THE SOCIETY OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FELLOWS, AN ASSOCIATION OF TOP-LEVEL SOUTHEASTERN BUSINESS EXECUTIVES, RECENTLY LAUNCHED THE ANNUAL RECRUITMENT OF THE BUSINESS EXECUTIVES WHO WILL BE INVITED TO JOIN THE SOCIETY.

THE 460-MEMBER ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1981 BY A HANDFUL OF BUSINESSPERSONS FROM ATLANTA WHO TRAVELED TO LONDON TO “LEARN ABOUT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS IN A TIME WHEN INTERNATIONAL DEALINGS WERE NOT SO AUTOMATIC,” RANDY NUCKOLLS, PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY AND MANAGING PARTNER OF THE WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICE OF THE ATLANTA LAW FIRM OF KILPATRICK & CODY, TOLD GLOBALFAX IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW JUNE 6.

THE GOALS OF THE SOCIETY, MR. NUCKOLLS EXPLAINED, ARE TO EDUCATE MEMBERS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS, ELEVATE THE SOUTHEAST REGION’S KNOWLEDGE OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND PROMOTE THE TEACHING OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING.

THE GROUP OFFERS VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS TO ITS MEMBERS, SUCH AS A RECENT TRIP TO ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, FOR VETERAN MEMBERS. MEMBERS OF INDIVIDUAL STATES ATTEND ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS AND LECTURES.

MEMBERSHIP IN THE SOCIETY IS BY INVITATION ONLY, AND GENERALLY LIMITED TO CEOS AND OTHER TOP-LEVEL EXECUTIVES, ALTHOUGH SOME UNIVERSITY DEANS AND PRESIDENTS ARE ALSO INCLUDED.  PROSPECTIVE FELLOWS ARE SELECTED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND INVITED BY CURRENT MEMBERS TO APPLY TO THE SOCIETY.

A SELECTION COMMITTEE NARROWS THE LIST TO 45-50 INVITEES, WHO ARE THEN REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A TWO-WEEK PROGRAM IN MARCH OR APRIL FOCUSING ON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND THE CULTURE OF THE COUNTRY WHERE THE PROGRAM IS HELD. APPROXIMATELY 80% OF THE INVITEES COMPLETE THE PROGRAM AND ARE INDUCTED IN SEPTEMBER.

IN 1996, THE PROGRAM WAS HELD IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AMSTERDAM AND PRAGUE, AND THE 1997 RETREAT WILL BE SOMEWHERE IN THE PACIFIC RIM.

ALTHOUGH THE GROUP IS CURRENTLY CONCENTRATED IN THE SOUTHEAST, BIANCA QUANTRELL, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE SOCIETY AND CO-OWNER OF QUANTRELL MULLINS & ASSOCIATES, AN ATLANTA-    BASED COMMERCIAL INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM, HOPES THAT IT WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN AN OVERSEAS CHAPTER SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.  “FOR NOW, WE’RE FOCUSING ON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERNAL NETWORKING,” SHE SAID.

MS. QUANTRELL, WHO WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT IN MAY, WILL TAKE OFFICE IN SEPTEMBER, WHILE MR. NUCKOLLS WILL BECOME CHAIRMAN.

THE SOCIETY CAN BE REACHED AT (404) 525-7423; FAX (404) 525-5331.