NSU to Provide Business Students with Mentoring Opportunities from Leaders in the Business Community

Students to Meet on Campus with Esteemed Executives & Entrepreneurs

FORT LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – There have been countless studies that show that for many students their academic performance is better when a mentor is involved. Having that one-on-one interaction allows students to bolster what they are learning in the classroom as well as learning “real-world” lessons from those in whose footsteps they hope to follow.

Following that model, Nova Southeastern University is proud to announce a new program – the Executives and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EEiR) program. This program, designed for students in NSU’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship, will provide students with opportunities to engage with accomplished executives and entrepreneurs from the business community.

“We are really excited to see this program come to fruition,” said J. Preston Jones, D.B.A., dean of the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship. “Classroom lessons are vital to all students, but the chance to meet with successful business leaders is priceless – it helps raise our program to a new level.”

Participants of the EEiR program will visit NSU’s Huizenga Business School on its main campus throughout the academic year attending prescheduled meetings and events with students. With their wealth of knowledge and experience, executives and entrepreneurs will inspire and influence Huizenga School undergraduate and graduate students as they prepare for their future business careers. They will provide one-on-one career advising, mentoring, meet with clubs, and visit classroom sessions.

“I am pleased to be involved with the Executives and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence Program at the Huizenga School,” said Mr. Steve Halmos, CEO of Halmos Holdings.  “I believe a program of this type should be available to students at all business schools today.  In addition to gaining a theoretical understanding of business from classroom instruction, students should have opportunities to interact and learn from people who have actually created a business and have experienced the kinds of things being discussed in the classroom.  I look forward to participating in this program and helping the Huizenga School prepare the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

Any business leaders who are interested in participating in the program are urged to call NSU at 954-672-7223, ext. 25159.

The Executives and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence Program was created to provide unique learning opportunities for NSU’s business school students. With a commitment and focus on students, the program supports NSU’s Mission and Core Values. In addition, the EEiR program demonstrates the Huizenga School’s desire to provide tomorrow’s business leaders with educational opportunities beyond the formal curriculum and classroom setting.

The inaugural group of business mentors includes:

• Napoleon Brandford III, CoFounder/Chairman, Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., LLC
• Dr. Connie Ast Caldwell, Sr. Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Ft. Lauderdale
• Grant Cardone, International Sales Master/Entrepreneur/Author, Cardone Enterprises
• Nicholas Castaldo, Senior VP/Chief Marketing Officer/Equity Partner, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza
• D. Keith Cobb, Independent Business Consultant/Strategic Advisor
• Dr. John DiBenedetto, recently retired Executive VP/Chief People Officer, General Parts International, Inc.
• Louise   Dill, Independent Management Consultant/Strategic Sales & Marketing
• Steve   Haley, President/CEO, Aplicor, Inc.
• Steve   Halmos, CEO, Halmos Holdings, Inc.
• David   Hoyte, President/Managing Member, Transformation Management, LLC
• Dale Ledbetter, President/CEO, Ledbetter Enterprises, Inc.; Ledbetter & Associates, P.A.
• Merri Grace McLeroy, Owner, Chief Strategist & Director, Integrated Marketing Strategies, LLC
• John E. Oxendine, Chairman, President/CEO, Blackstar, LLC & Blackstar LP
• Tim   Petrillo, CoFounder/President, The Restaurant People, Inc.
• Bruce   Scott, President/CEO, Scott Alarm

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About Nova Southeastern University: Situated on 314 beautiful acres in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at all levels.  NSU is an independent, not-for-profit institution with 26,000 students at campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach and Tampa, Florida as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico. NSU awards associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, doctoral and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields. NSU is classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and it is one of only 37 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification. For more information, please visit www.nova.edu. Celebrating 50 years of academic excellence!