The Art of Flying

Business Etiquette Seminar

By Inger McPhail

These days in College of Business, it's more than business as usual. A series of professional development seminars for business students is being hosted. The most recent of the series was the Business Etiquette Seminar on April 20 titled, "Food for Success and the Art of Flying."

An unusual title when considering business professionals; however, seminar host, Prof. James Lashley, clarified the title and the seminar's purpose. "I used the cookbook approach when putting this seminar together," said Lashley, a professor in the College of Business' Management, Marketing, and Public Administration Department. "I provided an overview of the food one needs to be successful in any endeavor, positive affirmations. The keys for my students are focus, plan and follow-up."

The College of Business' professional development series is one that the faculty and staff have planned for months. It is designed to educate and expose business students to corporate business and professionalism. "I look at this seminar and the series really, as a return on our investment in the business student. (The faculty and staff) have invested time and energy in our students and it's good to see students mature and grow into their profession," said Betty Thompson.

"This seminar is a prerequisite to the power lunches that I began holding about two years ago," said Lashley, a former senior executive with more than 30 years experience in corporate business. "The title is one where students can choose to nurture themselves of positive energy and soar high in their goals and careers."

The next seminar to be hosted by the College of Business is a fashion show on May 15. Students will learn about appropriate attire for the professional workplace.