
2024: Zach Kass
Former ChatGPT Executive, Futurist
The annual Fall Celebration Dinner brings together advisory board members, alumni, students, faculty, and staff to celebrate the college’s recent achievements and to recognize outstanding business and community leadership. The highlight of the evening is the Albrecht Lecture.
Established through an endowment gift from the late Joe Albrecht, a member of the College of Business Board of Trustees for over 33 years, the Albrecht Lecture Series brings to campus business executives, government and thought leaders, authors, and entrepreneurs for an open exchange of ideas and current issues.
Three years after visiting with our students during the event, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan wrote about her experience at the event for her Wall Street Journal column. “Kids, Don’t Become Success Robots: Tennessee Tech is an amazing school, and nobody breaks the law to get admitted” was the title of her article.
Recent lecture series speakers have included presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin; legendary sportscaster, philanthropist, and cancer survivor Dick Vitale; and former ChatGPT executive, futurist Zach Kass.
2024: Zach Kass
Former ChatGPT Executive, Futurist
2022: Dick Vitale
ESPN College Basketball Analyst
2021: Doris Kearns Goodwin
Historian and Pulitzer Prize Winning Author
2019: Bill Lee
Governor of Tennessee and Entrepreneur
2018: Archie Manning
NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback and Philanthropist
2017: Jon Meacham
Historian and Pulitzer Prize Winning Author
2016: Peggy Noonan
Presidential Speech Writer and Wall Street Journal Columnist
2016: Daymond John
Entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” Star
2015: Barbara Corcoran
Entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” Star
Peggy Noonan: “Kids, Don't Become Success Robots” (PeggyNoonan.com)
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