J. C. Watts to headline Tandy Executive Speaker Series April 23

Fort Worth, TX

4/14/2008

J.C. Watts, successful business leader, former congressman, CNN political analyst, frequent news show guest, noted author and former star quarterback for OU, will be the featured speaker at the Tandy Executive Speaker Series on Wednesday, April 23, hosted by the Neeley School of Business at TCU.

The breakfast event takes place 7:30 - 9 a.m. at the Dee J. Kelly Alumni & Visitors Center, 2820 Stadium Drive, on the TCU campus. Open-seating tickets are $20 each. Reserved tables for eight are $250. Register to www.tess.tcu.edu by April 18.

For eight years, beginning in 1994, Watts represented Oklahoma in the U.S. Congress. In 1998, he was elected chairman of the Republican Conference, the fourth-ranking leadership position in the majority party in the U.S. House of Representatives. He served on the House Armed Services Committee; authored legislation to create, and then served on, the House Select Committee on Homeland Security; and served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as the House Banking Committee. He co-authored the American Community Renewal and New Markets Act, which President Clinton signed into law in 2000, and he authored President Bush’s faith-based initiative, the Community Solutions Act of 2001.

He is chairman of J.C. Watts Companies, a multi-industry holding company headquartered in Washington, DC, with operations in Texas, Oklahoma and South Korea. The organization includes the first African-American owned John Deere dealerships in America; CLS Group, a project management firm with construction and engineering operations; Oak Crest Capital, a private equity firm; and Watts Consulting Group (WCG), a public affairs consulting company.

As chairman of WCG, Watts works with clients to implement business development, communications and public affairs strategies. WCG has successfully worked on major civil rights issues at the federal and state level, including efforts to protect affirmative action, ensure voting rights, and alleviate global poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa and elsewhere.

Watts advises or serves as a corporate director for several major companies, including John Deere, Wells Fargo, NASCAR, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Clear Channel Communications, Dillard’s Department Stores and Terex Corporation.

Watts earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma, where he was quarterback for the Sooners, leading them to two consecutive Big Eight Championships and Orange Bowl victories. He was voted Most Valuable Player in 1980 and 1981.