September 01, 2011
Saluki CEO Corps Kick-Off dinner set for Sept. 7
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- If you are a Southern Illinois University Carbondale student with an interest in business or entrepreneurship, an upcoming event presents an opportunity for you to learn about the Saluki CEO Corps.
All undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to attend the bi-annual Saluki CEO Corps Kick-Off dinner set for 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7, in the atrium of the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center at 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road in Carbondale. The evening will include a free dinner featuring Fazoli’s fare and Dippin’ Dots ice cream.
The dessert is a perfect lead-in to the evening’s guest speaker, Curt Jones. Jones is an SIUC alumnus and the founder and president of Dippin’ Dots, Inc. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1981 and his master’s in 1986, both in microbiology at SIUC. A native of the Grand Chain area, he was researching commercial freezing and preservation techniques in 1987 when he used liquid nitrogen in a quick-freeze process to create the ice cream sensation he dubbed Dippin’ Dots. You can find the product around the world these days.
Media Advisory
Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the presentation by Curt Jones, SIUC alumnus, businessman and founder and president of Dippin’ Dots, Inc., on Wednesday, Sept. 7. He will speak about 5:30 p.m. in the atrium of the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center at 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road in Carbondale. For more information, call 618/453-7559.
An inventor, entrepreneur and microbiologist, Jones has earned numerous business and entrepreneurship awards and his company employs about 170. In addition, he has a number of other business interests including a partnership in a paperless medical records systems business, an interest in an entertainment company, and he is managing director of a company that develops processes to enhance ethanol and bio-diesel fuel industry production.
Jones will also meet with those attending the dinner and answer questions.
Students planning to attend should RSVP by emailing salukiceo@cba.siu.edu by Monday, Sept. 5. The College of Business and the Illinois Small Business Development Center are sponsors for the event.
Saluki CEO Corps provides students with the chance to acquire hands-on business experience while still attending college. The motto of the group is “Learn One, Do One, Start One” and participants get opportunities to enhance their business and communication skills via presentations, meetings, activities and competitions. The College of Business and the Small Business Development Center sponsor the Saluki CEO Corps.
For more information, contact Jenni Janssen, faculty adviser for the group, at 618/453-7559 or email salukiceo@cba.siu.edu.