Contact:
Melissa HeatlieCEO and CFE
mheatlie@emich.edu
Where
Student Center of Eastern Michigan University900 Oakwood
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Driving Directions
SESI Midwestern Entrepreneurship Conference
Please note that if you register after noon on February 10th you will not recieve a printed name tag for the event.
Join us for the Sesi Midwest Entrepreneurship Conference, presented by the Eastern Michigan University College of Business on February 11, 2011 at the EMU Student Center.
Arrivals at 8:30 am will be greeted with a continental breakfast. A sit-down lunch will be provided as we listen to the key note speaker.
The Skandalaris Business Plan Competion will also be completed as part of the conference. The event will conclude before 2 p.m.
Below is an updated list of some of the amazing speakers we will be featuring at Sesi:
Chris Kondogiani leads the commercial business segment of AMI, a fuel cell manufacturer recently acquired by Ultra Electronics. In this role, he is responsible for leveraging the company's decade of success in the military market to build channels to commercial markets. At AMI, Chris has also helped to prepare the development process for the transition from technology development to volume production, worked on ground-breaking power sources for robotic systems, and helped to secure various sources of financing for operations including the Department of Defense, the State of Michigan and the acquisition by Ultra Electronics. Prior to beginning his work with AMI in 2008, Chris had 10 years of experience in product development, testing, and operations in the automotive industry. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from the Ross School of Business.
Rachel Blinstein- Founder, CEO of Original Moxie Natural Hair Care Products. After years of experiencing dissapointing hair care and hair treatments, Blinstein developed her own line of natural, chemical-free and environmentally-friendly hair products, Original Moxie. Just recently launched in December 2010, Original Moxie can be found at Above Ground Hair Studio in AA and select Plum Market stores.
Brian Bandemer and Bryan Kunka, Founders of The Picket Report. Bandemer and Kunka are the brains behind The Picket Report, an interactive website designed to help people who are relocating or moving, identify which neighberhood they want to live. After college, Banademer graduated from Michigan State University and Kunka from Full Sail University, both went on to attend Bizdon U, an entrepreneurial progam, and their success story starts from there.
Maria LaLonde is the Detroit Recruiting Specialist for Bizdom U. In this role, LaLonde oversees the recruiting and interview processes and connects with the community to raise awareness about Bizdom U as an available resource.
Elizabeth Redmond- founder of POWERleap. Redmond will be our featured Luncheon Keynote at this year's conference! Redmond is a 2006 graduate of the School of Art and Design from University of Michigan. What started off as Redmond's senior year design thesis- research on piezoelectricity and wasted human energy-, has now become a real international success. POWERleap is a clean-tech company developing floor solutions that generate electricity from vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Her innovative flooring demonstrations have made it as far East as Saudi Arabia.
Mark Cory- Owner, Operator of Franchise Network (FranNet). As a Business graduate from the University of Michigan, Cory has over 30 years of business and management experience. He spent 3 years as a CPA with Ernst and Whitney and 20 years with Olympia Entertainment, Inc, a management company for Joe Louis Arena, Cobo Arena, Hockeytown Cafe and much more. Cory is experienced in multiple disciplines including finance, IT, marketing and sales, operations, and HR. FranNet is a consulting company devoted to helping business individuals wanting to operate their own franchise, providing individuals with the necessary knowledge and resources to become successful.
Rachel Blinstein- Founder, CEO of Original Moxie Natural Hair Care Products. After years of experiencing dissapointing hair care and hair treatments, Blinstein developed her own line of natural, chemical-free and environmentally-friendly hair products, Original Moxie. Just recently launched in December 2010, Original Moxie can be found at Above Ground Hair Studio in AA and select Plum Market stores.
Brian Bandemer and Bryan Kunka, Founders of The Picket Report. Bandemer and Kunka are the brains behind The Picket Report, an interactive website designed to help people who are relocating or moving, identify which neighberhood they want to live. After college, Banademer graduated from Michigan State University and Kunka from Full Sail University, both went on to attend Bizdon U, an entrepreneurial progam, and their success story starts from there.
Maria LaLonde is the Detroit Recruiting Specialist for Bizdom U. In this role, LaLonde oversees the recruiting and interview processes and connects with the community to raise awareness about Bizdom U as an available resource.
Elizabeth Redmond- founder of POWERleap. Redmond will be our featured Luncheon Keynote at this year's conference! Redmond is a 2006 graduate of the School of Art and Design from University of Michigan. What started off as Redmond's senior year design thesis- research on piezoelectricity and wasted human energy-, has now become a real international success. POWERleap is a clean-tech company developing floor solutions that generate electricity from vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Her innovative flooring demonstrations have made it as far East as Saudi Arabia.
Mark Cory- Owner, Operator of Franchise Network (FranNet). As a Business graduate from the University of Michigan, Cory has over 30 years of business and management experience. He spent 3 years as a CPA with Ernst and Whitney and 20 years with Olympia Entertainment, Inc, a management company for Joe Louis Arena, Cobo Arena, Hockeytown Cafe and much more. Cory is experienced in multiple disciplines including finance, IT, marketing and sales, operations, and HR. FranNet is a consulting company devoted to helping business individuals wanting to operate their own franchise, providing individuals with the necessary knowledge and resources to become successful.
AGENDA
8:30 a.m. – 9:15am.
Check-in , Continental Breakfast, Networking
Welcoming Ceremony
9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Breakfast Keynote
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Chris Kondogiani– Adaptive Materials: “Adapt the Future”
Breakout Session #1
10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Tanya R. Allen – ForeverFresh: “Innovative Freshness”
Rachel Blistein– Original Moxie: “Moximize Yourself”
Mark Swanson - Full Flavor Foods Inc: “From Bakery to Gluten Free”
Breakout Session #2
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Mark Cory– FranNet: “Franchise Your Future”
Mark Cryderman- Sustainability Instructor: “The Grand Tour of Renewable Energy”
Brian Bandemer, Bryan Kunka & Maria LaLonde- The Picket Report & Bizdom U:
"Would you like to be my neighbor?"
- Luncheon Keynote -
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Elizabeth Redmond- POWERleap : “Electric Walk”
Skandalaris Business Plan Competition & Awards
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
