The weeklong schedule of events provides an opportunity for SEMO students to learn firsthand from industry leaders in both the business and creative communities. Invited professionals will share the importance of collaboration among disciplines to achieve optimal results.

SEMO Synergies culminates on Thursday, April 7 for SEMO Synergies Day with a conference featuring Steve Robinson, former Chick-fil-A executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

The event is free for Southeast students and $25 for community professionals, faculty and staff and includes lunch and a copy of Robinson’s book, “Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A.” Seating is limited and registration is required. Register online by April 4 at semo.edu/synergies.

The conference will also feature a panel discussion, “Synergy in Action: Creating value, building stronger customer relationships, enriching culture, and growing your bottom line.”

The panel will be moderated by Southeast’s Dr. Edward Crowley, Southeast assistant professor of entrepreneurship. 

The complete SEMO Synergies Week schedule includes:

Sunday, April 3

• 3 pm: “Rivers Empyrean” Concert – Fifth House Ensemble from Chicago
  Robert F. and Gertrude L. Shuck Music Recital Hall – River Campus
  Complimentary community event
  Praised by the New York Times for its “conviction, authority, and finesse,” the Chicago-based Fifth House Ensemble goes beyond the traditionally perceived limits of classical music.

Monday, April 4

• 8:30 a.m.: Fifth House Ensemble Masterclass: Putting Your Audience Center Stage^*
  Room 201 – River Campus Seminary Building
• 11:30 a.m.: Fifth House Ensemble Masterclass: Intro to Deep Listening^*
  Room 120 – Kenneth and Jeanine Dobbins River Campus Center
  Complimentary educational events for Southeast students

Wednesday, April 6

• 6:30 p.m.: Maya Angelou's “Georgia, Georgia” Film Discussion Event with Dirk Benedict
  Forrest H. Rose Theatre
  Complimentary event for Southeast students, faculty, staff and community members
  “Georgia, Georgia” is a 1972 independent film written by Maya Angelou. It is the first original feature film screenplay solely credited to an African American woman. Dirk Benedict is a movie, television and stage actor best known for his iconic roles in “Battlestar Galactica” and “The A-Team.” Benedict will share his experiences of making the movie that launched his career, working with Angelou, and his reflections on his time in the industry.

Thursday, April 7: SEMO Synergies Day
Southeast University Center Ballroom
$25 each (complimentary for Southeast students – registration required)
Includes lunch and signed copy of “Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A”

• 9 a.m.: Registration
• 9:30 a.m.: Introductory Remarks
• 10 a.m.: Roundtable Discussion
  Synergy in Action: Create value, build stronger customer relationships, enrich culture, and grow your bottom line
  • Moderator: Dr. Edward Crowley, assistant professor – entrepreneurship
  • Panel includes:
    • Steve Robinson – Former chief marketing officer, Chick-fil-A
    • Jim Riley – Founder and chief operating officer, Red Letter Communications
    • Joe David Blakemore – President, Blakemore Cotton & Grain
    • Carisa Stark McGuire – Owner, Mary Jane bourbon + smokehouse
    • Katrina Amos – Manager, Cape Girardeau Regional Airport
• 11:30 a.m.: Luncheon; 2022 Best of Show and Mosaic Awards
  Presents by American Advertising Federation of Southeast Missouri
• 1 p.m.: Keynote Presentation and Q&A – “How Faith, Cows and Chicken Built an Iconic Brand” with Steve Robinson, former executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Chick-fil-A
  • During his 34-year tenure at Chick-fil-A, Robinson was integrally involved in the company’s growth — from 184 stores and $100 million in annual sales in 1981 to more than 2,100 stores and more than $6.8 billion in annual sales in 2015 — and was a firsthand witness to its evolution as an indelible global brand. In “Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A,” Robinson shares behind-the-scenes accounts of key moments, including the creation of the Chick-fil-A corporate purpose and the formation and management of the now-iconic "Eat Mor Chikin" cow campaign.
  • Robinson served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer from 1981 to 2015. He now serves as a consultant and speaks to organizations and businesses about leadership development and brand strategy.
• 2:15 p.m.: Book Signing and Networking

SEMO Synergies Week is presented by Red Letter Communications Experiential Learning Fund, in partnership with Spectrum Reach. Special thanks to Blakemore Family Business Initiative; Southeast’s Department of Management, Department of Mass Media, Harrison College of Business and Computing and the Holland College of Arts and Media; the Performing Arts Thrive Here (PATH) Residency; the Southeast Missouri University Foundation; and Southeast’s Office of Career Services.