LuAn Mitchell-Halter to speak at Napoleon Hill Day at UVa-Wise Oct. 23

Motivational speaker and author LuAn Mitchell-Halter will be the featured speaker for the ninth annual Napoleon Hill Day at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Monday, Oct. 23.

The event is part of the College's annual commemoration of the birthday of Napoleon Hill, the Wise County native and author of Think and Grow Rich and other motivational books. Mitchell-Halter's lecture, which is free and open to the public, begins at 1:30 p.m. in the Chapel of All Faiths.

One of the world’s leading female entrepreneurs, Mitchell-Halter took over Mitchell Gourmet Foods, Inc., after the premature death of her husband in 1998. 

She is currently the president and chief executive officer of Save the Planet Holdings, and serves on several boards, including The Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World, Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government Women's Leadership Board and the University of Saskatchewan's Institute of Agriculture, Rural and Environmental Health.

In her book Leadership Lessons Learned by the Impossible Dreamer,” Mitchell-Halter shares the story of her life in the public eye and gives advice about breaking down the barriers that others can build around you. Her other works include “Impossible Dreamer!” and “The Woman MVP!”.

She recently remarried and with her husband, Dr. Reese Halter, and their three children, split their time between homes in Palm Springs, Calif., and Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Mitchell-Halter's visit to UVa-Wise is sponsored by the Napoleon Hill Foundation. Headquartered on the campus of UVa-Wise, the Napoleon Hill Foundation is a non-profit educational institution dedicated to promoting Hill's philosophy and "to making the world a better place in which to live."

Napoleon Hill was born in poverty in a one-room cabin on the Pound River on Oct. 26, 1883. From these humble beginnings, the Wise County native became an advisor to presidents and a best-selling author. During the early 20th century, Hill interviewed the nation's most successful business leaders, including Andrew Carnegie and Henry Ford. From those interviews and many more conducted over 20 years, Hill compiled his eight-volume set The Law of Success, a collection of the philosophy of individual achievement. He later condensed his research to compile Think and Grow Rich, often called one of the most important motivational books ever written.

First published in 1937, Think and Grow Rich has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide and continues to appear on the list of top business books. In this classic on personal achievement, Hill introduced the concept “whatever the mind can conceive and believe the mind can achieve.” Thirteen principles form Hill's philosophy of personal achievement including cultivating a burning desire, faith, and persistence in the attainment of goals.

Hill's writings are still must-reads for business professionals. His volumes have influenced many successful individuals including Mary Kay Ash, Wally "Famous" Amos, Bruce Jenner, Paul Harvey and Senator Jennings Randolph. Hill's works are licensed for publication in a host of other counties including China, Japan, South Korea, Nigeria, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Croatia, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Other works by Hill, which are also still widely distributed, include Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, How to Raise Your Own Salary, How to Sell Your Way Through Life, and The Magic Ladder to Success.

During the 2004 Napoleon Hill Day, the Napoleon Hill Foundation presented UVa-Wise with a $200,000 gift to endow the Napoleon Hill Scholars Program. Established at UVa-Wise in 1997, the Napoleon Hill Scholars Program annually selects 10 outstanding business students to participate. The students complete the College's Keys to Success course, which is based on Hill's business philosophy, and share what they've learned with students at area high schools.  

Additionally, the Napoleon Hill Foundation has given $200,000 to UVa-Wise to establish an endowed professorship in business.

For more information, contact the Office of College Relations at 276-328-0130.

Posted October 12, 2006