Business Speaker Series Presents Excellence After Education

If you want to know “How to succeed with your degree” come on Thursday, April 14th, Mindy Benson, Rex McArthur, Kourtney Millard and Roger Olcott will be presenting in the State Bank of Southern Utah Business Executive Speaker Series on “Excellence After Education.” They will present in the Starlight Room of the Sharwan Smith Student Center on the Southern Utah University campus at 11:30 AM. Each speaker will have different topics that relate on how to succeed with your degree, and what you can do after you graduate.

Mindy Benson is currently the Vice President of Alumni and Community Relations at SUU, where she oversees community outreach within her area, Alumni relations, and major events on campus. Mindy runs large scale national events including touring concerts, corporate and private events for LogiCom. She also teaches an Event Management course here on campus.

Rex McArthur earned his Bachelor’s Degree in December of 2008 from SUU. Pursuant to graduating, Rex assisted in the opening of The Wingate by Wyndham hotel in St George, Utah. There he served as the Assistant General Manager and Director of Sales for over two years. Rex then moved to The Venetian | Palazzo in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2010 where he gained notoriety for merging IHG’s 4500 hotels worldwide with the largest Resort, Hotel, Casino in the world, The Venetian | Palazzo. After this, Rex returned to Cedar City with his family as the General Manager of the new La Quinta Inn & Suites Del Sol.

Kourtney Millard graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree from SUU in Hotel, Resort, and Hospitality Management. While attending SUU, Kourtney was the Recreation Manager for Zion Ponderosa Resort where she increased revenue by over 85% and decreased turnover by 50%. Recently, she has taken over the Food and Beverage Department and has increased revenues by 250%. She is currently overseeing the renovation of the restaurant and the opening of a new restaurant onsite.

Roger Olcott is the husband of Arlene Olcott, a 6th grade teacher at Canyon View Middle School and the proud father of four children, two of whom will be graduating this spring from SUU. He is a proud Alumnus of SUU, graduating with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. He has owned and operated a Farmers Insurance office in Cedar City for 26 years. He currently sits on the Foundation Board at Cedar City Hospital and plays with the local country/classic rock band “Muddyboots”.