St. Thomas Trustee Richard Schulze to Speak at First Friday Lunch Feb. 3

St. Thomas trustee Richard Schulze will discuss how to build an ethical culture in an entrepreneurial company at the University of St. Thomas Alumni Association’s First Friday Speaker Series at noon Friday, Feb. 3, at Nicollet Island Pavilion, 40 Power St., near downtown Minneapolis.

Schulze is the founder and chairman of Best Buy Co. Inc., which he started in 1983, and has served on the St. Thomas Board of Trustees since 1995. Along with John Morrison, a fellow trustee, Schulze is a co-chair of the university’s Opening Doors capital campaign.

He has served on the boards of many corporations, schools and nonprofit organizations, including St. Thomas’ School of Law Board of Governors and Opus College of Business Strategic Board of Governors. Schulze Hall on the university’s Minneapolis campus is named in his honor, as is the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship. His awards include an honorary doctor of laws degree and the John F. Cade Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the University of St. Thomas, and the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award from the National Catholic Educational Association.

In his talk, Schulze will share how the values of the founder of a small business can continue to infuse a large corporate culture at all levels, and why this is necessary in today’s business climate.

On first Fridays of each month during the academic year, the St. Thomas Alumni Association’s First Friday Speaker Series offers lunch and a speaker of current interest. St. Thomas alumni and friends, along with the general public, are invited. Cost of each luncheon and presentation is $25.

For reservations and more information, call the St. Thomas Alumni Association, (651) 962-6430, or register online. The deadline to register is Friday, Jan. 27.