Calhoun Alumnus Kim Lewis to Speak at Success Symposium
August 23, 2021Calhoun Community College will host its 13th Annual Student Success Symposium on Tuesday, August 24. The symposium will be held in two sessions: 9:30 a.m. in the Kelley Gymnasium on the Decatur Campus and 12:30 p.m. in the Student Center – Sparkman Building on the Huntsville campus. The theme for this year’s symposium is “The Road to Student Success”. Both sessions are free and open to all students.
“We get excited when we know the Student Symposium Success is right around the corner as it means the fall semester is kicking off,” commented Dr. Pat Wilson, Calhoun Vice President of Student Services. “This past year has been difficult for both students, faculty and staff, but we hope this event serves as the start for additional great events to come for our students,” added Wilson.
This year, students will hear from an exciting line-up of panelists, which includes Kim Lewis, CEO and Co-Founder of Project XYZ and Calhoun Alumnus. Lewis initially began her collegiate journey at the University of North Alabama as a nursing major. Expecting a medical career to follow, she quickly learned during the stage of clinical work that the nursing profession was not for her. It was at that moment she decided to enroll at Calhoun and pursue an associate’s degree in information technology. Upon graduation from Calhoun, Lewis decided to seek a career that allowed her to utilize her prior healthcare training, which she enjoyed, with her IT degree. Landing a great job in Atlanta, GA, Lewis began advancing in her career through the management of large-scale IT implementations and projects for large healthcare companies. Although she loved what she did, she was not happy with the stress of heavy traffic and commuting issues, so she moved to Birmingham for a project analyst job at St. Vincent’s Health System. As a then-single mother, Lewis needed extra income, eventually bringing in enough outside business to start her own company in 2002, with her then-future husband, Larry. The resulting company was PROJECT XYZ, which provides engineering, logistics, information technology and alternative energy services, as well as healthcare IT, and has grown into a multi-million dollar corporation. Inc. Magazine ranked the company among America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies and it was
also listed third among six other Huntsville businesses for record revenue growth in the engineering industry.
Lewis has faced many trials and has broken through several glass ceilings making history as the first African-American female to lead the Board of Directors for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. While many of her accomplishments could be considered milestones in her career, Lewis was most recently named by the Biden Administration as the only Alabamian to serve on TVA’s Board of Directors.
“When we were able to secure Kim Lewis to speak on our panel, we knew our students were in for a life-changing experience,” commented Carla Swinney, Calhoun Coordinator of Student Advocacy, Special Projects & Discipline. “This is one of those events we stress to our students not to miss. It helps answer so many of the questions they have and may feel uncomfortable asking, as well as how to deal with the challenges of becoming successful. Our panel includes not only Kim Lewis, but a current Calhoun student, as well as a Calhoun staff member, who are excited to share their experiences of navigating college life,” said Swinney.
In addition to the symposium, Calhoun students will have an opportunity to visit the tables of on-campus clubs and organizations to learn about membership. These organizations cover a broad range of interests including professional, international, religious, academic honorary, and special interest groups.
For more information, please visit www.calhoun.edu/sympsosium or contact the Student Services office at 256-306-2870.
