Business Week 2018

We are excited to announce Business Week 2018, co-presented by the Austin E. Cofrin School of Business and Career Services at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB). 2018 will be the eighth year the program has been held at UWGB.  The success of Business Week depends on the outstanding community and business support received by the Austin E. Cofrin School of Business. Generous support of all programs associated with Business Week over the past seven years has enabled over 1,000 students to network with business leaders and learn the finer points of interacting as business professionals.

Business Week is valuable to both business leaders and Cofrin School of Business students. The students add to their classroom learning by participating in a variety of events, all of which include interaction with community business leaders. These events help students to develop the professional presence expected of individuals in the business world. Events such as the "Learning to Dine Like a Professional" Etiquette Lunch and "Mock Interview Day" help students to develop the interpersonal and professional acumen expected of business professionals. The "Job and Internship Fair" gives students the opportunity to stand out from the crowd and become more than just a name on a resume. Again this year there will be an "Elevator Pitch Competition & Networking Night," for which students will create a 60-second video pitching themselves and their career strengths, abilities, and goals.

Business Week culminates with the Keynote Address and Networking Dinner, which will be held on the stage of the Weidner Center. Business leaders and top students will engage in an evening of conversation and learning. We are excited to announce that our speaker this year will be Laura E. Kohler, Senior Vice President-Human Resources & Stewardship with Kohler Co. 

Keynote Address

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Speaker:  Laura Kohler, Senior Vice President - Human Resources, Stewardship and Sustainability, Kohler Co.
Location:  Weidner Center for the Performing Arts

   Networking Reception 5:30pm - 6:15pm
   Dinner/Keynote 6:15pm - 8:00pm
 

This event is an opportunity for our top students to professionally network with top business leaders, and for the business community to learn more about the Austin E. Cofrin School of Business.

Attendance at the dinner and keynote speaker is by invitation only.

About Laura Kohler

Laura Kohler is Senior Vice President – Human Resources, Stewardship and Sustainability, and has served on Kohler’s Board of Directors since 1999. She oversees the company’s worldwide Human Resources organization and leads Kohler’s Stewardship and Sustainability programs. In this capacity she drives Kohler’s global corporate social responsibility and sustainability strategies, which include a focus on community partnerships, corporate and associate giving, disaster relief and Kohler’s journey to net positive. She also oversees Kohler’s renowned Arts/Industry program.

Laura began working summer jobs at Kohler Co. during high school. Since returning in 1995, she served as Vice President of Communications and then Vice President of Human Resources in 1999. She was promoted to Senior Vice President of Human Resources in 2002 with the addition of Labor Relations.

Laura serves as board chair of Outward Bound USA, the Kohler Trust for the Arts & Education and the Kohler Trust for Preservation. She also is a board member for the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and The Actors Center in New York City and a trustee at Lawrence University. Laura previously served eight years on the Kohler Public School Board and in 2005 was named co-recipient of the Wisconsin State Superintendent’s Friends of Education award.

 "Believing in Better"      Excerpts of Laura Kohler's presentation

Schedule of Events 

LinkedIn – The Basics to Get Started
Wednesday, February 7, 2018 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm 1965 Room, University Union  More information Advanced registration recommended

Pathway to Career Success - Recent Graduates Share Experiences
Monday, February 12, 2018 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Phoenix B, University Union  More information

Dine Like a Professional Etiquette Lunch
Monday, February 19, 2018 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Weidner Center  Speaker: Laura Rowell More information Advanced Registration Required by February 13

Mock Interview Day
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 8:00 am-4:30 pm Phoenix Rooms, University Union  More information Advanced Registration Required by February 14​

Professional Photo Booth
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Union Lobby-Across from Bookstore, University Union  More information

Personal Branding in Your Job Search
Thursday, February 22, 2018 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Phoenix C, University Union Speaker: Sarah Campillo, Schneider More information

Business Idea Competition
Monday, February 26, 2018 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Phoenix B, University Union Speaker: Alex Hart-Upendo
Watch UWGB students pitch their business ideas in 90 seconds, take questions from the judges, and hear 11-year old Alex Hart-Upendo of www.BuildABowByAlex.com tell his entrepreneurship story. Complimentary food and beverages will be served.   To enter the competition, which is open to all UWGB students from all majors, email Ryan Kauth for information on how to prepare your 90-second innovative idea video to apply by 11:59 pm, Monday, February 19. The top prize is $500 of the total $1,000 in cash given out to the top finalists. In addition, finalists are eligible to attend the European Innovation Academy and are eligible for a scholarship to attend EIA in Portugal as well as to apply to more pitch competitions in: Appleton on 4/11 – top prize $10,000, Minneapolis on 4/12-14 – top prize $75,000+, Madison on 4/21 – top prize $2,500 + eligibility for up to $52,000 more), and Fort Worth, TX on 4/6-7 -- top prize $25,000+.

Soft Skills: Positively Impact Your Perception
Monday, February 26, 2018 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm Phoenix B, University Union Speaker: Jordan Lorenz, Dental City  More information   Advanced Registration Recommended

Spring Job and Internship Fair
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 9:30 am - 1:00 pm Phoenix Rooms, University Union  More information

Professional Photo Booth
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 9:00 am - 1:30 pm Union Lobby-Across from Bookstore, University Union  More information

Business Week 2018 Elevator Pitch Final Competition & Networking Reception
Tuesday, March 6, 2018 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Phoenix B, University Union Advance Registration Required
Students will be required to craft and deliver an elevator pitch and submit it into the Business Week Competition. Every savvy job seeker has a personal elevator pitch to use during quick encounters with hiring officials at job fairs, during networking events or a chance meeting someplace else. An elevator pitch is a carefully crafted message designed to explain your strengths, abilities and goals to a professional or business executive. The catch — it must be given in the time that it takes to ride up an elevator – 60 seconds or less! Be prepared for these planned and chance encounters with employers and hiring officials. Join fellow Cofrin School of Business students by competing for top honors and prizes in the elevator pitch competition and network night. View prior year presentations Email the Cofrin School of Business to register for the competition or to reserve a spot to observe student presentations.

Leadership Think Tank
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 5:15 pm - 7:00 pm Initiative One 110 S. Adams St. Green Bay Advanced Registration Required
InitiativeOne leaders will speak of the lessons they have learned and how to apply them to a successful career.  Very limited seating still available.  Email the Cofrin School of Business to reserve your spot.

Thank you to all Business Week 2018 sponsors!
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