I just arrived in Philadelphia. I'm here tonight and then head to NYC tomorrow evening. Before I write about this trip though, I thought I'd better update everyone on what we've been doing this month.
Last week, alumni from across the country convened for the Law School’s Business Advisory Council meetings. The council is an alumni group designed to foster and
encourage interaction between the school and alumni who have left the practice of law for opportunities in the business sector.
This year’s program was the Entrepreneurial Boot Camp and featured three panels:
“Turning Ideas into Value: The Entrepreneur’s View,”moderated by Fred Hutchison ’75
“Investors and Bankers: Getting to Market,”moderated by Mike Lincoln ’91
"The Law & Business Program," moderated by me
I had the privilege of organizing this year's BAC, and the best part of that process was meeting and interacting with the alumni who participated (both as panelists and as attendees).
Panelists included: Matt O'Connell '79 (CEO and President of GeoEye, NASDAQ: GEOY); John Muleta '93 (founder and CEO of M2Z Networks and former Chief of FCC's Wireless Bureau); Mary Porter '94 (founder and CEO of Curiosity Zone and Loudon County 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year); Chuck Cory '82 (Chairman of Global Technology Banking, Morgan Stanley); Dick Crawford '75 (Chairman, Virginia Investment Capital Group and Managing Director, Virginia Active Angel Network); Peter Hursh '77 (Managing Director, ECG Advisors, Inc.) and Jack Esterhay '06 (Associate, McKinsey & Company).
I don't have enough room to reference everyone who attended, but suffice it to say it was quite an impressive group.
A welcome dinner and keynote address by the University's new provost, Dr. Arthur Garson, kicked off the program, Oct. 11. We've been fortunate in the past to have the opportunity to acquaint BAC members with important University citizens--and Dr. Garson is no exception.
The program concluded with the beginning of our annual Alumni Volunteers weekend. 
Volunteers Weekend is designed to thank and celebrate our annual giving volunteers and their success last fiscal year (remember the end of the fiscal year blogs when we were fighting for 50% participation?). Hopefully, the weekend also revs up volunteers for this year's annual giving campaign.
The weekend features a celebratory dinner, breakfast, lunch, a football game, and a speech or two from the Dean and the National Appeals Chair. We are constantly and actively recruiting volunteers across the U.S. and at all firms. If you're interested, let me know.
I'm off to the Class of '83 event in Philadelphia.
By the way, how 'bout them Hoos?
I take back everything I thought (but didn't write) in my last blog entry. Mikell Simpson is the man!
