Father, son to deliver Battenfield-Carletti lecture Sept. 13

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- Matt Benjamin and his son Matthew will give the Battenfield-Carletti Distinguished Entrepreneur Lecture on Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. in the auditorium of the W. Roger Webb Educational Technology Center at Northeastern State University.

Matt is a business owner and manager and Matthew has organized successful fundraisers.

"For the first time in the history of the Battenfield-Carletti series, the lecture will touch on social entrepreneurism which benefits the community," said Peggy Glenn, director of development and executive director of the NSU Foundation. "Matthew, the son, is a teen-ager. He has done fundraising for an orphanage in Uganda after he visited and saw that they did not have housing. Anyone working to find ways to improve their communities through entrepreneurship should come see this dynamic duo. They will offer some insight and ideas."

The lecture concludes with a Q&A at approximately 11 a.m., followed by an invitational luncheon at noon in the Webb Center Tower Room. The lecture and Q&A are free and open to the public.

Matt has worked as a technical sales consultant, territory manager, distributor and sales manager for several companies. Today he manages two small companies of his own. He earned a bachelor's degree in business management from NSU in 1992. Son Matthew is 13 years old.

Matthew has founded a non-profit organization called A Chance for the Children. He raised more than $31,000 from sponsors by running 346 miles to train for a half marathon. He also organized the Orphan Run OK, a Tulsa event which drew 1,000 runners and raised more than $110,000. Matt left his career in sales and distribution at age 40 to devote time to his family and his own companies. His endeavors are JBT Medical LLC which brokers, buys and sells used and refurbished surgical equipment; and a property management company which purchases, rents, remodels and sells residential real estate in Tulsa, the Grand Lake area and Branson, Mo.

At NSU, Matt was a member of the President's Leadership Class and a founder of the Lambda Chi Alpha chapter. He also met his wife Carrie while at Northeastern.

Established in 2002 through the NSU Foundation by Dr. Harold Battenfield and Dr. John Carletti, the Battenfield-Carletti Distinguished Entrepreneur Lecture Series invites NSU alumni to campus to share their entrepreneurial experiences with students.

For more information call the NSU Foundation at 918-458-2143.