The Labovitz School of Business and Economics (LSBE) at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) will present the second annual UMD Entrepreneurship Conference on Tuesday, October 18, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the UMD Kirby Ballroom. The conference is open to the public. Registration is required for everyone attending and spots are limited. Students may attend for free with a valid college I.D, but they must register online at http://www.lsbeconference.com.
This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Douglas Smith who is the co-founder of MinuteClinic, now owned and operated by CVS. Additional entrepreneur speakers include Greg Benson, founding partner of Loll Designs, Jennifer Smith, co-founder of Innovative Office Solutions, Jon Thralow, co-founder of Thralow Inc., and Chuck Baxter, founder of ATV line at Polaris. There will also be a food entrepreneur panel with founders including Bill Marker from Chilly Billy’s, Brian Daugherty from Grandma’s Restaurant Company, Carol Valentini from Valentini’s Restaurant, and Tom Hanson from Duluth Grill.
"This Entrepreneurship Conference is a forum that features successful local, regional and national entrepreneurs. The day offers a platform for the students and the community to hear and learn from entrepreneurial leaders who will share different perspectives on how to start, run and grow a business venture,” said Student Conference Director Jireh Mabamba.
In addition, there will be three professional workshops for individuals interested to learn more about starting a business venture. The workshop topics include How to Start a Business, The Legal Side to Starting a Business, and How to Fund Your Business.
About the Entrepreneur Conference
The UMD Entrepreneurship Conference began in 2015 based on an idea from LSBE Dean Amy Hietapelto. The conference is completely student run, with the help of Nicole Wilde, instructor in LSBE’s Department of Marketing.
Jireh Mabamba, a senior at LSBE double majoring in marketing and organizational management, is this year’s Student Conference Director. Fifteen other students are organizing every facet of the conference, from marketing, selecting speakers, organizing volunteers, and managing the budget.
LSBE is accredited by the AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). Less than 5% of business schools worldwide have earned this prestigious distinction. In Northeastern Minnesota, LSBE is the only school to have attained AACSB accreditation. Its website is lsbe.d.umn.edu.
UMD’s mission: The University of Minnesota Duluth integrates liberal education, research, creative activity, and public engagement and prepares students to thrive as lifelong learners and globally engaged citizens. Its website is www.d.umn.edu.