Planning for a career takes serious effort, and landing your dream job can be even more difficult.

Dr. Ronald L. Thompson, retired CEO and entrepreneur, and lead director of Chrysler Group LLC, will share practical advice from decades of experience at his free, public talk “Be Prepared to Succeed” 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12 in the Student Union Ingman Room at The University of Toledo.

“I have a long lifetime of experiences,” Thompson said. “I hope that in sharing them, my experiences can help others prepare for a lifetime of their own successes. Success usually isn’t something you stumble upon; opportunities present themselves and you have to be positioned and prepared to take advantage of them.”

Thompson served as CEO and chairman of the Maumee-based company Midwest Stamping, a manufacturer for the automotive market. Under his ownership, the company experienced rapid growth and became one of the largest minority-owned companies in the United States.

Audience members will have the chance to ask Thompson questions in the part of his presentation that he considers as important as his speech.

“I hope that students in particular will feel free to ask questions that are relevant to them as individuals,” he said. “There’s no substitute for a real back-and-forth dialogue.”

Thompson is hosted by Brothers on the Rise, Alpha Phi Boule, and the Association of Black Faculty and Staff.

“Many students are very interested in becoming entrepreneurs after they graduate,” said Dr. Anthony Quinn, UT associate professor of biological sciences and a faculty adviser to Brothers on the Rise. “Here’s someone who has walked the walk and made a name for himself as an entrepreneur and as a businessperson.”

Media Coverage
The Blade (Nov. 9, 2013)