January 28, 2008

LIVINGSTON, Ala.--With the newly created James Suttles Entrepreneurship Institute, The University of West Alabama’s College of Business will provide Black Belt residents with the knowledge and skills to launch new endeavors, while retaining and expanding existing small businesses in the region. The Institute is made possible by a $350,000 gift to “The University We Will Be” campaign from James Suttles of Demopolis, founder and president of Suttles Truck Leasing, Inc.
 

Suttles, whose wife Maria and daughter Natasha are both UWA graduates, cites the University for producing quality graduates who succeed in the workforce.
 

“The University has provided my business with many good employees from the College of Business, and of course it helps our business when we hire good people,” Suttles said.
 

The South Carolina native moved to Marengo County in 1979, starting his company and making his home in the area. As a businessman, he says the entrepreneurship project interests him because of the need for opportunities in the long underserved Black Belt region.
 

“UWA has a great impact in the Black Belt area by training students who may not otherwise be able to afford a college education at some larger universities. I know from experience that UWA does a good job, especially in the College of Business.”
 

According to Dr. Ken Tucker, dean of the College of Business, this institute will positively affect the overall economic and community development efforts in the region.
 

“We are very grateful to Mr. Suttles for his generous gift because we believe the entrepreneurship institute will help create and retain jobs in this economically depressed region and help keep more of our best graduates in the area,” Tucker said.
 

The Institute will provide hands-on learning opportunities for UWA students and community residents through a series of entrepreneurial workshops and seminars offered during the academic year and in the summer. With a College of Business faculty member serving as director, the Institute will bring to campus small business experts from across the nation to conduct the seminars.
 

“The Institute will offer comprehensive training, with typical seminar topics including small business start-up activities, business and strategic planning, marketing, accounting systems and principles, human resources, financial management, grant writing, tax planning and preparation, legal issues and general management concepts,” Tucker said.
 

This institute will no doubt strengthen the connection between University professors and real-world practitioners and UWA students and the business community. In addition, the establishment of the Institute will also allow UWA business management students to earn their degree on the entrepreneurship track.
 

The James Suttles Entrepreneurship Institute will be formally dedicated with a ceremony in April.
 

"The University We Will Be" campaign is an ongoing initiative to raise $15 million in gifts and pledges by 2011 for The University of West Alabama. These funds will improve campus facilities, provide additional scholarships, enhance the campus learning environment, support the faculty and fund community outreach projects. For more information about contributing to the campaign, call 205-652-3867.