April 15, 2011 -- In this culture,
renowned author and commentator Chuck Colson asserts, the real crisis is not
financial -- it is ethical.
On Thursday, April 7, the ninth annual
Values-Aligned Leadership Summit (VALS), hosted by CCU's School of Business and
Leadership met in Denver, Colo. to explore the ethical realities facing the
United States today. Speakers such as Chuck Colson (Prison Fellowship and
Breakpoint), Timothy George (Dean and Professor of Divinity, Beeson School of
Divinity), and Jim Daly (Focus on the Family) addressed students and business
professionals on topics pertaining to ethics in the business world.
A
record-breaking attendance surprised and impressed students and executives
alike. "VALS 2011 was better and bigger than any of the other three I have
attended," said a student in attendance. Another said, "This was my first year
to attend and I didn't know what to expect. I was extremely impressed with the
speakers and the high level of prominence of the speakers and the executives who
attended."
As usual, executive attendees were very complimentary of
CCU students. An executive attendee said, "I look forward to VALS every year,
and I am never disappointed. I keep thinking it can't get better, but it always
does." Over 350 business and non-profit leaders and over 170 students attended,
taking part in a power-packed agenda drilling down on the theme of "Doing the
Right Thing."
"This year's team of people led by Dr. Gary Ewen, Dean
of Colorado Christian University's School of Business and Leadership, provided a
wonderful service to our students and to the business and leadership community
as a whole," commented Dr. Chuck King, founder of VALS and Dean Emeritus of
CCU's School of Business and Leadership. "Perhaps the greatest beneficiaries of
the event were the students who were able to spend the day with a wonderful
group of dedicated professionals who care about the next generation of leaders
and who are concerned about doing the right thing."
The
Values-Aligned Leadership Summit was founded by Dr. King in 2003 as an event to
allow business executives to network with the next generation of leaders.
Previous VALS conferences have focused on such themes as "Media, Values, and
Leaders" (2007), "Establishing Corporate Values" (2008), and "The Role of
Business in a Free-Market Economy" (2009).