Area business and civic leaders, government employees and executives at nonprofit organizations are invited to an upcoming seminar to learn how to apply the successful principles of a multinational business to their organizations.

The Oct. 6 seminar, “Unleashing the Entrepreneurial Potential of Your Organization,” is co-sponsored by the University of Houston-Victoria School of Business Administration and INVISTA. Business owners and managers, civic leaders, executive directors and board members of nonprofit organizations, and representatives from government entities will learn more about the concepts of Market-Based Management®.

The seminar will be in the Multi-Purpose Room of the UHV University Center, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St. Registration and breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by the seminar from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A reception will be from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Breakfast, the reception, lunch and seminar materials are included with the $75 registration fee.

Tony Woodlief

Tony Woodlief, former president of the MBM® Institute, will teach the seminar. MBM® is a framework for applying the principles that generate entrepreneurial initiative and prosperity in free societies. Participants will learn how to apply MBM® elements inside their organizations, whether they work at a business, nonprofit or governmental entity. The seminar will combine engaging lectures, case studies and exercises to illustrate the MBM® concepts.

Woodlief has worked extensively with the MBM® Team at Koch Industries and its subsidiaries, including INVISTA, and is a frequent contributor to The Wall Street Journal and other publications. He is president of the Bill of Rights Institute, an organization dedicated to teaching young people the words and ideas of America’s founders. He also is the former president of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, a center for economic research.

“We know that prosperous societies allow for entrepreneurial innovation that leads to wealth, health and happiness,” Woodlief said. “It’s only common sense that we should try to imitate those rules in the companies for which we work rather than apply the failed rules of dictatorial regimes.”

MBM® is the management philosophy of the Koch Industries family of companies. It is based on concepts that include vision, virtue and talents, decision rights, incentives and knowledge processes.

“We are very pleased to partner with the University of Houston-Victoria School of Business Administration in hosting this one-day seminar,” said Steve Harvill, site manager of INVISTA Victoria. “We continue to implement the principles and tools of Market-Based Management® inside of INVISTA, and are hopeful that other businesses, nonprofits and government will find the philosophies as valuable as we have.”

Harvill said the MBM® concepts can help any type of organization because they focus on using resources wisely to create value in a community.

“We believe that the ideas conveyed will help all of the organizations represented increase their chances for success,” he said. “It is a privilege for us to work with UHV to advance the concepts of MBM® in the community.”

UHV President Philip Castille said he welcomes leaders of area organizations to get a view into one successful company’s practices.

“It is important for our students and leaders in the Victoria community to be exposed to the big ideas that are circulating in the business world,” said UHV President Philip Castille. “We are excited to co-host this seminar with INVISTA and share a small part of their success with leaders of other enterprises.”

Limited seating for the workshop is available, and interested participants should register by Sept. 26.

For more information or to reserve a seat, contact the UHV Office of University Advancement at 361-570-4306 or mundya@uhv.edu. Online registration is available by going to www.uhvconnect.org/event/Oct62011.

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