Banking, commerce is featured topic for Mellem Business Symposium The College of Business and Public Administration announces its second annual Mellem Business Symposium, with a full itinerary of national business and government leaders scheduled to speak on the topic of the mixing of banking and commerce. The event begins Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center, and continues Thursday, Sept. 27, with keynote addresses scheduled throughout the day in Room 1, Gamble Hall, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The College of Business and Public Administration invites all members of the University and Greater Grand Forks business community to attend. This year’s Mellem Business Symposium tackles new realities in the banking, commerce and financial services markets, with a specific focus on the intensely debated topic of whether the mixing of banking and commerce should be allowed. The topic gained national attention when Target and Wal-Mart Corporations began pursuit of banking charters. Some industry experts believe recent legislation favors activity toward mixing of banking and commercial activities; yet, there are many who would argue the potential risks from mixing the two are significant enough that banking and commerce should remain separate. The Mellem Business Symposium offers a diverse array of CEOs, government leaders, and local business representatives who will provide perspectives from various industries that are impacted by the mixing of banking and commerce. The first set of keynote speakers includes C. Robert Henriksen, president and CEO of MetLife Insurance Company in New York City, and Jim Poolman, former North Dakota Insurance Commissioner. Henriksen and Poolman speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center and will address how the insurance industry is changing, especially in a market where more corporate businesses are increasing the type of financial services offered and the lines between banking, finance, insurance and commerce are becoming blurred. The event continues at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, with an address by Niel Willardson, senior vice president and general council at the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis, Minn., who will address new realities in banking legislation. At 9:45 a.m., a panel discussion regarding new boundaries in banking, commerce and financial services will be moderated by Alerus Financial Bank President Randy Newman. The featured panelists include: Mark Larson, president and COO of Digi-Key Corporation; Brent Kukla, senior manager of Ernst & Young Financial Services in New York; and Chad Hoeft, director at Citibank Investment Group. A presentation by Nancy Ballsrud will follow the panel discussion at 11:15 a.m. Ballsrud, who currently serves as vice president and assistant treasurer at Cargill, will discuss financing business ventures in a new financial and global marketplace. The final session at 2 p.m. will involve debate about the pros and cons of mixing of banking and commerce. Debating the topic will be Rick Clayburgh, president and CEO of the North Dakota Bankers Association and Robert Eager, attorney and partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Law Firm in Washington, D.C. All the events on Thursday, Sept. 27, will be held in Room 1, Gamble Hall. The event is free and open to the public. The Mellem Business Symposium is named in honor of College of Business and Public Administration alumni, Ken and JoAnn Mellem. The event is supported by private gifts and sponsorships from JR Kirkland and State Farm Insurance. The Mellem Business Symposium supports the College of Business and Public Administration’s mission is to teach students the necessary skills to excel in business, government and society, while providing a forum to discuss timely topics with members of the regional community. Please make plans to attend the second annual Mellem Business Symposium on Sept. 26-27. For more details regarding the event, check out www.business.und.edu. -- CK Schultz, Director, External Relations, College of Business & Public Administration, ck.schultz@mail.business.und.edu, 777-6937