10/19/01

BROWN TO BE VISITING EXECUTIVE IN AUBURN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

AUBURN -- Willis J. Brown, vice president of marketing for Wamar International Inc., in Simi Valley, Calif., will be the Lowder Visiting Executive-in Residence in the Auburn University College of Business on Monday and Tuesday.

A native of Tuskegee, Brown received his undergraduate degree in business administration from Auburn in 1974. Following his graduation from AU, Brown served in the Army from 1974 until 1981. While on active duty he completed an MBA at the University of Puget Sound.

Brown has been involved in international business development since 1987. Before joining Wamar International Inc., he was president of Hughes Middle East Ltd., where he was responsible for the business development and program management of all Hughes Electronics activities in the Middle East. He also spent 10 years with the McDonnell Douglas Corp., in a variety of assignments including marketing, program management and strategic planning.

First day events in the College of Business on Monday include speaking to students in consumer behavior, principles of marketing, and sales management courses. Brown will also participate in a roundtable discussion with graduate students and faculty at 3 p.m.

On Tuesday, business faculty, staff and students will host a reception in his honor at 9 a.m. Brown also has meetings scheduled with John Jahera, interim dean of the college.

The Robert and Charlotte Lowder Visiting Executive-in-Residence Program provides students and faculty with an opportunity to interact with prominent executives for an open exchange of views on current issues.

Through this vital program, executives are brought into the classroom to offer students first-hand information about the complexities of the business world, while giving them the inspiration they need to seek new ways to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

The program is made possible through an endowment by Robert and Charlotte Lowder of Montgomery, Ala. Lowder is a 1964 graduate of the College of Business and CEO of Colonial BancGroup. A longtime supporter of AU, he currently serves on the university's Board of Trustees.

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CONTACT: Dianne Townsend, 334/844-2342