UBBSC Hosts CEO Night

The University of Bridgeport’s Business School Club held it’s first of two CEO nights this semester on Thursday September 23rd, 2004. The CEO nights have taken on a new title of The Walter Levine (another CEO who spoke at UB last semester) Lecture Series. As always the event started at about 6pm with the refreshments being served (including the much favored sushi), and around 6:15 the event officially began with a series of introductions that included the
University’s President Mr. Salonen, Mr. Walter Levine, and our guest speaker Mr. Adnan Durrani.
Mr. Durrani is a very successful man but he works hard for every bit of success that he has. He started his career on Wall Street and was very successful but lost everything in the mid-late 80’s. Shortly thereafter he founded Vermont Pure Holdings, which is the parent company of Crystal Rock Water Company and is the number two bottled water company in the northeast. Since his success in the water industry Mr. Durrani has had other businesses that became successful and he sold off to top competitors in their respected industries. He is now a partner of the Blue Chip Venture Co. and President of Condor Ventures, both of which help manage funds for small businesses in certain industries.
Mr. Durrani spoke to a group of students, both graduate and undergraduate, and faculty for about 45 minutes before turning the room over to questions. The lecture was one that all students should have attended. It was filled with little tips on how each student here at UB could be successful in not just business but everything in life. A few of the tips given were that to be successful you should be enthusiastic, motivated, disciplined, dedicated, and devoted. Also, since Mr. Durrani is from Pakistan, it would have given so many
of the international students hope that you can come to America with nothing and live the true American dream. The next lecture in the series is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday October 20th, 2004. Be wise, come learn from others successes and see how you too can live that American Dream.