North Carolina A&T State University News March 2016 NC Department of State Treasurer and Investment Firm to Host Big Ideas Conference at N.C. A&T The North Carolina Department of State Treasurer and private investment management firm Neuberger Berman will host the 2016 Big Ideas Conference at North Carolina A&T State University from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 14. The Big Ideas Conference will focus on private capital, its impact on the economy and its role in fueling today's "Big Ideas." The conference will bring together invited students from local North Carolina universities interested in business, finance and entrepreneurship, and provide the opportunity to meet peers, alumni and professionals with Big Ideas careers. North Carolina State Treasurer Janet Cowell will deliver the conference's keynote address. Following will be a series of general, breakout and panel sessions conducted by officials from the Treasurer's Office, Neuberger Berman, and general partners within the industry. Speakers will include N.C. A&T alumna and former A&T Board of Trustees member and chairwoman Patricia Zollar who is also head of NorthBound Emerging Managers, Neuberger Berman; Craig Demko, Director of Private Equity and Ronald Funderburk, Director of Credit and inflation, both of the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer. Additional speakers and panelists slated to participate include, Baily Kempner, principal, The Abraaj Group; Martin Nesbitt and Tony Miller, co-founders, The Vistria Group; Frank Baker, co-founder and managing partner and Rod Randall, executive partner, Siris; Patricia Melcher, managing partner and co-founder, EIV Capital, LLC; Ronald Blaylock, founder and managing partner, GenNx360; Sidney Locke, Sage Automotive Interiors; Joy Parr Drach, Advanced Animal Diagnostics; and Duke Energy officials. This year's event will encompass the following Big Ideas: * The Rise of the Middle Class Consumer in Emerging Markets * Learning to Adapt in Education * The Role of Technology, Moving Mobile * The Power of Renewable Energy * Changes in the Food and Agriculture Industry The conference will conclude with a career panel focused on putting big ideas to work. Students interested in participating may register online<http://www.cvent.com/events/big-ideas-conference/event-summary-d28a43e1bd6c4802b226c17beac6460f.aspx>. Space is limited. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-592-4820 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.