Liberty University convenes global leaders in Washington for third annual Ambassadors’ Breakfast

Liberty University’s Office of Business Relations, in partnership with The Heritage Foundation, hosted its third annual Ambassadors’ Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 14. The event gathered more than 20 ambassadors, senior U.S. government officials, and business executives from leading American corporations spanning energy, infrastructure, agriculture, technology, and finance for a morning of dialogue on the future of investment and cooperation across the Western Hemisphere.

The program opened with remarks from two Liberty representatives — Executive Director of Business Relations & Communications Gian Castillo and Executive Vice President of Development Brian Mentzer — who explained the morning’s purpose to develop trusted relationships rooted in shared values and common interests to promote lasting progress.

The event continued with a fireside-style conversation with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts and Ambassador Hugo Yon, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. A panel on “International Investment & Economic Statecraft” followed and featured senior leaders from the Development Finance Corporation, the World Bank Group, and the Inter-American Development Bank. The panelists examined how investment moves from conversation to execution, impacting market access, risk and resilience, deal mechanics, and the diplomatic relationships that de-risk and accelerate capital deployment. A second panel on “Development, Strategic Sectors, & Execution,” welcomed senior officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Trade & Development Agency, and the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce who discussed what it takes to deliver results, from infrastructure readiness, workforce capacity, and durable partnerships across technology, energy, agriculture, and supply chain.

“Liberty University is proud to convene such important conversations with the nation’s leading thinkers, experts, and practitioners,” Castillo said. “In addition, we brought six undergraduate LU students who hosted the dignitaries in attendance, an opportunity that placed them at the very center of the discussions. These experiences supplement their classroom instruction and propel our mission to Train Champions for Christ by providing real-world opportunities for development and application.”

“We remain committed to advancing our longstanding engagements in Washington, D.C., and across the country as we continue to promote the university’s vision and mission with great pride,” Mentzer said. He recognized Olivia Smith, special projects and events coordinator for the Office of Business Relations, who played a pivotal role in making the event a success.

Many of the conversations sparked in Washington will continue next month on campus, as the Office of Business Relations hosts the university’s annual CEO Summit, set for Oct. 7-9 in the new Champion Center. This year’s summit will bring Fortune 500 executives, government leaders, and policymakers together for three days of dialogue and relationship building. Through the summit and several other engagement events, the Office of Business Relations aims to build a trusted platform where government, industry, and academia meet, and to advance America’s competitiveness on the world stage while Training Champions for Christ to lead at the highest levels of public and private life.

Registration for the CEO Summit is open at LUCEOSummit.com.  For information about the Office of Business Relations, or to learn more about the CEO Summit, visit Liberty.edu/OBR or email OBR@liberty.edu.