NEW ORLEANS ? New Orleans Hornets Owner George Shinn will be the featured speaker at the University of New Orleans Privateers Meet and Greet on Saturday at the Human Performance Center.
The event, which starts at 12:30 p.m., is open to all UNO fans, alumni and staff and is free of charge. An energetic motivational speaker, Shinn will address the student-athletes and crowd beginning at 1:30 p.m.
As a young man in Kannapolis, Shinn worked in a textile mill, at a car wash and even as a janitor in a school that he would eventually own.
Lessons learned in those humble beginnings would soon pay off when in 1975, at the age of 34, Shinn was the youngest person ever awarded the prestigious Horatio Alger Award, which recognizes “rags-to-riches” business leaders who achieve success while maintaining values in patriotism, faith and civic involvement.
His purchase and development of the Rutledge Education System and its chain of proprietary business schools would form the cornerstone of his fortune and eventually lead him to real estate developments, auto dealerships, publishing ventures and professional sports franchises including the Hornets, the Charlotte Knights AAA minor league baseball team and the Charlotte Checkers and Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies of the East Coast Hockey League.
Although he owns championship rings from the Knights and the Bullies and a World Series ring as a AAA affiliate of the Florida Marlins, Shinn's number one goal has been and will continue to be winning an NBA championship with the Hornets.
Shinn was inspired to share his success secrets with others and authored five books, including his 1977 autobiography “Good Morning, Lord!” (later re-printed as “The American Dream Still Works”) and “Leadership Development,” which became a best-selling college textbook.
Later, a biographical account of his life and experiences as an NBA owner was told in “You Gotta' Believe,” and he published “Introduction to Professional Selling” and “Miracle of Motivation,” which are still on the market today. His success in the publishing world makes Shinn a highly sought-after public speaker, especially on topics related to sales and motivation.
For a lifetime of achievement in business and higher education, Shinn was one of twelve to receive an American Success Award from President Bush in a White House ceremony. He also holds six honorary degrees in humanities.
Shinn and his wife, Denise, were married in New Orleans on March 8, 2003. He has three children, Chris, Susan and Chad, from a previous marriage.
For more information on the Privateer Meet and Greet, contact Kathleen Gross at 504-280-3978.
