News Service

03-21-05

April 1 Voorhees Business Conference to focus on global business issues, supply chain management

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University will bring several experts on global entrepreneurship and supply chain management to campus Friday, April 1, as part of the College of Business' 13th annual Voorhees Business Conference.

The conference will be from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Scheman Building, Iowa State Center. Cost is $150, including lunch. College of Business students may attend free but must register; all other students pay $25 to register.

The conference has two concurrent tracks: Global Business, "From Concept to Consumer: How to Turn Entrepreneurial Spirit Into Business Reality"; and Supply Chain Management, "Market Innovation in the Supply Chain."

The event kicks off with keynote speaker Susan Parks, founder and CEO of WalkStyles Inc., Laguna Hills, Calif. Her speech is titled, "Walk the Walk: Building a New Company -- WalkStyles, Inc." She will share her experience on generating an idea, designing the product and branding it in the marketplace.

WalkStyles Inc. is a healthy lifestyle company that creates and sells walking products and services. Prior to starting her own company, Parks was the executive vice president of operations for Kinko's. She was responsible for 1,100 domestic locations, marketing, real estate and other duties. Parks also worked for Gateway, Irvine, Calif., first as a senior vice president of the business division and then as senior vice president of United States markets. She earned her bachelor's degree in industrial administration from Iowa State in 1979.

Global Business track times and speakers are:

• 9:45 -- 10:45 a.m. -- Kurt Heiar, chief executive officer of Regena Therapeutics, Ames, "Science to Commercialization: Critical Success Factors."
• 10:55 -- 11:55 a.m. -- Mike Slater, partner and senior finance consultant, banc-serv CONSULTING LLC, Indianapolis, Ind., "Access to Capital."
• 12:45 -- 1:45 p.m. -- Darrell DeGeus, business development director, and Jennifer Estochen, supply chain analyst, both of 3M Corp., St. Paul, Minn., "Innovation and Entrepreneurship -- A Look Inside."
• 2 - 3 p.m. -- Jay McKee, vice president and administrator, McKee Button Company, Muscatine, "The History of McKee Button."

Supply Chain Management track times and speakers are:

• Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., "Meeting the Logistics Challenge in a Global Company."
• 10:55 - 11:55 a.m. -- Mark Walker, vice president of transportation, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn., "How Successful 3PLs Continue to Add Value for Customers."
• 12:45 - 1:45 p.m. -- Rick Blasgen, senior vice president of integrated logistics, ConAgra Foods Inc., Omaha, Neb., "Superior Customer Service through Supply Chain Management."
• 2 - 3 p.m. -- Steve Carter, general manager, Target Corporation, Minneapolis, Minn., "Supply Chain -- Should it be Part of Your Corporate Strategy?"

Mike Crum, professor of logistics, operations and management information systems and Voorhees Business Conference committee member, said the speakers offers "a different perspective on critical aspects of conducting business in today's marketplace."

"We're very excited to welcome this lineup of speakers to the conference," Crum said. "We've got a diverse group of speakers who will share their experiences in creating and

maintaining successful businesses and managing their global supply chains. Conference attendees will learn more about the issues and opportunities other companies face and how they manage them."

To register or for more information, call (515) 294-3656, e-mail business@iastate.edu or visit http://www.bus.iastate.edu/voorhees.

The Voorhees Business Conference was established to honor the career of Iowa State Professor Emeritus R. Dale Voorhees, who taught at the College of Business for more than 20 years.

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Quick look

Several experts on global entrepreneurship and supply chain management will be in the Scheman Building, Iowa State Center, from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Friday, April 1, as part of the College of Business' 13th annual Voorhees Business Conference.