Good business schools stick with what works—excellent business schools work on what’s next. Continuous improvement is more than just maintaining, it is consistently innovating. Accreditation commits your school to a culture of ongoing growth and progress, integrated into every level—and the possibilities are endless.

This conference is essential if your school is seeking or maintaining AACSB accreditation. From trends in assessment to examples of innovative curricula, to AQ and PQ faculty issues, this event will help you benchmark, plan, and raise standards at your school.

Conference Chair:

• George E. Stevens, dean, College of Business Administration and Graduate School of Management, Kent State University

Who Should Attend: Deans, associate deans, department chairs, and faculty

Learning Outcomes

• Familiarize yourself with updates to AACSB’s business and accounting accreditation standards
• Learn effective strategies to address accreditation issues such as faculty qualifications, management, research, and development
• Achieve academic excellence and remain competitive amid resource constraints
• Discover how schools of all sizes and scopes develop program integration and innovative curricula that works in a global environment
• Familiarize yourself with updates to AACSB’s business and accounting accreditation standards
• Develop successful tools and techniques for assessment and assurance of learning
   

Keynote Speakers

Steve Butler
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
W.C. Bradley Company

Servant Leadership

Steve Butler, chairman and chief executive officer of W.C. Bradley Company, Inc., will discuss servant leadership, the philosophy that a leader can improve an organization and its community by serving the needs of others instead of using power for personal gain. Founded in 1885, the W.C. Bradley Co. is a privately owned organization headquartered in Columbus, Georgia and comprised of three primary businesses: manufacturing, wholesaling, and retailing. The company operates five divisions, including W.C. Bradley Real Estate, Zebco, Lamplight Farms, PGA Tour Stop, and Char-Broil, a leading producer of outdoor gas and electric grills. Other brands W.C. Bradley is known for include Thermos-brand grills; Lamplight Farms oil lamps, tiki torches, scented candles, and fishing gear. The company's products are sold to major retailers worldwide, including Sears, Roebuck, Home Depot, and Kmart.

Erroll B. Davis Jr.
Chancellor
University System of Georgia

As chancellor of the University System of Georgia, Erroll B. Davis Jr. is responsible for the state’s 35 public colleges and universities, 270,000 students, 39,000 faculty and staff, and an annual budget of $6.1 billion. Before taking office in 2006, Davis served as chairman of the board of Alliant Energy Corporation. He has much executive experience through his positions at Alliant Energy Corporation, WPL Holdings, and Wisconsin Power and Light Company. Davis’ higher-education experience includes serving as a member of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents from 1987 to 1994, and as a former chairman of the board of trustees of Carnegie Mellon University, of which he is a life member. He presently serves as a member of the Southern Regional Education Board and the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago. He is a member of the board of directors of General Motors, BP p.l.c., and Union Pacific Corp., and serves on the National Commission on Energy Policy along with numerous professional associations and civic organizations. Davis also is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including recognition as one of Georgia Trend magazine’s “100 Most Influential Georgians” in 2007, and the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “100 Most Influential Atlantans” in 2006 and 2007.

Neville Isdell
Chairman, Board of Directors
The Coca-Cola Company

Isdell’s career with Coca-Cola began in 1966. Over the span of over three decades, the Ireland native advanced within the company, serving in several executive positions around the world, from Zambia to Germany. His international experience paired with his education in the social sciences formed his passion for corporate social responsibility, and his role at Coca-Cola allowed him to drive some of the company’s most successful CSR initiatives. His discussion will center on responsible business practices and the skills that today’s business school graduates will need to be successful global leaders now and in the future.

Gail Naughton
Dean
College of Business Administration, San Diego State University

Gail K. Naughton, Ph.D., has been the Dean of the College of Business Administration at San Diego State University since August 2002. Prior to that, she spent more than 15 years at Advanced Tissue Sciences, where she was the company’s co-founder and co-inventor of its core technology. While serving as an officer and director of the Company, Dr. Naughton established corporate development and marketing partnerships with companies, and was pivotal in raising over $350M from the public market and corporate partnerships. Dr. Naughton holds over 90 U.S. and foreign patents and has been extensively published in the field of tissue engineering. In 2000, Dr. Naughton received the 27th Annual National Inventor of the Year award by the Intellectual Property Owners Association. In this session she will discuss international collaboration and partnerships, innovative curricula, and preparing students for a global marketplace.