Matt Saurage, Chairman of Community Coffee Company and a Louisiana Tech University alumnus, will headline the College of Business’ Entrepreneurship Lecture Series on Tuesday, December 12, at 4 p.m. in Davis Auditorium (College of Business 101). This free event is open to the public.

Community Coffee was founded in 1919 by Saurage’s great-grandfather, and today is the largest family-owned and operated retail coffee brand in America. Saurage is the fourth generation to lead Community Coffee, and he also guides the CC’s Coffee House and CityRoots Coffee Bar business growth. 

In addition to his work with Community Coffee, Saurage is a founding member of World Coffee Research, an organization that provides funding for scientific research to address the impact of climate change on coffee farming worldwide. Saurage also serves on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board and is a director for the National Coffee Association, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, and New Schools of Baton Rouge.

Saurage received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech and his MBA from Vanderbilt. He and his wife, Catherine, have five children and reside in his hometown of Baton Rouge.

“It is an honor to welcome Matt back to campus for our Entrepreneurship Lecture,” said Dr. Chris Martin, dean of the College of Business. “I know that his extensive business knowledge and experience will help our students fully grasp the concept of entrepreneurship. I am grateful to Matt for sharing his insight to further build on what our students are learning in the classroom.”

With focuses on the College’s core academic themes of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, co-curricular programs, like the Entrepreneurship Lecture Series, are designed to complement and expand on what students are learning in the classroom. Topics cover a variety of core business subjects such as ethics, corporate responsibility, leadership, globalization, strategic planning, entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, and diversity.

Saurage will also meet with members of the College’s Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community to answer their questions, offer advice, and encourage them to pursue their own entrepreneurial journey. 

Now in its fourth year, the Entrepreneurship LLC offers first-year students from across majors the opportunity to live, learn, and participate in activities that have an entrepreneurship focus. In addition to mentorship by visiting entrepreneurs and C-level speakers, LLC members participate in common courses and live in the same residence hall to build community and further develop the group’s collective entrepreneurial spirit.  

For more information on this lecture, contact Mary Susan Britt, executive director of development for the College of Business, at marysusan@latechalumni.org or 318.257.3741.