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Costco cofounder Sinegal to wrap up “Working Poor” series


Last updated August 7, 2014

By Tina Underwood

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

Jim Sinegal, Costco cofounder and former Director of Costco Wholesale Corporation will speak in the final session of “Can’t Win for Losing: The Crisis of the Working Poor.” The event is part of the fourth annual Straight Talk SC series presented by the Riley Institute and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Furman University. Sinegal joins a slate of other speakers Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in Younts Conference Center on the Furman University campus.

“Revitalizing the American Dream,” the concluding session of the four-part series, examines the importance of community development and revitalization in building up the working poor, and the impact of good wages on business and the economy.

In addition to Sinegal, other speakers include Carol Naughton, Senior Vice President, Purpose Built Communities, and Curt McPhail, Project Manager, Northside Development Group (Spartanburg) who will discuss community development and urban renewal.

Mark Quinn, Director of Member and Public Relations, The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, and former host of SCETV’s The Big Picture will lead a roundtable discussion about the collective vision and partnership that is revitalizing Spartanburg’s Northside. The panel includes Naughton and McPhail along with Russell Booker, Superintendent of Education, Spartanburg District 7; Phil Feisal, President, Spartanburg Medical Center; Tony Thomas, President, Northside Neighborhood Association; and David Wood, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Development, Wofford College.

Sinegal, who for 27 years was Director of Costco Wholesale Corporation, now serves as a Costco company advisor. He will provide a business leader’s perspective on why paying good wages is good for business and economic health.

The session is open to the public. Registration is $15 for the event. For more information about the series, follow the link found here. Or contact OLLI at (864) 294-2998. For speaker bios, follow this link. To register, please use this link.

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