Michigan Tech College of Business Newsblog

Category: Seminars and Events

Event: Bob Mark Elevator Pitch Competition

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Where can you win $1,000 for just 90 seconds of your time? At the 2012 Bob Mark Elevator Pitch Competition! Join us on Wednesday, November 7 in Fisher 135 at 6pm for the fun!

In the competition, contestants have a limited time (like on an elevator ride) to sell a concept to someone who doesn’t have previous knowledge about their business. A 90-second time limit is placed on the competitors, who will also be competing for second ($500), third ($250), and audience-favorite ($200) prizes. Please join students, faculty, staff, and community members for this year’s event. You won’t be disappointed!

This event is a tribute to the late Bob Mark, Professor of Practice within the School of Business and Economics. Mark started and ran the first four years of the Elevator Pitch Competition and brought the Business Plan Competition to Michigan Tech. The Bob Mark Elevator Pitch Competition and other efforts  support his entrepreneurial spirit that continues to live on in students, faculty, and staff.

Get Involved

If you are interested in participating in this event, review the EPC Information and Rules or download the 2012 Bob Mark Elevator Pitch Competition Judge’s Score Sheet. To participate, attend an information session (the next one is scheduled for Tuesday, October 30th at 6pm in Fisher 139) and contact Travis: twbeauli@mtu.edu with any questions.

Advice from Bob Mark

  • Do not say “we have no competition.”
  • If you are stating guessed numbers, try using 3, 7, or 9 to make the numbers sound more realistic.
  • Memorize your first and last statements, let everything in the middle flow naturally.
  • Be confident in everything you say and avoid terms such as “maybe.”
  • There is an audience favorite prize so invite all of your friends to vote for you!

This event is sponsored by the Michigan Tech School of Business and Economics and the Michigan Tech Smart Zone.

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Savvy Entrepreneur Workshop: Intellectual Property (IP) Protection: It’s more than an NDA (non-disclosure agreement)

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If you have a business idea that you want to protect but don’t understand all the issues, next Tuesday’s Savvy Entrepreneur session is for you. The series features best practices sharing via 2-Way Interactive Web Conferencing. At this event you’ll learn key Strategic Intellectual Property Management Practices, including how to navigate through the dreaded Non-Disclosure Agreement with customers and partners. Learn why and how to protect one of your business’s most valuable assets affordably from local leading entrepreneurs and specialists. Bring your questions to this program to advance your technology entrepreneurship skill set.

A panel of successful entrepreneurs, investors and subject matter experts will share the best practices and experiences dealing with one of the biggest challenges and biggest critical success factors to launch or grow your company. The forum will include insights from the panelists followed by a moderated question and answer session to address your specific start-up commercialization or growth questions.

The event is sponsored by Michigan Tech’s office of Innovation and Industry Engagement, School of Business and Economics, and the Houghton SmartZone and the Keweenaw Alliance For Economic Development.

This event will take place at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 9, in the conference room of Michigan Tech’s Advanced Technology and Development Center at 1402 E. Sharon Avenue, followed with a panel discussion from 6 to 7:30 p.m. For more information on the workshop, contact Mike Morley 487-3485 or mcmorley@mtu.edu

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Research Presentation: Liang Song

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Assistant professor of accounting, Dr. Liang Song will present on Monday, September 24th.

Please join the School of Business and Economics and Assistant Professor Liang Song for a brown bag lunch presentation on Monday, September 24 at Noon in Academic Office Building 101. His presentation is titled: “Do Islamic Banks Employ Less Earnings Management?” Dr. Song added, “In this paper, we examine whether Islamic Banks are less likely to manage their earnings than Non-Islamic Banks, and how Islamic Banks’ unique corporate governance system, especially Shari’ah Supervisory Boards, impacts earnings management behaviors within Islamic Banks.”

Upcoming Research Presentations

  • Andre LaPlume – October 8, 12-1 pm,  Outstreaming for Ambidexterity
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Savvy Entrepreneur Workshop: Find Your First Customer

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Learn how to close the deal with your first customer at this season’s kickoff of the Savvy Entrepreneur Series, which features interactive web conferencing. This event will start with social networking and refreshments at 5:30 p.m., and then a panel discussion from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 11, in the conference room of the ATDC.

KTM Industries and Jeff Smith, codirector of the New Economy Division for the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, will lead the discussion.

Learn simple steps and best practices to help gain market traction for your intellectual property or collaborative university intellectual property.

The goal is to share rapid commercialization ideas as entrepreneurs work with a university research partner and learn about research intellectual property and the great base of strategic customers in Michigan.

For more information, contact Assistant Director John Diebel (IIE) at 487-1082 or jfdiebel@mtu.edu .

The event is sponsored by Innovation and Industry Engagement, the School of Business and Economics, SmartZone and the Keweenaw Alliance For Economic Development.

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Guest Speaker: Marie Cleveland

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The School of Business and Economics together with the Presidential Council of Alumnae welcome alumna Marie Cleveland to campus.

When: Thursday, September 13.

Where: Fisher Hall 329 at 4pm

Presentation titled, “How to deliver effective business presentations.”

This opportunity is open to everyone and will be beneficial for those currently studying business as well as individuals in other majors or areas on campus.

A reception with light refreshments following the lecture from 5 to 6pm in the Fisher 329. Hope to see you there!

More about Marie

Marie Cleveland ’82 loves her job. As a worldwide corporate account manager for Federal Express, she handles six major accounts and is responsible for bringing in $50 million in sales each year.

“We believe in helping clients in any way we can,” she says, “which often involves finding innovative solutions to improve their bottom lines.” This freedom to think and act outside the box is one of Cleveland’s favorite aspects of the position.

Though initially skeptical about working in sales, Cleveland found a talent and a passion for the high level of client interaction. She became a regional recruiter for Roadway Package Systems (RPS) in 1988 and went on to hold various positions with the company. When FedEx purchased RPS in 2000, Cleveland was named a corporate account executive.

There is no doubt that Cleveland has had a big impact at FedEx and is a highly valued employee. FedEx has recognized her contributions with numerous accolades over the years, including Rookie of the Year, Senior Account Representative of the Year, Corporate Account Executive of the Year, Ambassador’s Club Award, and the Largest Corporate Account Close Award. In 2010, she received the highest honor at FedEx, the President’s Club Award.

The key to professional satisfaction, according to Cleveland, is finding balance. “I love my job, but it is not my life,” she says. “One of the great things about FedEx is that they promote priorities; for me, it’s faith, family, and FedEx.” (Read more)

Did you miss the presentation? Download the slides: Marie Cleveland – presentations.

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