The conference is open to the public and free to students. Registration is required at www.UMDconference.com.
Haley Rinzel, an LSBE senior with an entrepreneurship major, has served as event management coordinator for this year’s conference. “As a committee cohort, we have challenged ourselves to determine the best ways to reach and impact our community with entrepreneurial efforts,” said Rinzel. “Our goal is to have attendees be inspired and see their potential after they hear our speakers’ unique perspectives and experiences.”
The UMD Entrepreneurship Conference, which started in 2015, is based on an idea from UMD’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics Dean Amy B. Hietapelto. The conference is completely student run with the help and guidance of Nicole Wilde, instructor in LSBE’s Department of Marketing.
The Schedule for the Day
9:00 - 10:00 am | Check-in and registration
10:00 -10:05 am | Chancellor Lendley Black welcome
10:05-11:00 am | Tim White
Former engineer for Kohler Company, Tim built and managed an entrepreneural business within Kohler. Currently, he is the business development and intellectual property manager for the NRRI.
11:00 am | Emily Vikre
Emily Vikre is co-founder, and president of Vikre Distillery, which opened in 2013 and incorporates Lake Superior water, culinary creativity, and a passionate stewardship of resources to create spirits. Emily provides leadership and strategic direction and leads product development, public relations, and brand management.
12:00 pm | Lunch and networking event
1:00 pm | Dr. Stephen Betz
Dr. Betz has dedicated his career to the discovery and development of pharmaceuticals. He is co-founder and vice president of biology for Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company in San Diego that focuses on the discovery and clinical development of novel therapeutics for patients with rare endocrine diseases and endocrine-related cancers.
2:00 pm | Joe Laresca
Joe is an entrepreneur from New York City. He founded NOISE, a tech-enabled entertainment marketing company that works with influencers, artists, celebrities, and companies to rapidly grow their brand.
3:00 pm | Regent Ken Powell
Ken is the former chair and chief executive officer of General Mills, where he served in a variety of positions since 1979. He serves on the boards of directors for Medtronic, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and partners in Food Solutions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping start-up food companies in Africa.
4:00 pm | Brewery Panel: Bent Paddle, Castle Danger, Hoops, and Ursa Minor