After arriving in a helicopter over the soccer field, Ross Perot Jr., founder of Hillwood Development Corporation, will speak at the School of Business’ sold-out Tandy Executive Speaker Series on Tuesday morning.Perot Jr. is recognized for his high-profile development projects and has been named one of the top 10 developers in the United States by Dallas Business Journal and National Real Estate Investor.
The series is open to the community as well as students to allow for networking opportunities, said Dan Short, dean of the business school. However, the event is currently closed because reservations have already surpassed the capacity of the Kelly Alumni Center where the event will be held, said Elaine Cole, public relations manager for the business school.
Though the maximum capacity of the Kelly Alumni Center is 280, there are 309 people registered, meaning some students who registered will have to stand, Cole said.
Out of the 58 MBA students registered for the event, 22 are on the wait list, Cole said. There is a total of 82 MBA students in the School of Business. The first 50 MBA students who registered were admitted for free.
Perot Jr. has visited the School of Business and has spoken to students in the past, said Bill Moncrief, the associate dean of the School of Business.
“We’ve had a close partnership with him when we were at Alliance with our Executive MBA program,” he said.
Although the topic Perot will be speaking about is currently unknown, Short said he is looking forward to hearing him speak because of his extensive knowledge in real estate. Perot knows where to develop because he is able to foresee the economy’s future, Short said.
One such case – the Alliance Airport area, he said.
“He had a tremendous amount of foresight, to see how the economy would change as a result of China becoming the leading manufacturer and needing a distribution area like Alliance,” Short said.
Moncrief also noted Perot’s work in Alliance, and he said it’s important for students majoring in supply and value chain management to understand and learn about this particular development.
“Alliance is a major supply chain mecca, if you will, because of all the rail lines, the airports, the interstates running through it,” he said.
Companies from the area such as Frost Bank, the Fort Worth Business Press, Cockrell Printing and JP Morgan Chase have bought tables for the event, according to a press release. The Hillwood Development Corp., Perot’s company, has also purchased a table.
Other attendees include Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief and Mike Berry, president of Hillwood Properties and board member of the Neeley International Board of Visitors.
There are two more Tandy Executive Speaker breakfasts this year. David Wilson, president and CEO of Graduate Management Admission Council, will speak March 26, and Maxine Clark, founder, chief executive and chairman of Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc., will speak April 19.
