On Thursday, April 2, Ken Ray, vice president and chief marketing officer for AT and T Advertising Solutions will give the keynote address about "Optimizing Customer Acquisition in a World of Media Fragmentation" at the first VT KnowledgeWorks Entrepreneurship Summit at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center.

After joining AT&T/BellSouth’s strategy organization in 1994, Ray moved through a series of operational assignments where he led teams of up to 4,000 people. Currently, Ray leads and serves in one of AT&T’s four major business units, Advertising Solutions, which has $5 billion annual revenues.

The summit will run from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., including Ray’s presentation at 12:30 p.m. in Latham Ballroom at The Inn at Virginia Tech during lunch. This comprehensive workshop is custom designed for prospective company founders and entrepreneurs launching or re-vamping a business, and growing companies seeking expansion capital.

The schedule of events includes “The Basics of Successful Entrepreneurship Workshop” led by Jim Flowers, director of VT KnowledgeWorks, and author of MOXIE and other fundamental entrepreneurial concepts from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. A Student Business Concept competition will follow, as well as The Charlottesville (Va.) Venture Group’s signature event, LiveFire!™ at 1:30 p.m., which brings companies in need of funding together with angel investors in real-life screening sessions.

Attendees are encouraged to register online by Thursday, March 19. Thanks to the sponsorship of LeClairRyan, the fee for this full day event including the workshops, competitions, luncheon, and reception is only $50 and $25 for students.

Also, visit VT KnowledgeWorks online to learn how businesses can advertise in the program booklet. Contact Lindsey Eversole for advertising details at (540) 443-9100.

VT KnowledgeWorks is a unique growth enhancement program open to entrepreneurs in the New River Valley and beyond. Acceleration center and incubation facilities are located in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, Va. Programs for members are divided into two categories according to the evolutionary status of the member company. Pre-Launch Program components are carefully constructed to help market-worthy ventures organize, formulate strategy, obtain outside investment, and launch in an efficient manner. Enterprise class members benefit from emphasis on strategic support for ongoing growth, continuing intra-preneurship, and professional development for the corporate leader.

VT KnowledgeWorks sponsors include Attaain Inc., BB&T, Handshake 2.0, Harris Office Furniture, Hodges, Jones & Mabry P.C., Latimer, Mayberry & Matthews IP Law, LeClairRyan, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and The Becher Agency (TBA).

Written by Jim Flowers. For more summit-related information contact Flowers at (540) 443-9100.

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