Leading with integrity focus of Business Week

     Campbell University’s “Business Week,” an event sponsored by RBC Centura Bank, put the emphasis on business ethics and how leading with integrity, the theme of the week, makes the corporate world a less threatening, more humane place to work. Held Feb. 6-9, the event was a learning experience for students enrolled in Campbell’s Lundy-Fetterman School of Business. It introduced them to business leaders and potential ethical issues that could come up in their professional careers.
     “Throughout the week through discussion and other events, our students were investigating how leading with integrity makes a difference in this world,” said Dr. Ben Hawkins, dean of the business school. “Our goal as business professionals is not only to succeed, but to succeed honorably.”
     Beginning the week was a Roundtable Ethics Dinner with business representatives McNeil Chestnut, special deputy attorney general for the North Carolina Department of Justice, Beth Stancil, financial consultant for First Citizens Bank Investment Services, Jim Brown, director of Public and Institutional Banking at RBC Centura, and many others. The topic of the roundtable discussion involved a real case study in which BASF, one of the world’s leading chemical companies, was considering constructing a factory in Beaufort County, S.C. The unemployed local population thought it was a good idea, but the more prosperous residents, those on Hilton Head Island, resisted the idea, citing potential pollution problems. The students were asked to consider all of the stakeholders and the ethics of the situation.
     On Tuesday, outstanding business leaders Oscar Harris, senior partner of Oscar Harris and Associates, P.A., C.P.A.; Brown; Brad Newkirk, a CPA with Dixon Hughes; Don and Evon Morrison, owners of Ridoc, Inc.; Fred Taylor II, president of Troy Lumber Company; and Paul Clark, senior vice president of Wachovia Bank, held a panel discussion.
     On Wednesday, General Robert Dickerson, commanding general of the Marine Corps Installation East at Camp Lejeune, addressed the spring business convocation. Dickerson spoke on the qualities of a good leader.
     “You have to be less concerned with the bottom line and more concerned with people,” said Dickerson. “Be involved with the people you work with, know each other and care about each other. You have to be willing to make the same sacrifices they’re willing to make.”
     Campbell graduate, Charles Frederick, regional president of Personal and Business Banking for RBC Centura Western North Carolina, presented a check in the amount of $9,500 to the business school in support of Business Week.
     On Thursday, both students and faculty decompressed at the Scholar’s Wallow, an event featuring games like Sumo wrestling, jousting and Jeopardy. Student organizations and student leaders were also recognized.
     “The School of Business would like to thank everyone involved in making Business Week a success, especially RBC Centura Bank for their support and participation and the members of Phi Beta Lambda honor society,” said Hawkins.
     Phi Beta Lambda members who assisted with Business Week are Benjamin Bullock, Ashley Culler, David Edwards, Rob Fox, Laura Hunt, David Mull, Tiffany Stewart, Thuy Tran and Hannah Wilson.


Photo Copy #2: Dr. Ben Hawkins, dean of the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business takes a fall as a Sumo wrestler, part of the RBC Centura Bank Business Week activities at Campbell University.