11th Annual Alumni and Friends Career Speaker Series

11th Annual Alumni and Friends Career Speaker Series
10 a.m. – 11 a.m. • Various Locations:

– CLAS: Nathaniel Bittman, BUS ’00 • Connell Student Center Conference Room 1
Bridging the Curtain and the Boardroom: Exploring the Synergy of Business Administration and Theater Arts: Discover the fascinating intersection of Business Administration and Theater Arts in this engaging lecture. Learn how combining these diverse fields can unlock a world of career opportunities, from applying emotional intelligence strategies, creating influence, business management to marketing, and beyond. Explore real-life success stories and gain valuable insights into leveraging theater skills to excel in the business world. Join us in uncovering the secrets to crafting a unique and fulfilling career path that embraces your passion for both business and the arts.

– BUS: Carly Williams, BBA ’97 • Stetson 251
Carly Williams is the University Recruiting Leader at Ford Motor Company. She is responsible for the overall campus recruiting strategy, university relations, and early career programs at Ford, hiring over 1,000 intern and full-time hires per year. In her role, Carly leads efforts to attract, engage, and hire entry-level full-time professionals and interns from universities across the country. She frequently presents to students, informing them of career opportunities, host sessions on cultural dexterity, resume and interviewing workshops, and how to position themselves for success.

– EGR: Patricia Carter, BSE ’03 • Science and Engineering Building Room 110
Patricia started her career in Savannah at Gulfstream Aerospace after graduating from Mercer in 2003. After a year in the aerospace industry, Patricia moved to Memphis, TN and joined Smith & Nephew to begin her career in the medical device arena.  At Smith & Nephew, Patricia held several marketing roles focused on new product development. During this time she also received her executive MBA from Vanderbilt. In 2012, Patricia helped Smith & Nephew spinout their biologics business unit to a new stand alone company called Bioventus. At Bioventus, Patricia held several leadership roles including Sr. Product Manager, Sr. Manager of International Marketing, Director of Sales, Director of Sales Operations, and later was promoted to the Vice President of Patient Access and Reimbursement. In this role, Patricia led a team of over 100 employees who were helping patients use their healthcare insurance to cover select Bioventus medical devices. More recently, Patricia has joined Syneos Health, an organization focused on helping new technologies move from Lab to Life. In her new role in business development, Patricia will focus on supporting biotechnology companies execute their commercial and market access strategies. Patricia resides in Tampa, FL with her two daughters who are 10 and 8.

– Health Sciences: Tim Slocum, CLAS ’01 • Willet Science Center Auditorium
Timothy A. Slocum serves as a Senior Vice President of Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare and also as the President of Methodist’s flagship facility, Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. Prior to working with Methodist, Tim spent more than 16 years at Atrium Health Navicent in Macon, GA, most recently as the Vice President of System Support Services. Tim holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Mercer, as well as a Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Healthcare Administration degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt, a member of the Board of Examiners for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence, and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Tim is a graduate of New Memphis’s Leadership Development Intensive, Leadership GHA and Leadership Macon. He is an Eagle Scout and has served on a number of community boards over the years. He is the former President of the Georgia Association of Healthcare Executives and is currently serving as the Regent for Tennessee within the American College of Healthcare Executives.

College of Professional Advancement Alumni Speakers – Virtual
10 a.m.  • Virtual
Gena Byant Chalfa – Director of Student Wellbeing, Stratford Academy
Zoom link.
10:30 a.m. • Virtual
Melissa Alterio – Director, Cobb County, Department of Emergency Communications
Zoom link.