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Turner of Wendy’s to be first colloquia speaker of semester

By August 24, 2015Community, President
Joseph Jackson Turner Jr., CEO at First Sun Management Corporation, will be the first colloquia speaker of the semester on Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. in Jobe Auditorium.

The Delta State University Colloquia Distinguished Speakers Lecture Series kicks off the fall semester featuring a speaker with extensive experience in the restaurant world — Joseph Jackson Turner Jr., CEO at First Sun Management Corporation, a 50-store Wendy’s franchise located in the Southeast.

Turner’s speech, titled “Just the Right Amount of Ketchup…Life Lessons from an Entrepreneur,” will begin at 6 p.m. on Sept. 1 in the Jobe Auditorium on campus. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Those unable to attend the event can view the live stream speech online through the university’s official uStream channel: www.ustream.tv/channel/delta-state-university.

Delta State President William N. LaForge established the colloquia program when taking office in 2013. The platform is an ongoing series of top-flight lectures and addresses featuring prominent speakers. William F. Winter, former Mississippi governor, was honored as the first speaker in 2013.

Turner, who has been a lifelong entrepreneur, will discuss his success as the leader one of the world’s largest Wendy’s franchise businesses. In addition to serving as the First Sun Management CEO, Turner is co-founder and chairman of the business. He has been with the company since its inception in 1985.

He previously served as the executive secretary for the Clemson IPTAY Club, an athletic fundraising organization for Clemson University. In this role, Turner helped raise over $26 million for the institution. He also served as the associate director and alumni field representative for the Clemson Alumni Association.

Turner received his Bachelor’s of Science in industrial management, and Master’s of Science in management at Clemson University.

Additionally, Turner served as president and trustee for the Wendy’s International National Advertising Board of Trustees, and he is currently on the board of directors for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

LaForge said the Distinguished Speakers Lecture Series is another commitment to bringing excellence to Delta State.

“This is a university-wide program that will continue to bring a unique and diverse array of people — from judges, former government officials, lawyers and business people,” said LaForge. “These are all folks our students can look up to.”

Learn more about the series at www.deltastate.edu/president/colloquia.