The second annual Gathering of Eagles this week at Valdosta Technical College brings several incredibly gifted business men and women to the symposium to speak on a variety of issues sure to be useful in just about any business, large or small.

Speakers include Jimmy Blanchard, an ex-Valdostan, who served as chairman of Synovus Financial Corporation; Tim Tassopoulos, senior vice president of operations for Chick-fil-A; and Georgia Thornton, also an ex-Valdostan, who is currently president and chief executive officer of Agriliance.

In addition, a series of local executives will also be speaking, including Ben Copeland of Patten Seed Company, motivational speaker Mark Webb of South Georgia Psychiatric Center, Jerome Riley of Riley Church Pews, and Deborah Clark of Letica Corporation.

Tips on succeeding in business, motivating yourself and your employees, being a successful entrepreneur, and making the most of your time will be among the inspirational messages you will take with you from this symposium.

Val Tech should be commended for its hard work each year putting this together, and the community should be commended for its tremendous support of this very worthwhile program.