Dr. Jerry Caulder was Southeast’s Commencement guest speaker on May 12, 2007. Prior to giving advice to over 1000 graduating students, he took time to discuss business ownership with just 6 students—the SE Apprentice finalists. Dr. Caulder, often referred to as the “Father of Agricultural Biotechnology,” visited with the students at the Southeast Innovation Center, and stressed the importance of attitude and passion when it comes to starting a business.

He also told the SE Apprentice students that what he finds most important in an employee is not what their GPA might have been or how many letters are behind their names, but instead, he told them, “Just show me what you can do.”

“It was interesting to hear from someone who has achieved so much who is from Southeast Missouri that if you aren’t afraid of hard work, you truly can make it happen!” said John Taylor.

Dr. Caulder, who holds several U.S. and foreign patents, previously has been honored with the Citation of Merit Award and the Alumni Merit Award from Southeast Missouri State University. He is currently a founding partner, chairman and chief executive officer of Finistere, LLC. He has been the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of several biotechnology companies in agriculture, human health, medical devices and consumer products. Dr. Caulder is a member of the Advisory Council on Small Business and Agriculture of the Federal Reserve Board of San Francisco and a member of California and Missouri Governors’ Councils on Science and Technology and one of the founding directors of the World Agriculture Forum in St. Louis, Mo. .