TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Wiley Mullins, a former brand manager-turned-entrepreneur, will be the keynote speaker at the second annual University of Alabama Entrepreneurship Awards Banquet.

The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at Smith Hall on the UA campus.

Mullins is an entrepreneur and founder of Uncle Wiley’s Inc., a marketer of blended spices and seasonings. The company sells ingredients that can be added to foods such as collard greens, sweet potatoes and kale to enhance their flavors.

Acknowledging that the pleasures of the table can be a pitfall of fat, sodium, cholesterol and calories, Mullins launched a Web site that highlights nutrition research, nutritional wisdom and delicious encouragement to eat more fruits and vegetables.

Mullins developed a line of low-sodium seasoning and spice blends that can be found in the produce departments of supermarkets. Mullins also has introduced America’s Wellness Team, which has been endorsed by the National Medical Association, the largest professional group of African-American physicians. America’s Wellness Team offers nutrition and wellness advice for consumers through a free monthly electronic newsletter on www.unclewileys.com. He also has written a book titled “Salad Makes the Meal” that offers 150 recipes.

Mullins is a graduate of The University of Alabama and member of the Culverhouse College of Commerce Board of Visitors.

The entrepreneurship banquet is the finale of a month of events at UA aimed at underscoring the importance of entrepreneurship to the state and the nation. The month’s activities include an elevator pitch competition for UA students (an elevator pitch competition is so-called because competitors have only the length of an elevator ride to “pitch” their idea), a business plan competition for state high school students, and a business plan competition for African-American college students.

Awards to be presented at the banquet include the elevator pitch competition winner, the higher entrepreneurship education teacher of the year, the k-12 entrepreneurship teacher of the year, winner of the business plan competition, the young entrepreneur of the year and the social entrepreneur of the year.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.