The annual Wiregrass Gathering of Eagles Business and Leadership Symposium is back. This year’s event has been expanded, offering two different symposiums for participants to choose from.

The first symposium is will be held on Wednesday, February 29 from 8:30 am to noon on the Ben Hill-Irwin Campus of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. This will be a half day Agricultural Symposium with Ag Commissioner Gary Black serving as keynote speaker.  Successful business leaders in our college service area will share how they created value-added jobs and products from our natural resources.  Leaders from Muscadine Products Corporation, Langdale Industries, Georgia Olive Farms, and Thompson Farms will share their innovations and successes.  In addition, speakers from USDA Rural Development, UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, and the Agricultural Innovation Center will share resources to help growers succeed. The day will wrap up with USDA Rural Development State Director Quinton Robinson.

The second symposium will be held on Thursday, March 1 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm on the Valdosta Campus of Wiregrass. The full-day symposium held on the Valdosta campus is designed to help all businesses and industries prosper (“make it”) whether through business services, manufacturing, health care, or natural resources. The morning is devoted to Bob Prosen, keynote speaker on “Superior Leadership,” and participants will be given a hardcover copy of his bestselling book Kiss Theory Goodbye. The afternoon session is dedicated to local leaders who will share how they have changed, persevered, and become innovative visionaries to remain competitive and even grow in a recession.   Some of the afternoon speakers include leaders from the Langdale Company, Georgia Olive Farms, South Georgia Pecan, Thompson Farms, and CJB Industries.

These events not only provide valuable services to our businesses, industries, and growers but also serve as fundraisers for our foundations, making this tax deductible.  These funds are used to help students and are more needed now with the changes to HOPE. 

For more information about Gathering of Eagles or to register, please call (229) 333-2121 or visit our website at www.wiregrass.edu .