Smith Center rocks on

• March 2, 2007

The Smith Center for Private Enterprise Studies - the university's self-described free-market think tank - is celebrating its 15th anniversary with an appearance of a Rolling Stones keyboardist.

Chuck Leavell will speak on the preservation of American forests and play and sing at the anniversary celebration March 15 at 7:30 p.m.
The event will be held in the new Castro Valley Center for the Arts, 19501 Redwood Road, Castro Valley. Ticket prices are from $12 to $26. Tickets may be purchased at www.cvartsfoundation.org and at the Castro Valley Adult School, 4430 Alma Ave, Castro Valley.

Leavell and his wife own and operate a pine and hunting enterprise in Georgia. Some of his solo CDs and his books will be on sale at the event.

Castro Valley business owners Owen and Erma Smith founded the center at Cal State East Bay to promote entrepreneurship and free market principles. Over the years, the center has brought many speakers of national prominence to the campus including Nobel Laureate economist Milton Friedman and Steve Forbes, founder of Forbes Magazine.

"Without the support from the Smiths I could have never brought such prominent people to campus," said center Director Charles Baird, associate dean for academics of the College of Business and Economics.

The center also sponsors annual essay and business plan contests for high school junior and seniors. The center bestows an Entrepreneur of the Year award.

For more information on the center or its celebration event, visit its Web site.