DEX-MN News

Minnesota at the 2009 International Career Development Conference

Congratulations to all 147 delegates from Minnesota that attended the 2009 International Career Development Conference, April 21 - 25 in Anaheim, California. Not only were the delegates amazing in their events, but Minnesota as a whole was recognized as the second largest number of students. Please take a moment to look through all the awards, certificates, and results from the competition. Again, congratulations to those who were able to attend, you have made Minnesota proud of you! Spring is in the air and it’s time to start getting ready for next year's conference.

Passport Award: Alexandria Technical College

Advisor of the Year Award: Mike Zarn, South Central College

Universal Studios Challenge: Thomas van Wakeren, Alexandria Technical College.

National Management Institute winning team members (they receive cash awards):

1st - John Fode, Minnesota State Technical College – Moorhead
2nd - Daniel Werner, South Central College
3rd - Gertrude Huskisson, Minnesota School of Business – Rochester

Culinary Management Institute winning team members (they receive a Safeway Foods Scholarship):

1st - Sarah Barta, Timothy Born and Anna Larsen, South Central College

ValPack Award of $750 for First Place in Sales Management Meeting:

Ron Krafka, Alexandria Technical College.

Certificates of Excellence are for competitors that earn a score of 70% or higher in the preliminary competition. In Business Simulation events they are use the comprehensive exam and the role play for the 70% or higher.

Click here to see students who received Certificates of Excellence. (PDF Document)

Students Made Their Mark at the State Career Development Conference.

Famous Dave Anderson fired everyone up at the Opening Session of the Career Development Conference on February 17 at the Alltel Center in Mankato! During the session Student Service Awards were presented to:

Amanda Haag, Michalene Kirchhevel, and John Macy – Alexandria Technical College

Alfredo Lopez-Ibarra, Joseph Moen, and Patrick Wirkus – Globe University

Jesse Brandes, Robert Dunbar, and Jessica Maas – South Central College

Luke Grabinger and Ashley Raisanen – St. Cloud Technical College

Kia Adams and Michael Orlando – University of Minnesota

Calvin Beckel, Luke Bergo, and Michelle Haddad – MSC, Southeast – Winona.

Mike Zarn, Chapter Advisor at South Central College, was named Advisor of the Year.

The chapters at Alexandria Technical College, Globe University, South Central College and St. Cloud Technical College were recognized as Diamond Chapters for the 2008 – 2009 year.

Click here to view the Opening Session.

Preliminary competition was held Wednesday, February 18th. Students who advanced to the final rounds were announced at the Mini Awards Thursday morning. The culmination to the conference was the Awards Ceremony Thursday evening. Click here for the listing of the students that were recognized for their accomplishments.

Entrepreneurship is all about controlling resources and taking action with the goal of creating value.

Last November members of Minnesota Delta Epsilon Chi were challenged to form a team to meet an Entrepreneurship Challenge.

The challenge was to create as much value as possible using a recycled cardboard box plus two add-ons. The box had to be a 1 piece box – not a box with a separate cover. The add-ons can be no more than two things to complete the project. Value could be measured at any level the team chose.

Value comes from actually implementing ideas and delivering results. To be successful the teams had to challenge assumptions, seize opportunities, be creative, and Make Your Mark!

Entries were judged on the product title and rationale for the product, projected target market, explanation of the marketing plan, and the amount of risk involved.

The winning entry was "Band on the Crawl" by the Bearson Beaters, Tony Jensen, Ben Asplin, and Christine Ahrens, Alexandria Technical College.

Click here to view the video.

Following Your Inspiration

Tuesday, November 18 Minnesota Delta Epsilon Chi participated in the Global Entrepreneurship Week by hosting an Entrepreneurship Symposium at the St. Cloud Civic Center.

The day featured 4 innovative and creative entrepreneurs from within the state. Amy Langer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of SALO,OBERON, and NumberWorks, LLC started the day with an enlightening message on how she started her first business and has developed the businesses she has today. Amy Langer talked about the importance of recognizing the accomplishments of all employees, celebrating success and having fun in the workplace.

Angie Bastian, Angie’s Kettle Corn, shared how she and her husband started their business in the garage at their home and how it has grown to the successful business it is today. She talked about the importance of being a marketer – always looking for a new outlet, which her husband actively does. Angie stressed the importance of maintaining quality in their product and looking for ways to expand the product offerings.

President and CEO of Woldwide DreamBuilders, Matthew G. Sikich II talked about the importance of learning something new each day and looking to the experts for advice. He, also, talked about the importance of rewarding employees and recognizing the importance of customer service.

CJ Dube’, an alumnus and past state president of Minnesota Delta Epsilon Chi, now the managing Partner and Co-Founder of OBERON in Minneapolis wrapped up the day. CJ’s message stresses the importance of having a passion for what you are doing, the willingness to work hard, to set goals, to take risks, and not to be afraid of failure – pick yourself up if you do fail and make it a learning experience.

All of the speakers talked about the importance of following what inspires you and Community Service – which businesses and people need to give back for the benefit of all.

Dave Anderson, keynote speaker at the Career Development Conference!

Dave Anderson is the founder of Famous Dave's of America, the legendary BBQ franchise, with over 120 restaurants and growing. Voted the "Hottest Restaurant Concept in America" by Nation's Restaurant News, Famous Dave's has received unprecedented recognition. Ernst & Young, sponsored by NASDAQ and USA Today, recognized Anderson as Minnesota's "Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year." Anderson is also known for helping found the Rainforest Café, another highly successful nationwide restaurant company. Anderson has helped found three publicly traded companies on Wall Street and created over 20,000 new jobs. In Dave's own life, he has experienced adversity, frustration, and bankruptcy as well as tremendous success. Dave's life story is featured in two New York Times bestsellers. He has served two Presidents and three governors in advisory positions. David has provided key testimony before Congress and the U.S. Senate. Always tackling the impossible, this bottom half of the class high school student has earned his Master's Degree from Harvard University without an undergraduate degree! He has appeared on all major networks including: Regis and Kathy Lee, Oprah Winfrey, Crook & Chase, the Discovery Channel, the Food Network, National Public Radio and over 200 radio shows.

As a highly sought after keynote speaker, Dave shares his heartfelt optimism using his life's story to share valuable insight and life lessons in dealing with today's fast changing and challenging world. Dave is an enthusiastic advocate of the American Dream, he stresses that no matter how tough things may seem today, if you never give up your dream and work hard tomorrow's rewards will always come

Entrepreneurship Challenge

Entrepreneurship is all about controlling resources and taking action with the goal of creating value.

Entrepreneurship is of enormous interest, because the 21st Century will belong to innovators who can turn ideas into action. This applies more than ever to today's students, who need to be self-starters and possess an entrepreneurial mindset, regardless of what they go on to do in life.

The Entrepreneurship Challenge was open to teams of Minnesota Delta Epsilon Chi members. The challenge was to create as much value as possible using a recylced cardboard box plus two add-ons. The box had to be a 1 piece box – not a box with a separate cover. The add-ons can be no more than two things to complete the project. Value can be measured on any level the team choose. The entries will be judges on the product title and rationale for the product, projected target market, explanation of the marketing plan, and the amount of risk involved.

Professional Development Conference

The St. Cloud Civic Center was the place to be October 28 as 400 college students got motivated to Make Their Mark!

Grant Baldwin wowed the audience during the opening session as he shared his message. His “Rock, Paper, Anything” game really showed how everyone takes a different perspective on things, even when they are all given the same information.

The State Officers introduced the Souls4Soles project – a way for Minnesota Delta Epsilon Chi to make its mark in helping people.

Following the Opening Session Attendees had the opportunity to attend three workshops of their choice. The workshops were:

Broke Today...Rich Tomorrow!

This workshop helps students get a better understanding of money management and how their decisions with money today, both good and bad, will affect their options and opportunities tomorrow. This workshop is very interactive and engaging and will help you create a game plan for what to do with money.

We Think...

Unless your life goal is to become hermit, a recluse, or completely alone you will be communicating with others – this means you will be a member of a team. And although you have brilliant ideas, the real brilliance in dealing with others shines when YOU become an expert on WE. Change your MeThink to WeThink in this fun and interactive session!

Where Marketing Meets Wall Street

Learn how market research and trend spotting can lead to opportunistic stock picking. This breakout session will include hands on experimentation and an interactive dialogue about how winning on Wall Street can be as simple as the basics of marketing.

Fundamentals Needed

To build the career of your dreams! Learn key skills to discover where to interview, how to interview and create the foundation for a great career.

Been There, Done That 2.0

Business Simulations? Case Studies? Prepared Events? State-Only Events? What does this mean and how do I prepare? Come to this session to get the information and the tips on what it takes to be a winner!

How To Look Like A Million!

The #1 factor in your ability to project self-confidence and professionalism is your outward appearance. The first product you must sell to the prospective client is YOU! This session will teach you to do just that. The initial impression you create and the image you maintain has a great influence in the business world and in your social life.

Knowing Your Personality

Knowing your personality/leadership style can help in various stages of your life. From career planning to communicating and motivating others, learning your preferred style of interacting can benefit in a number of different capacities. While also learning your own style, you can develop skills to adapt and use different approaches when dealing with other's styles.

Color!

Color sells and color communicates! The silent language of color is a powerful tool you can learn to use to enhance and advance your personal and professional life. This session offers valuable insight on how the colors you prefer, wear and live in effect you and others.

During the Leave Your Legacy luncheon, out- going board members, Marilynn Lebahn and Rebecca Shand, were recognized for their years of service. Karen Meuwissen, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, presented the Special Appreciation Award to Christine Storms for her outstanding work in helping prepare for the 2008 Career Development Conference. Mike Zarn, the 2008 Honorary Life Recipient, presented the 2009 Outstanding Service Award to Holly Portner, former State President, former National President and alumnus who contributes countless hours to the organization. He also had the distinct privilege to present Christopher Hughes with the 2009 Honorary Life Award. Chris was a member of the 1995 – 1996 State Action Team; he currently serves as the alumni representative on the Board of Directors and has assisted with all but one conference since his graduation. His dedication to the organization has been exemplary.

Holly Portner wrapped up the conference as she talked about the opportunities that were presented throughout the day to network with others and the importance of networking. She also talked about what a difference Delta Epsilon Chi can make and the impact it has made in her life.

      
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Chapter Officer Training

by Luke Grabinger, St. Cloud Technical College officer

The Minnesota Delta Epsilon Chi officer training retreat was a fun and exciting opportunity. For officers new and returning, the training allowed us all to learn enough about the organization to be considered DEXperts. There was also learning related to motivation and leadership, as well as setting the tone for a great year. It was a social networking event, a development conference, and a starting place for creating our programs of work.

Minnesota was honored by the presence of various alumnae and the National President, Stephen Hanson. He led some compelling discussions pertaining to why people lead, from both negative and positive perspectives. Sharing personal and external stories, Stephen reinforced the learning objectives. Selflessness seems to be the topic that all great leaders in the past have possessed.

To be a leader in Delta Epsilon Chi, one must know what the organization does and where the opportunities to develop can be found. To enhance the capabilities of each chapter, we did networking activities to provide a cohesiveness of Minnesota DEX, and built contact lists to “Make Our Mark” together. We participated in DEX Jeopardy and people bingo, which were the highlights of the evening, to meet others and learn about our beloved organization. The development sessions allowed officers to be expressive and reflective, contributing to the group while deciding personally what was most meaningful to each of us.

To close the training session, each officer team was set-up to develop a program of work that will dictate our activities for the rest of the year. It was amazing being able to develop a mission statement, and then a vision statement that we can work towards achieving. Then we set goals to meet our vision and delegated the tasks each officer member would be responsible for.

We couldn’t envision a better way to learn about the power of networking, the skills needed for leadership, and how much fun a team can have when working towards a common goal. Classrooms are instrumental in expanding knowledge; this officer training was the key to applying that knowledge.

      
      
      
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