Upcoming Events
April 28, 2012
Calvin 5k Spring Classic
Gather a team of five co-workers and participate in the Calvin Spring Classic Corporate Challenge! Last year's participants included Ranir, Mary Free Bed, Vi-Chem, Amway R&D, Royal Securities, GE Aviation, Visbeen Associates and Prein & Newhof. If you're not a runner yourself but have a corporate wellness program, please pass this opportunity along.
May 4, 2012
Chick-fil-A Leadercast Broadcast
Mark your calendar for a one-day leadership event featuring world-renowned speakers addressing leadership issues that matter most. This live web broadcast will be shown at Calvin's Covenant Fine Arts Center on Friday, May 4, 8:00-4:30 p.m. Speakers include Patrick Lencioni, Tim Tebow, Soledad O'Brien, John Maxwell and more. Event details and registration instructions >>
Sponsored by the Calvin Center for Innovation in Business
Have you joined the Calvin College Alumni and Friends group?
MBA@Calvin Career Mentoring Program
Business is a broad field, and many students aren't sure which direction to pursue. Pairing up with an alum who has successfully navigated a career path can be invaluable to students who are discerning their vocational calling. Mentors commit to meeting with a student 3 times in one school year. More »
Invitation List
MBA@Calvin invitations are only sent via e-mail. Send your name and e-mail to mba@calvin.edu to be added to our mailing list. You can also join the "MBA@Calvin" Facebook group.
Horizon Award
The Horizon Award is presented by MBA@Calvin to recognize outstanding young alumni business professionals who demonstrate significant contributions to their field and the impact of faith on their work.
The 2011 Horizon Award was presented to Rick DeVos '04 at the September event. Read more about his work.
Nominate a candidate for the 2012 Horizon Award!
Past Events
MBA@Calvin Breakfast & Networking Event:
A Broader Definition of Innovation
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
7:30-9:00 a.m., Prince Conference Center
Jim Zwiers '90Senior Vice President and President, Outdoor Group, Wolverine Worldwide
"Innovation," with over 400 million Google references, is far more than a business buzz word. Our speaker believes innovation is "change that creates a new dimension of performance." Come to this edition of MBA@Calvin to hear Jim Zwiers '90, senior vice president of Wolverine Worldwide, Inc. on the critical role of innovation in business, leadership and life.
Cost: $5 – pay at the door RSVP: Send your name, company name and job title to mba@calvin.edu Calvin business majors: You are also welcome! |
Zwiers has served at Wolverine Worldwide since 1998, beginning as associate general counsel and general counsel, and moving to president of the company's Hush Puppies U.S. Division. He became senior vice president in January 2008 and president of the Outdoor Group in March 2009. He has broad experience in brand and business strategy, retail and wholesale markets, licensing, acquisitions and portfolio development. The Outdoor Group is responsible for brands such as Merrell, Patagonia and Chaco. Zwiers received a B.S. in accountancy from Calvin and a J.D. from the University of Michigan.
Networking list: see who's coming...and spread the word to others!
Interesting in sponsoring an event? Contact mba@calvin.edu for details.
October 22, 2011
Business and Economics Alumni Reunion
This Homecoming Weekend event is open to any Calvin alumni who majored in economics, business or accounting and for alumni of other majors currently practicing in these fields
Lunch and alumni panel discussion
"Retooling the Rustbelt"
Niala Boodhoo '96, WBEZ business reporter, moderator
Jeremy Louters '03, Plante Moran
Ken Van Der Wende '77, BISSELL International
Kirstin Wells '86, Federal Reserve
Break-out sessions will follow.
Event details and registration info >>
October 20, 2011
Business Careers Networking Reception
MBA@Calvin members are invited to attend this annual event, hosted by the career development office, which brings together business students with Calvin career partners.
5:30-6:00 p.m.: Meet and Greet
Meet and greet time with Calvin business and internship partners, Calvin business students and faculty, Board of Trustees and Parent Council guests, and career development office staff. Hors d'oeuvres will be served.
6:00-6:40 p.m.: "Toast and Roast"
Glenn Triezenberg and three business leaders will toast, roast, and celebrate President Byker's business career and sixteen-year legacy of leadership at Calvin College.
6:40-7:30 p.m.: Speed Networking
Students and guests meet, share stories and network in five minute mini-interview encounters.
7:30-8:30 p.m. General Networking
Optional coffee and dessert time for those who wish to continue the celebration
Tuesday, September 20
MBA@Calvin Breakfast & Networking Event
7:30 a.m. networking/continental breakfast
8-9 a.m. panel discussion
MBA@Calvin thanks Doug Haan, an entrepreneur and Class of 1979 alumnus, for sponsoring this event! Learn more about Doug's work»
"Imagination and Innovation"
Join MBA@Calvin for a conversation with Rick DeVos '04, Mike Morin and Kelly LeCoy '11 about thinking outside the box and taking an initial brainstorm from concept to reality. What does it take to develop new businesses in West Michigan? And how can Calvin alumni invest in our town—economically, socially and culturally?
After a few comments about ArtPrize, Momentum and 5x5 Night, much of the presentation will be in Q&A format. If you have questions you'd like us to consider including, send them to mba@calvin.edu along with your RSVP.
Rick DeVos '04
Founder, ArtPrize
Rick DeVos is a social entrepreneur. In 2009 he created ArtPrize, and he is behind other ventures that have a common theme of empowering, expanding and enlightening conversation. ArtPrize was designed to be a simple social experiment to see if artists and the public could engage each other in a new way. The scale and energy of the event rocketed it into debates all over the art world, in urban planning circles and the global press. DeVos graduated from Calvin College in 2004 with a degree in Communications. He currently serves on the board of directors for ArtPrize, the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, the Grand Rapids Art Museum and the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce.
Mike Morin
Mentor Director, Momentum
Mike Morin is a seasoned business strategist with solid experience in building early stage ventures. His professional and academic background include software design and development, sales and marketing and supply chain logistics. Morin currently serves as Sr. Business Advisor at Windquest Group, a private equity firm, and Mentor Director at Momentum-MI, a new business start-up accelerator. Prior to Windquest, Morin was SVP of Business Development for Mediaguide, a Philadelpia-based technology start-up that provides business intelligence information to the music, advertising and radio industries. Before Mediaguide, he served as the president of Knoware, a technology services firm and business incubator. Morin holds BA and MBA degrees from Michigan State University–Broad School of Business.
Kelly LeCoy '11
5x5 Night Winner
LeCoy, a 2011 business graduate, is developing Uptown Kitchen, an industrial kitchen in the Grand Rapids Uptown neighborhood that foodie entrepreneurs can rent to test new products and launch new businesses. After winning the Calvin and regional BizPlan competitions, she took her proposal to 5x5 Night. For 5 minutes with 5 slides she presented to 5 judges, and of the 5 ideas her project was chosen to receive the full $5000 awarded that night. While she develops Uptown Kitchen on the side, LeCoy is working as a proposal specialist at Steelcase, managing the proposal process for government furniture contracts.
P.S. Check out the list of alumni ArtPrize participants!
