Wall College Connections 2010, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 9 in Wheelwright Auditorium, will feature guest speakers and panel discussions designed to give students insight into career opportunities and the professional world. Wall College Connections is a signature event sponsored annually by the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration at Coastal Carolina University.

All business classes will be redirected to the daylong, college-wide event. This year’s event is titled “Business Without Borders: Working Globally” and will focus on international perspectives in business and entrepreneurship. The presenters include alumni who have achieved distinction in international corporations and students and recent alumni who have worked and studied abroad.

Guest speaker Tom Loehr, whose address is titled “The Courage to Fly,” is executive vice president of Crosspointe, the Rolls-Royce North America manufacturing center in Virginia. A native of Conway who earned a business degree from Coastal Carolina College in 1980, Loehr joined Rolls-Royce Corporation in Indianapolis in 2000, where he served as vice president of purchasing and vice president of finance and IT before moving into his present position. In 2007, Loehr established a Rolls Royce Scholars program in partnership with Coastal Carolina University.

Guest speaker Sunny Gupta will address the topic “Thinking Globally.” Gupta is co-founder, president and CEO of Apptio Inc., an online IT management service. A 1991 CCU computer science graduate, Gupta has worked in software development in Greenville, in Atlanta and in Seattle where he built the company iConclude. American Venture Magazine named him one of the “Top 40 CEOs Under 40,” a distinguished list that recognizes the best and brightest young leaders who have a deep understanding of today's fast-changing technology market, as well as the extraordinary ability to develop new business models with a vision for the future.

The event will also include panel discussions with current students and recent alumni who have experienced working and studying internationally. Some will make their presentations in person and some will join the event via web conferencing from Australia, England and other international locations.

This program of inquiry will help students to develop an understanding of the impact of globalization on business, to cultivate a broader perspective of the world, and to gain knowledge about cultural values. The event will highlight the Wall College of Business’ study abroad and international internship initiatives, and provide practical information about how to participate in these programs.

• 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Panel discussion: “Linking Hemispheres, International Business Perspectives”

• 10 to 11 a.m. “The Courage to Fly” — Tom Loehr, Executive Vice President of Crosspointe, Rolls-Royce North America

1 to 2 p.m. “Thinking Globally” — Sunny Gupta, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Apptio Inc.

• 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Panel Discussion: “Culture of Success: Opportunities Abroad”