Dear Friend of the Smith School,

This semester, many events at the Smith School provide an opportunity for business practitioners to learn and develop their skills. I would like to invite you to join us for one of our newest additions: The CEO Speaker Series at The Robert H. Smith School of Business. Blending invaluable wisdom from industry giants with an interactive atmosphere, the CEO Speaker Series offers four unique opportunities to gain insight into how top executives make decisions that not only influence their company, but entire industries. I look forward to meeting you here in the coming weeks.

Warm regards,

G. “Anand” Anandalingam
Dean, Robert H. Smith School of Business
University of Maryland

Please join the Smith School for the first speaker in this new series:

Jim Parker, Former CEO of Southwest Airlines
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 5:30 p.m.
1524 Van Munching Hall
Register Online Now!

Jim Parker is the former CEO and vice chairman of the board of directors of Southwest Airlines. During his tenure, Fortune magazine named Southwest one of the three most-admired companies in America for three years running.

After the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, other airlines were forced to cut their workforces by 20% and ground their airplanes. Southwest, however, kept 100% of its employees and even launched a profit-sharing program just days after the attacks. Parker’s lessons about keeping Southwest in the air during a period that nearly bankrupted the entire air travel industry are chronicled in his book, Do the Right Thing: How Dedicated Employees Create Loyal Customers and Large Profits.

Food will be provided, and attire is casual.

Register now for this unique opportunity to learn from the CEO that revolutionized air travel customer service and put the “friendly” in “Friendly Skies.”