"Migration & Metamorphosis: Do butterflies and entrepreneurs really have anything in common?" presented by Dan Hurst, President of Strata-G

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” — Henry David Thoreau

From egg to butterfly, it could be said the Monarch butterfly models the epic migration and miraculous metamorphosis that is characteristic of a business evolving and changing to realize its potential. These butterflies go through four stages during one life cycle and through four generations in one year – sometimes traveling up to 2,500 miles to fulfill their purpose. As pioneers and stewards of great potential, butterflies and entrepreneurs embody the courage, leadership, and hope it takes to travel uncharted territory, grow and transform into something beautiful, and give us something remarkable for future generations.

Part family odyssey and part spiritual quest, Dan Hurst’s story of migration and metamorphosis sounds like it came directly from living like Thoreau on Walden Pond or the literary pages of The Grapes of Wrath. It is a journey of an entrepreneur with a desire to seek God's calling, a determination to make a difference, and the innovation and spirit to sustain the vision. From an eighth generation East Tennessean who grew up in the foothills of the Smokies…eventually quit his job…trekked 22,000 miles across 35 states and 4 provinces in Canada with his wife and five year old in tow…to realize his calling and future which led to becoming the CEO of a nationally recognized science and engineering firm dedicated to a legacy of environmental and energy stewardship, Dan Hurst has emerged as a leader worth following. Join us on Friday, September 13, for a living manifesto on becoming, stewarding, and living the beautiful life God had in mind when He made you.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come,” (2 Corinthians 5:17). As a new creation, you are beautiful in God’s eyes. What about your business? Does He see potential for His glory to be shone? Lest you forget on your journey, however long it may be, it is not about us.

Meet Our Speaker: Dan Hurst

Dan is an eighth generation East Tennessean who graduated from the University of Tennessee with an M.S. in Environmental Engineering and a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering with highest honors. Dan served as a naval officer in the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power Program and then applied his environmental and nuclear experience to engineering positions at the Oak Ridge National Lab and in the private sector. Dan has led several new business startups, including Strata-G, where he serves as the CEO of a team of approximately 100 technical professionals dedicated to a legacy of environmental and energy stewardship.

Among his many honors, Dan received the 2007 Biosystems Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award and the 2011 Tennessee Veterans Business Association “Bravo Zulu” Award for veteran spirit. Dan serves as President of the Board of the West Knox Utilities District and the Fairview Technology Center. Dan is Vice President of the KARM Board of Directors, and he also serves on the Board of the UTK Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tennessee Center for Research and Development, East TN Historical Society, and is a member of the UTK Chancellor’s Associates. Beyond the boardroom Dan leads his company’s community outreach program and speaks regularly to collegiate organizations about finding your career path by following your heart.

Coffee, light breakfast, and TLC served.