Proceeds from the annual Tulane Business Forum help to fund a wide range of TABA programs.
As a new year begins, TABA and all Freeman alumni should look back proudly on what we accomplished in a difficult economy. The 31st annual Tulane Business Forum, which took place in October, was a great success in terms of both attendance and sponsorship. More than 550 people attended the luncheon keynote presentation by Tidewater CEO Dean Taylor, and we met our financial goal with just over 60 corporate sponsors. We hope to continue those positive trends as the business environment improves in 2011, and we also hope to continue to adapt our program to the business and technological times. This year for the first time audience members could ask speakers questions via Twitter, a feature many attendees responded to enthusiastically. The Tulane Business Forum is TABA’s largest source of revenue, and the funds generated from the forum enable us to sponsor a variety of programs and events during the year.
In 2010, TABA continued its efforts to build connections between current students and alumni by sponsoring the travel expenses for an undergraduate and a graduate student to attend each of the Freeman Days events. The students thoroughly appreciated the sponsorship by TABA and are more familiar with our goals and mission because of these sponsorships. TABA also continued its support of the annual orientation party at Rock ’n’ Bowl, an event which enables current students to meet and network with alumni of all ages.
TABA also provided support for a number of other school programs and initiatives. By sponsoring the Tulane Business Plan Competition as well as a team of Freeman students that participated in New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, TABA did its part to help the Freeman School retain its ranking as one of the nation’s top entrepreneurship programs. TABA also continues to reach out to other student organizations to identify ways it can help those groups raise their profiles and achieve similar success.
In closing, I wish to thank the TABA board and all our alumni for their support during my two-year tenure as president. I am proud to hand the reins over to Brandon Nelson (BSM ’01), who I am sure will continue to lead the association to great successes. One of Brandon’s top priorities will be to establish TABA chapters in select cities, an initiative that many alumni have requested as a way to meet fellow alumni and network in the cities they work and live. It has been my pleasure to serve as the president of your alumni organization, and I look forward to meeting you at a future Freeman School event.
Jerry W. Lenaz
Jerry W. Lenaz (MBA ’97)
President, TABA
For more information about any of the above initiatives or upcoming programs or events, please visit http://freeman.tulane.edu/alumni or contact me directly at jerlenaz@yahoo.com.
