OBU Business Forum Welcomes Hobby Lobby Executive

Hobby Lobby President Steve Green will speak during Oklahoma Baptist University's Students in Free Enterprise Business Forum Monday, Nov. 3, at 10 a.m. The event, hosted by OBU's Paul Dickinson School of Business, will be in Yarborough Auditorium in Raley Chapel. The community is welcome to attend.

"One of the neat things about Steve Green and his family is that they are followers of Christ, and they are gracious about the way they support ministries both here in the United States and abroad," said Gene King, OBU associate professor of business.

"You have a person and family who have been very successful in business, but who, at the same time, have maintained their Christian values - and those values are central," King added. "It will be neat to have Green on campus sharing the story of his faith journey."

Hobby Lobby began operation Aug. 3, 1972, with 300 square feet of retail space, in North Oklahoma City. This was a retail outgrowth of Greco Products, a miniature picture frame company, founded by David Green, Steve's father, in 1970. In January 1973, the operation was moved to a house, and the amount of retail space was increased to approximately 1,000 square feet. This modest beginning has grown into 405 stores with projected sales of $1.8 billion in 2007. The company operates in a 33-state area.

After graduating high school in 1981, Green began working full time as the Store Operations Supervisor. He was promoted to Executive Vice President in 2000 and named President of Hobby Lobby Stores in December of 2004. Currently Hobby Lobby employs approximately 18,000 people company-wide and operates 407 stores in 34 states. Hobby Lobby also has offices in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China.

Steve and his wife, Jackie, reside in Oklahoma City with their one son and five daughters. They are actively involved in Council Road Baptist Church in Oklahoma City along with other national and international Christian charities.

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is an international organization that aims to develop the business and management skills of university students to help them become socially responsible leaders.