Symposium on corporate branding begins Sept. 30 The College of Business and Public Administration is proud to announce its fourth annual Mellem Business Symposium, with a full itinerary of national business and government leaders scheduled to speak on the topic of corporate branding in an interactive world. The event begins on the UND campus Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. in the Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center and continues on Thursday, Oct. 1, with keynote addresses scheduled throughout the day in Gamble Hall, room 7, from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is made possible by State Farm Insurance’s Good Neighbor Grant Program and private gifts. The College of Business and Public Administration invites all members of the university and greater Grand Forks business community to attend this exciting and timely event. This year’s Mellem Business Symposium tackles the subject of branding, with a specific focus on how corporations must brand themselves in an interactive world. The symposium offers a diverse array of top-level executives and local business leaders who will provide various industry perspectives on how to build, manage, and expand a corporate brand. The event will kick-off on the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m., with featured keynote speaker, Karen Suzukamo, manager of Brand Advertising at 3M Corporation in Minneapolis, Minn. A dessert reception will follow her presentation. The rest of the event activities will take place at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, in Gamble Hall, Room 7. The speakers include: Jessica Staeher, public affairs specialist, and Rod Gibson, marketing analyst for State Farm Insurance, Lincoln, Neb.; Matt Majka, chief operating officer for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League, Minneapolis, Minn.; Traie Dockter, director of marketing, Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, N.D.; and Carrie Philpot, vice president and director at digitas, an advertising and brand management partner of Delta/Northwest Airlines, Atlanta, Ga. For a full listing of speaker topics, biographies, and session times, please visit www.business.und.edu. 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 from JR Kirkland and a Good Neighbor Grant provided by State Farm Insurance. The Mellem Business Symposium supports the College of Business and Public Administration’s mission, which 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. For more details regarding the event, check out www.business.und.edu or call 701-777-2135. -- CK Braun-Schultz, Director of External Relations , College of Business & Public Administration, ck.schultz@mail.business.und.edu, 777-2135