Terrell addresses strengthening of community
Campus Times
April 3, 1998
Frederick Terrell (right) is seen talking to his older brother Emmett
Terrell moments before Frederick's lecture, "A Wall Street Perspective
on Strengthening Communities" Wednesday. Frederick, a La Verne graduate,
founded Provender Capital Group (an investment firm) in 1996. Among his
many accomplishments, he recalled his experience in a college band.
Successful businessman and University of La Verne alumnus Frederick
Terrel gave a presentation Wednesday entitled "Wall Street Perspective
on Strengthening Communities" at the Sheraton Suites in the Pomona
Fairplex.
The Corporate Associates of the University of La Verne sponsored the
formal luncheon, which hosted an audience of nearly 250 people. Additional
sponsors include Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity and the Brothers Forum.
Terrell, a 1977 graduate, is the managing partner and chief executive
officer of Provender Capital Group, a merchant banking and corporate advisory
firm based in New York and Los Angeles which he co-founded in 1996.
Last decade, he and Provender co-founder Pilar Esperon managed more
than 200 transactions, raising over $50 billion for corporations and governmental
entities. Two of the transactions were labeled by Institutional Investors
magazine in 1985 and by Investment Dealers Digest in 1993 as "Deal
of the Year."
In August, Provender led an investment group which purchased 148 Pizza
Hut restaurants in Northern California, Oregon and Nevada. With more than
4,000 employees, PacPizza is the second largest Pizza Hut franchise and
in the top 20 of all U.S. franchises.
The San Francisco Examiner describes Terrell as "one of
the nation's leading young luminaries in finance."
In addition to receiving his bachelor's degree from ULV, Terrell received
master's degrees from Occidental College and Yale University.
Terrell was introduced by business and economics professor Dr. Ahmed
Ispahani.
Terrell began with describing Wall Street as "a universe of buyers
and sellers of cash commodities where vast debt and equity flows."
"Banks are the centerpiece [into strengthening the community].
If we could strengthen the banks, we could solve a lot of problems locally,"
said Terrell.
Terrell said financial institutions are the power for economic growth
of new businesses. They are the capital of emerging corporations and expand
the number of job opportunities.
"If we could do whatever we can to promote support within the institutions,
we will create the equity at a local level where people can have ownership
in their community."
Terrell believes that providing equity is the best way to promote growth
in the minority communities. Small business lending is the "engine"
for strengthening the communities.
"The value of ownership is important in building productivity of
a community because it enhances self esteem.
He also believes that local governments suffer from people who do not
pay their tax liens. After time, those liens keep accumulating and those
people should be penalized.
"I realize that some people can't afford to pay their taxes and
that is when the rest of society should step up for them. But there are
people that can pay the liens but don't."
Terrell summed up his speech by saying the reason he believes that Wall
Street is important in our communities is because "now, more than ever,
there is an access to the purchase of financial assets back by small businesses
than ever before.
Sophomore La Shon Mitchell said, "I believe Frederick Terrell is
not like any other investor or banker where he down plays his role of the
stock market. He focuses on community buildings and local banks and shows
that they have the power to make a significant change to the community."
