Five-time drag racing champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. was the first of several guest speakers at this year's appropriately named HOBY Grand Prix Ohio South Circuit leadership conference at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Coughlin spoke Thursday to an eager group of 300 top-flight high school students on the importance of teamwork, communication, honesty, and integrity and how these attributes can relate to their ultimate success in life.

"We kicked off their conference in style," Coughlin said. "We started with a great video of fast-paced NHRA action and believe me, that got everyone's attention. As we all know, the sound and fury of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing has quite an affect on people."

Founded in 1958 by old-line Hollywood movie star Hugh O'Brian of Wyatt Earp fame, HOBY’s mission is to inspire a global community of young people to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation to the benefit of all mankind.

Five-time drag racing champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. was the first of several guest speakers at this year's appropriately named HOBY Grand Prix Ohio South Circuit leadership conference at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Coughlin spoke Thursday to an eager group of 300 top-flight high school students on the importance of teamwork, communication, honesty, and integrity and how these attributes can relate to their ultimate success in life.

"We kicked off their conference in style," Coughlin said. "We started with a great video of fast-paced NHRA action and believe me, that got everyone's attention. As we all know, the sound and fury of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing has quite an affect on people."

Founded in 1958 by old-line Hollywood movie star Hugh O'Brian of Wyatt Earp fame, HOBY’s mission is to inspire a global community of young people to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation to the benefit of all mankind.

"I explained to them how important it is to cultivate teamwork, personal relationships, and open lines of communication with the people you work with, whether it be at the racetrack or in the boardroom," Coughlin said. "I related how each of these things helped us achieve the various successes my family has enjoyed in drag racing and at JEGS High Performance.

"We also spoke about the ancillary things that can set you apart from the competition. In racing, things that can make or break you include your dealings with the media, the fans, and your sponsors. At JEGS, we place a premium on customer service, honest and ethical business practices, and valuing the input of our employees, because without them nothing else matters. Your people are your most important asset."

HOBY conferences are happening around the world. Coughlin attended the meeting closest to JEGS' home base in Delaware, Ohio. Just by chance, the theme of this year's conference was racing.

"It played right into my area of expertise and I think these young people really liked it," Coughlin said. "These are the best and brightest kids in Southern Ohio, our future, so to speak, and it was refreshing to see their enthusiasm for our country."

For more information on HOBY, visit HOBY.org . 

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