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International Business Leaders Coming to BYU-Hawaii, PCC

Dozens of top business executives, entrepreneurs and special guest speakers will come to the BYU-Hawaii campus and the Polynesian Cultural Center to participate in the second annual International Business Conference from November 6-10.

BYU-Hawaii students, faculty and staff, and PCC employees with ID are invited to participate for free in the sessions.

Kevin Rollins [pictured at top left], former CEO of Dell Inc., will present the keynote address. Other presenters and headliners, among many, include:

  • Mark H. Willes, former Chairman, President & CEO of Times Mirror, and a current member of the Polynesian Cultural Center board of directors.
  • Dr. Steven C. Wheelwright, former Stanford and Harvard Business School professor who is the new president of BYU-Hawaii
  • Von D. Orgill, President of the Polynesian Cultural Center
  • Ross Jardine, author of the best-selling The Bear Market Game Plan
  • Frank Peck, CEO and Founder, American Money Group, Inc.
  • Gary Hawkins, CEO of The Hawkins Group, one of America's leading real estate developers
  • Paul Hickey, managing founder of Hickey Freihofner Capital of New York which focuses on raising capital for China and other Asian ventures
  • Sheri Dew, author and CEO of Deseret Book
  • LaVell Edwards, retired head coach of the BYU Cougars football team
  • Chad Lewis, Philadelphia Eagles tight end and point man for the National Football League in China
  • Reunion, formerly known as The Lettermen, performing in a private concert for the conference

A limited number of tickets for the Reunion concert are available through the Aloha Center front desk at $25, $15 and $8.

Richard Norton, a consultant for BYU-Hawaii's Center for Instructional Technology and Outreach (CIT0), which is staging the event, said this year's conference will focus on “doing business in China,” with 10 top executives who have hands-on experience, providing insights and answers to questions about doing business there. Other sessions will focus on real estate and stock market investing.

Special features of the conference, among others, include Latter-day Saint religious presentations by guest speakers, a private concert by Reunion — the award-winning musical group formerly known as The Lettermen, and a Saturday golf tournament at the nearby Turtle Bay Resort. There will also be activities for registered participants' children and spouses.

The beginning of the conference on November 6 coincides with the inauguration earlier in the day of new BYU-Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright. Top officials of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Church Educational System will attend the inauguration.

A meeting of the BYU-Hawaii/PCC Presidents' Leadership Council will also occur that week in Laie.