a Mason, a Shriner, a Rotarian and a member of the Church of Christ. He has served on numerous boards and committees.

In 2006 Henry ran for State Representative and was honored when the people of Putnam County chose him. Henry will run again in 2008.

"Serving as State Representative gives me a chance to help people who are having problems with state government or who government can help. Anyone from Putnam County with a problem should call or email my office and see if I can help," says Henry.

"Business Etiquette"

With Special Guest Speaker Alice Camuti, TTU Career Services Director

Location: Johnson Hall Room 218
Time: 3:00-4:20pm

Speaker Biography:

Alice Camuti is Director of Career Services at Tennessee Tech University. Alice has held her current position for eight years and is responsible for all first destination and experiential programs for this comprehensive university of 10,000 students.

In addition to her position in Career Services, Alice has taught as adjunct instructor of marketing, management and in the freshman year experience in the College of Business. Alice has an MBA in management from Golden Gate University and a BA in marketing from California State University. She is currently working towards a PhD in Education at Tennessee Tech University. In April 2008 she received the Award for Excellence in University 1020 Instruction.

"Business in Real Life"

With Special Guest Speaker Don Calcote,CEO Community Bank of the Cumberlands

Location: Johnson Hall Room 218
Time: 12:00-1:30pm

Speaker Biography:

I’m a potter, a poet, a sailor, a sculptor, a chef, and a philosopher……and for some amazing reason I find myself running a Bank with 50 employees and 13,000 customers…still can’t figure out how I got here. I’m a damn good Preacher and a damn good bartender…and everything in between.

Communication Workshop Information

Students are required to attend one written and one oral communication workshop.

Written and Oral Communication workshops are offered several times throughout the week.

Written Communication Workshops will be taught by Ms. Donna Smith.

Oral Communication Workshops will be taught by Mr. Bob Luna

Biography of Bob Luna

Bob Luna is a graduate of Tennessee Tech and a veteran of the United States Navy’s nuclear power program.  He served on board two fleet ballistic missile submarines.  He has participated in numerous civic activities over the years.  Currently, he is chair elect of the Cookeville Putnam County Chamber of Commerce.  He is past chair of WCTE’s Board of Directors and past president of the Cookeville Rotary Club.  During the Tech football games you can hear him as the voice of the Golden Eagle Marching Band.  Bob and his wife, Gail, have two daughters; one is a graduate of Tennessee Tech and the other is a student at Tennessee Tech.  For the past 24 years he has been a financial advisor and is currently the branch manager and senior partner of the Luna & Birdwell Investment Group with securities offered though Raymond James Financial Services.