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(Aug. 17, 2011) For the third year, North Georgia College & State University and The Mike Cottrell School of Business bring top executives to campus for the annual speaker series. 

Five dynamic industry leaders will share their perspective on what it takes to succeed in domestic and international markets characterized by increasing competition and complexity.

The series begins Thursday, Sept. 8 with Ms. Stuart Kronauge, recently selected to manage one of the most important positions in the Coke system -- senior vice president of Marketing, Coca-Cola Trademark Brands. She leads a team responsible for strategy, marketing and innovation for Coca-Cola, Diet Coke and Coke Zero in the U.S. market.

On Sept. 8, Ms. Kronauge will discuss "Connecting Coca-Cola, a 125-year-old icon, with today’s teens." Come hear how this dynamic business leader is managing the overall process to strengthen Coke's connection with teens by leveraging amazing stories of the brand’s past.

All sessions are free and open to the public and will be held from 12:45-1:45 p.m. in the auditorium of the Health and Natural Sciences Building on Sunset Drive.

Co-hosted by the Mike Cottrell School of Business, this year’s speakers also include:

• Thursday, Sept. 22: John Allison, distinguished professor of practice, Wake Forest University, and retired chairman and chief executive officer of BB&T Bank
• Tuesday, Oct. 4: Carla Cooper, president and chief executive officer, Daymon Worldwide.
• Thursday, Oct. 13:,  Mike Higley, managing director, U.S. International, FedEx Express
• Thursday, Oct. 20:, John Trautwein, president and chief operating officer, Source Support Services, and co-founder of The Will to Life Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives and the “Will to Live” of teenagers everywhere.

These five leaders will share their ideas for sustaining profitable growth in today’s fiercely competitive world. 

For more information about the Cottrell Speaker Series, please contact Dr. Max Burns, dean of the Mike Cottrell School of Business, at 706-864-1610 or at mburns@northgeorgia.edu.