Kwame Jackson, ‘Apprentice’ runner-up, to speak at SU Sept. 29

Kwame Jackson, ‘Apprentice’ runner-up, tospeak at SU Sept. 29September 28, 2004Cynthia J. Moritzcjmoritz@syr.edu

Kwame Jackson, runner-up on the first season of the NBC television program “The Apprentice,” will speak at Syracuse University Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel. His presentation is open to the public, though tickets are required; they are free with SU I.D. or $5 for the general public. Tickets are available at the Schine Student Center Box Office.

Jackson’s speech will be part of the Diversity Business Summit, which assists students in making a smooth transition into professional life. It is sponsored by SU’s Career Services Network, working with the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Office of Learning Communities, the Student Association, CIGNA and PricewaterhouseCoopers. “The Diversity Business Summit is important because it provides an opportunity for Syracuse University students from diverse populations to have direct contact with employers who value diversity in their workforces,” says Gregory Victory, assistant director of outreach and training in the Center for Career Services. “We are fortunate that we have an opportunity to bring Mr. Jackson to campus to share his insights with the Syracuse University community.”Jackson was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Charlotte, N.C. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill and an MBA from Harvard University. He was involved in several dot-com start-ups while he was in business school, and has worked for Procter & Gamble Corp. and Goldman Sachs. On the first season of “The Apprentice,” he beat out 14 people, placing second to winner Bill Rancic.

Recently, Jackson completed a multibillion-dollar real estate deal, along with two partners in Legacy Development Partners. The group will develop commercial and residential property on 550 acres in Prince George’s County, Md. Jackson says the project will employ more than 32,000 people.