The theme of EKU College of Business & Technology's 6th annual Professional Skills Conference Friday, March 29 is "Survival: Student to Professional."

And who better to tackle that subject than Rodger Bingham, aka "Kentucky Joe," who survived weeks in the Australian Outback as a contestant on the popular CBS reality show, "Survivor."

Bingham, a businessman-teacher-farmer from Crittenden in Grant County, will be the keynote speaker for the event and will receive a Distinguished Alumnus award in a noon recognition ceremony.

The Conference "is an opportunity for our students to hear successful executives share their views about critical skills that new graduates need in order to succeed as professionals," said Dr. Janna Vice, associate dean of the College. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. in Brock Auditorium, and Bingham will speak at 8:40 a.m. His talk will be followed by a student-moderated panel discussion during which executives will discuss "Surviving the Job Interview Process." At 10:50 a.m., a team from Work Redefined, Cincinnati, will discuss workplace expectations for attire.

The noon luncheon for graduating seniors will be held in the Keen Johnson Ballroom. Each of the six departments within the College will honor an outstanding alumnus. Bingham earned a bachelor's degree in technology from EKU in 1969 and added a master's degree a year later.

Why the "Survivor" theme? "We want to encourage our students to be prepared to step outside their comfort zone as they move from being a student to being a professional," Vice said. "Rodger Bingham has had a significant amount of personal success, yet he was willing to step outside his comfort zone and try a new set of challenges."

A former bank CEO and lumber business owner in his native Grant County, Bingham has taught industrial arts at Grant County High School since 1987. He has also been a highly successful developer and real estate investor. The 54-year-old Bingham also has held numerous leadership positions in Crittenden Christian Church.

Students who are enrolled in College of Business & Technology 300- and/or 400-level courses are required to attend the Conference. The registration fee is $5 and must be paid in advance in Combs 313.

Balcony-seating tickets for the morning session in Brock Auditorium also are available to the public at $5 and may be obtained by calling 622-1574 in advance.

For more information about the event, call 622-1574 or visit www.cbt.eku.edu/SkillsConference.