Arkansas Tech University alumnus Brent Garrett’s career in business has provided him with a wealth of experience and wisdom.
As he set about sharing some of it with the ATU College of Business students assembled in the Doc Bryan Student Services Center Lecture Hall on Wednesday, March 11, he recalled an encounter with Fred Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of FedEx. While seated with Smith at a leadership council, Garrett asked him what the most important job of a leader is.
Smith responded with a simple answer.
“Keep the main thing the main thing.”
A 1988 graduate of Arkansas Tech, Garrett is president of Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning. His business serves the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
On March 11, he was the spring 2020 speaker in the ATU College of Business Distinguished Lecture Series.
“If there’s one thing I can guarantee you about everything I say today, it’s that we’re all going to have problems,” said Garrett. “I encourage you to not fear or shy away from problems because that’s all business is. You’re problem solvers. Over the course of my business life, I’ve been fortunate enough to upgrade my problems. That’s my challenge to you. You have problems to solve today, this month, this year. It may be studying a little harder or finding that first job, but I know what it looks like, and you’re going to be okay.”
During his days as a student at ATU, Garrett was a member of the Wonder Boys football and golf teams, Student Government Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Wesley Foundation.
Garrett has given back to his alma mater as a member of the ATU Foundation Board of Directors and as a featured speaker at the 2019 ATU scholarship dinner. He has also mentored students at ATU-Ozark Campus.
Learn more about the ATU College of Business at www.atu.edu/business.
