Dr. James B. Powell, former president and CEO of Roche Biomedical and Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp), will participate in a Legends of Business panel discussion at 5 p.m., today in the LaRose Digital Theatre, located in the Koury Business Center on campus. Details...
The program is free and open to the public. The Legends of Business Series at the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business brings successful business leaders to campus to share their experiences with students and the community.
Powell will make introductory remarks before taking questions from a panel of three students about what they should expect as they enter the world of business, especially in the science and health care fields.
Powell boldly moved LabCorp’s operations into downtown Burlington, purchasing and renovating abandoned and deteriorating commercial and industrial buildings. His efforts were credited with revitalizing the downtown area.
Powell left LabCorp in 1997 to establish the medical products company known today as Tripath Imaging, Inc. That venture can be trace to Powell’s lifelong love of science and his entrepreneurial spirit. He served as president and CEO of his first business venture, Biomedical Reference Laboratories, which was later acquired by Hoffman-LaRoche.
He has been active in the community, serving on the boards of Alamance Regional Medical Center, Alamance Extended Care, Alamance Foundation, Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Alamance Junior Tennis Foundation.
Powell grew up in a home adjacent to the Elon campus and has been an invaluable member of the university community. He has served as a member of the board of trustees since 1979 and recently completed a term as chair. He chaired the successful fundraising campaign for the Ernest A. Koury, Sr. Business Center, which features the James B. and Anne Ellington Powell Lobby, named in honor of Powell and his wife. The Maude Sharpe Powell and the Thomas E. Powell, Jr., professorships were created by the Powell family in honor of their parents.
Elon’s Jimmy Powell Tennis Center is dedicated to the memory of Jim and Anne Powell’s first son. The Anne Ellington Powell Master Artist Series, a transformative gift made by Jim Powell, brought internationally renowned performers to Elon for nearly 20 years.
Powell’s service to Elon was honored in 2005 when he received a doctor of human letters degree from the university.