(DANVILLE) – The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) will launch a new “Evening with an Entrepreneur” speaker series this month and will feature local business leader Rick Barker as the debut presenter. The series is designed to highlight successful entrepreneurs and their journeys in an interactive setting to support and encourage growth of entrepreneurism in Southern Virginia
“As our communities transform and grow, the entrepreneurial vein is a vital component to the process that we want to strengthen and inspire,” said Mark Gignac, executive director of IALR. “We are excited about the opportunity to host and lead this series in partnership with some of the most impressive and proven business leaders of our time. We hope anyone interested in learning about their approaches and life lessons will join us for what we plan to be enlightening events.”
The first session of the series will occur at IALR on Monday, May 20, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Barker will share remarks about the challenges, solutions and advice integral to his experience and will invite discussion in an interactive format. The evening will end with a networking reception. While the event is free, seating is limited and advance online registration is required at bit.ly/2UHvAYy.
An area native, Barker is the founder and president of Supply Resources Inc. and its affiliated companies, SRI Global, Virginia Public Warehouse and Rick Barker Properties. The flagship brand, Supply Resources, is headquartered in Danville’s River District and was founded in 2006 with Barker’s 20 years’ experience working with the nation’s largest packaging distributors. Barker enjoys developing value-added business solutions within manufacturing, distribution and retail environments. In addition to designing and selling packaging solutions, he advocates for historic preservation, and his passions include collecting art, architecture, traveling and good food.
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with advanced learning, applied research, advanced manufacturing, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville.
