Slideshow: 'Business Week' has campus, community, students smiling

Father and son duo Sam and Andy MacMillan, representing two major companies, Hewlett-Packard and Oracle Enterprise 2.0, respectively, addressed a packed house at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Thursday night, Feb. 24. The MacMillans were the featured speakers at the inaugural “Business Week” event, a collaborative effort led by UW-Green Bay’s Austin E. Cofrin School of Business and Career Services personnel.

The reception, dinner and keynote presentation at the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts, with more than 170 attendees, capped a week filled with opportunities for both local businesses and organizations and UW-Green Bay students and faculty. Activities included panel discussions, a job and internship fair, an etiquette luncheon, and networking opportunities — each with the hope of preparing today’s UW-Green Bay students for tomorrow’s working environment.

Sam MacMillan is vice president and account executive, U.S. Navy, for Hewlett-Packard Companies. He told the group that building relationships between campus and community were key. He encouraged the Cofrin School of Business and area business leaders to continue to create an arena for collaboration and opportunity. Andy MacMillan, vice president of product management for Oracle Enterprise 2.0, spoke about “personal leadership.” He directed students to seize every leadership opportunity, whether it be in a class project, a business group, or an internship.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to connect our students and faculty with business leaders,” said one of the event planners, business faculty member David Radosevich. “We couldn’t believe the overwhelming success. Those who attended enjoyed the format. (Co-planner) Larry (McGregor) said e-mails are pouring in, congratulating us, and thanking us for the opportunity to connect our campus with the business community.”

Most e-mails were in line with this one from a community member…
“I wanted to congratulate you and your colleagues on an excellent event last night. We were very impressed with the entire evening. Everything was first class. It is great to see the University connecting with the community and actively engaging in a partnership with the business community. We will all benefit from this collaborative relationship.”

Chancellor Thomas Harden, Radosevich and Georgia-Pacific Vice President Kelly Wolff welcomed attendees. Graduate student Beth Manning and alumnus Tammy Williams provided the student and alumni perspective on leadership.

Georgia-Pacific was the event’s major sponsor. Other sponsors included Pomp’s, Wisconsin Public Service Foundation, Schenck, Baylake Bank, Bank First National, Camera Corner Connecting Point, The MARQ, Fox Communities Credit Union, Green Bay Packaging, Inc., Leonard & Finco Public Relations, Inc., Schreiber Foods, St. Brendan’s Inn, Wipfli, Cornerstone Business Services and UW-Green Bay’s Cofrin School of Business, Career Services, Alumni Association and Small Business Development Center.

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