Craig Perciavalle, President Austal USA First Executive Leadership Series Speaker

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Posted on November 11, 2015 by Alice Jackson

Alice Jackson

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Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle served as the inaugural speaker in the Mitchell College of Business’ Executive Leadership Series in October.  Austal USA, the largest aluminum shipbuilder in the world, is one of Alabama’s largest private employers with more than 4,000 employees.  The company is currently building the Littoral Combat Ships and Joint High Speed Vessels for the US Navy.  

Key areas of the lecture were the rapid growth of Austal USA, the ships the company builds, the company’s state-of-the-art production process, and a discussion of how students can enter the job market successfully.  “Finish school and learn to discipline yourself, because it’s all about competition today,” Perciavalle told the students. He advised them to learn about companies where they hope to work, especially if internships are available. “You can be the smartest person on the planet, but if you don’t fit the company’s culture, then it’s not going to work for you. Get out there and do the internships and see what you want to do when you grow up.”

Dr. Bob Wood, Dean of the Mitchell College of Business, said “Perciavalle is indicative of the type of business leaders the new series will bring to campus each semester.  This series gives our students, staff, and faculty the opportunity to hear firsthand the experiences of today’s corporate leaders.  Students can gain valuable insights on successfully incorporating knowledge into practice. We want to bring real-work knowledge into the classroom.”

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