The University of Findlay's Global Economic Summit

The University of Findlay hosted leading executives from the business and automotive sectors during its Global Economic Summit Thursday, Feb. 11, at Winebrenner Theological Seminary.

Keynote speaker Roy Armes, CEO and president of Cooper Tire Co., discussed the importance bridging cultural differences to succeed in the global business economy.

"If you think you are moving into a different part of the world and expecting people to comply with American traditions, expectations and culture, I would simply say you could be in for a rude awakening," said Armes. “The idea of managing a company thousands of miles away, different time zones and in radically different cultures and core competencies and customer expectations, are areas that must be considered in growing globally."

Paul Sears, dean of the College of Business at The University of Findlay said, “It is important for students to recognize that global business presents many opportunities for career growth. Right here in our region of Ohio we have multinational companies such as Cooper Tire, Dana and Marathon Petroleum looking for individuals with an interest in international business, as well as 13 Japanese auto supplier companies that employ almost 5,000 people locally. The study of business and a foreign language can be a powerful combination for future success.”

Three additional sessions featuring a variety of panelists examined how important global business is in creating local opportunities for our region through global linkages, especially in an uncertain economic environment. The summit focused on Ohio’s automotive sector because of its importance to the local economy and the fact that it is a leading example of a global business sector.

    Topics included:

• The Global Automotive Sector’s Impact on Ohio: How linked are we to the global economy?
• Blending Cultures: What we can learn from the experiences of Japanese executives managing Ohio companies
• Blending Cultures: What we can learn from the experiences of non-Japanese executives working in Japanese-owned Ohio companies
• How Should Students be Preparing Themselves for Opportunities in the Global Business Sector?

Log onto www.findlay.edu keyword Economic Summit to view a live recording of the event. The 2010 Summit was sponsored by Findlay Publishing Co., GreaterFindlay Inc., the Hancock County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Rocket Ventures and the University.