Steve Forbes is coming to Auburn Friday, March 21, bringing with him decades of international business and political wisdom.
The editor-in-chief of Forbes, former Republican presidential nominee and icon of finance is the featured keynote speaker at the second annual Auburn Conservatives For Tomorrow's Spring Conference.
"Our focus was to bring in somebody who could deliver a good speech on growing the economy locally here in Auburn and within our state," said Cody Garton, junior in political science and president of the ACFT. "We couldn't find anyone better than Mr. Forbes to do that."
Garton said the $40 million donation to the Lowder college of business in the summer of 2013 provided the inspiration to bring a fiscally-oriented guest speaker to Auburn and capitalize on the new resources available.
"I'm not a business major, but I feel like if you are that would definitely be something that should interest you," said Brock Daughtry, senior in biosystems engineering. "I would probably go if I didn't have something else to do."
The ACFT spent more than eight months working to bring Forbes, starting almost immediately after last year's event featuring Ann Coulter, Garton said.
Forbes agreed to come to Auburn for $30,000, a $10,000 increase over Coulter's asking price, though the total budget for the event after donations and sponsorships totaled $70,000, Garton said.
The event is free to students, but $30 otherwise to hear Forbes' speech and $150 for a seat at the VIP dinner featuring Forbes and local businesspeople from around the southeast.
Being a "ticket buyer" means you're actually helping support the event, Garton said.
Funding culled from local businesses, such as John Rice Realty, helped the ACFT with items like food and door prizes for the VIP dinner beforehand with notable public figures and businesspeople.
"We have elected officials from both sides of the aisle coming," Garton said "We have big business leaders from both the Auburn community and around the state and region that will be in attendance in addition to various media outlets. It's an opportunity not only for you to take part in the event yourself but at the same time kind of contribute more toward the event."
When asked if she would be attending, Anna Thompson, senior in business, she said would probably not be interested in attending the speaker event.
"Not really," Thompson said. "I am a business major, I just don't do guest speakers."
Ticket buyers are coming to Auburn from as far away as Miami and Houston, Garton said, but not everyone is as enamored with Forbes.
"If it was Warren Buffet, I might listen to what he has to say," said Christopher Booth, 2012 graduate in philosophy. "He didn't really make his fortune in a way that I care about. At all."
The VIP dinner will take place on the floor of the Auburn Arena March 21 at 5:30, followed by Forbes' keynote address at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for non-students can be purchased at conservativesfortomorrow.com
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
