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Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding Addresses Graduate Students at Lowry Mays College of Business

Release Date: September 28, 2007

For Immediate Release
Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding
Contact: Gayla Keller, 202-572-8853

(College Station, TX) -- Today, Donald E. Powell, federal coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, participated in a "Day with a Business Leader" at Lowry Mays College of Business at Texas A&M University. Addressing a mass of MBA students, Chairman Powell highlighted the critical role the business community plays in the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast, and stressed the importance of fiscal responsibility and ethical practices to the future business leaders in the audience.

"You represent the future of America’s business leaders who have a duty to participate in their communities," Powell said. "Don’t just get up and go to work – care about the communities where you live and invest your energy and knowledge into making them the best they can be."

As a life-long Texan, former chairman of the Board of Regents of the Texas A&M University System, and current advisory board member of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service, Chairman Powell’s ties to the university are strong. He engaged both graduate and undergraduate students in a variety of forums throughout the day in an effort to encourage them to consider applying their talents to both the business sector and public service.

"There’s more to life than making money," said Powell. "Public service is a duty, and part of the privilege of living in America is serving others."

Former FDIC chairman, and president and CEO of The First National Bank of Amarillo, Powell continues to provide federal leadership and oversight in the areas of hurricane protection, housing, health care, education and economic development. He stressed the need for tough leaders who remain steady in the face of criticism and who can build consensus in the face of impassable divides.

For the last twenty-two months, the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding has been engaged in facilitating and streamlining various components of the recovery effort, providing key federal support and resources to local leaders, and reinforcing the federal government's commitment to the people of the Gulf Coast.

www.dhs.gov/gulfcoastrebuild

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This page was last modified on September 28, 2007