School of Business and Economics Pro Events

Sentry School of Business and Economics Smiley Professional Events

Become CAREER-READY WITH Pro Events

Smiley Professional Events is our ongoing schedule of speakers, workshops and special activities outside of classes. Students earn academic credit by choosing events that fit their schedules and interests such as etiquette dinners, networking banquets and local company tours. With over 300 Smiley Professional Events each year, there’s always something exciting happening!

Full Events Calendar Students-Read more on Canvas! Contact Pro Events

Business and Society Lecture Series

Liz Nilsen

Fall 2022

Liz Nilsen, co-author of “Strategic Doing,” presented a special Pro Event on “Leadership Is an Action, Not a Job Title.” Learn how to show leadership, even in the beginning of your career, by using the 10 skills of agile leadership.

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Smiley Professional Events

Lunch with a Leader

Lunch with a Leader is a unique networking opportunity where students reach out to community leaders for lunch. This gives students a one-on-one opportunity with leaders who are very graciously donating their time to meet with students who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet with someone in their position. Topics discussed range from professional development to guidance and resources. By setting up a “Lunch with a Leader” you will be expanding your network and gaining valuable professional knowledge. Your lunch might even lead to an internship or job opportunity – as past students have reported!

Students-Read more on Canvas!

By the Numbers

300+

activities and speakers for students each year

leaders available to connect with students for a mentorship lunch

250+

speakers come each year to panel discussions, classes and networking receptions

Events Program History

The events program in the UW-Stevens Point School of Business and Economics has evolved through the years and in 2019, the program was named in honor of Mark and Julie Smiley. Smiley Professional Events is housed out of the Anderson Classroom to Career (C2C) Center in 128 CPS.

Mark and Julie Smiley

Mark and Julie Smiley met while attending UW-Stevens Point in the early 1980s. Mark is a 1985 business administration alumnus and Julie is 1987 communication alumna. Since their time at UWSP, the Smileys settled in Baraboo and founded a manufacturing company headquartered in Port Washington called Badger Paperboard Inc., which continues to grow and expand to new locations throughout the U.S. Mark and Julie also raised a daughter and a son, both of whom now take active leadership roles in the family business. Mark traveled back to Stevens Point to participate in an School of Business and Economics (SBE) alumni panel discussion in 2014 as part of what is now known as the Smiley Professional Events. Since that time, Mark and Julie have established two UWSP scholarships in business and communication as well as a program fund to support a variety of SBE student opportunities such as soft skill development and professional preparedness workshops and dinners, peer-to-peer financial coaching and professional organization membership.

Meet the Pro Events Staff

We are located in the Anderson Classroom to Career Center on the first floor of the College of Professional Studies Building (128 CPS).

Elizabeth Martin

Professor – Business
Director – Anderson Classroom to Career Center
Director – Sentry School of Business and Economics Student Engagement Program

elizabeth.martin@uwsp.edu

715-346-4303

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Selah Alft

Smiley Professional Events Intern
Pro Events Advisory Board Member

proevents@uwsp.edu

715-346-2112

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Hannah Gunderson

Smiley Professional Events Intern
Pro Events Advisory Board Member

proevents@uwsp.edu

715-346-2112

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Abby Koopman

Smiley Professional Events Intern
Pro Events Advisory Board Member

proevents@uwsp.edu

715-346-2112

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Advisory Board

The Pro Events Advisory Board is a group of students that works closely with the Pro Events Program of the School of Business and Economics. Advisory Board members help shape the program and serve as its face for students and guests. This is a year-long commitment that is beneficial to the student board members as well as to the Pro Events program. Current board members were selected in April 2021. Read more details below.

Meet our Advisory Board Students – Read More on Canvas!

“Smiley Professional Events were the most beneficial professional development activities throughout my college career. I realized the importance of networking and stepping outside of my comfort zone.”

Mikkalyn Hafner — Majors: Management; marketing

“I just got my formal job offer and will be starting training in a couple of weeks. Without the networking event that was held this past semester I’m not sure that this opportunity would have been available to me. The ability to network and put a face to a name is powerful thing, especially when initially looking for employment.”

“I really enjoyed the Women in Business lunch, it gave me a chance to network with successful women. I received business cards from a handful of women who said they would be glad to sit down with me and give me some advice.”

“Before I attended the Exploring Grad School Options event, the thought of applying to grad school was daunting and a bit overwhelming, but now I feel much more comfortable with the idea and process.”