Industry leaders and an MTSU faculty member brought their wit, wisdom and knowledge to the table during the annual Omicron Delta Kappa True Blue Leadership Day.

The daylong event, held April 15 in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building, brings noted professionals from a variety of professions to share their leadership experiences with MTSU students and faculty.

The ODK True Blue Leadership Day highlights the core values of the “True Blue Pledge” by educating participants about multiple aspects of leadership.

Guest speakers included:

• Tara MacDougall, CEO of the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring.
• Ryan Hirsch, operations manager of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy’s Center for the Public Trust.
• D.J. Smith, marketing director with Just Love Coffee, and Kevin Baugherle, director of sales for Gigi’s Cupcakes.
• Dr. Jeremy Sather, assistant professor of Japanese in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.
• Bob King, founder and CEO of Cavalry Logistics LLC.

Senior Nausheen Qureshi, who will graduate in May with a degree in nutrition and food science, said she felt MacDougall “gave a very detailed, strategic way to reach the leadership plan we all strive to achieve.”

“I liked how she gave practical tips of what to do with networking, examples of organizations to join and an idea of what’s happening in the community,” Qureshi added.

Sophomore biochemistry major Akmal Ishmetov and junior business management major Jordan Welborn were part of the group listening to Smith and Baugherle, whose companies are co-branding.

Ishmetov, who is from Moscow, Russia, learned a great deal — “how to do everything, have a goal, pursue it, don’t stop and learn how to take failure and move on,” he said.

Welborn, who is from Murfreesboro, requested and received business cards from both men.

“I’m just exploring a lot of different of options and making as many connections as I can,” she said. “I really enjoyed their stories, background and what they do with adoption.”

Just Love Coffee founder Rob Webb and his wife, Emily, adopted two daughters from Ethiopia. He felt led to support other adoptive families, which led to Just Love Coffee Roasters. To date, more than $500,000 has been provided to adoptive families, mission-minded groups and nonprofits trying to make a positive impact on the world.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

Tara MacDougall, CEO of the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, addresses the audience April 15 during the annual Omicron Delta Kappa True Blue Leadership Day in the amphitheater of the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Kevin Baugherle, left, sales manager for Gigi’s Cupcakes, discusses the growth of the business. He and D.J. Smith, marketing director for Just Love Coffee, shared a segment together during the April 15 ODK True Blue Leadership Day in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building amphitheater. (MTSU photo by Marsha Powers)

Discovery Center at Murfree Spring CEO Tara MacDougall discusses strategic goals to accomplish April 15 during the annual Omicron Delta Kappa True Blue Leadership Day in the amphitheater of the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)