Communication Week 2017

October 9-11

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The Division of Communication at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point is proud to welcome back to campus outstanding alumni for Communication Week 2017 from October 9-11. This special event will allow current students to interact with former UW-Stevens Point communication and arts management students who have achieved great success in their professional careers. The returning alumni will serve as guest speakers in communication and arts management classes and student groups during these three days. They also will meet with students outside of the classroom and with members of student organizations to share insights and offer career advice.

Welcome!Monday, October 9

Jesse CzechChange Management Coordinator University of Wisconsin Service Center, Madison, Wis.

Born and raised in Pulaski, Wis., Jesse was a three-sport athlete in high school and played soccer year-round. He went to St. Norbert College, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in communication with a minor in leadership studies and business administration. He ran track and field and played on the soccer team, which made a Sweet 16 appearance in 2004. In 2008, he entered the communication graduate program at UW-

Stevens Point and became an instructional assistant for Communication 101. After graduating in 2010, he worked as a corporate trainer for Schneider National, Inc. In 2013 he joined the UW System as an instructional designer for three years before moving into his current position. He also earned a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in management at UW-Whitewater in 2016. At the UW System, he currently leads large-scale software change initiatives. He is also an adjunct instructor at Concordia University Wisconsin, teaching various business and communication undergraduate courses.

Rob ManzkeChief of Staff and Legislative LiaisonOffice of the Chancellor, UW-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, Wis.

A native of Seymour, Wis., Rob chose to attend UW-Stevens Point after participating in the musical theater and dance summer camp the summer before his senior year in high school. After graduating with a degree in communication (interpersonal and organizational), Rob earned a master’s degree in college student development and administration from UW-La Crosse. He returned to UW-Stevens Point in

2000 to work on campus in the Student Involvement and Employment Office. In 2006, he was hired by Chancellor Linda Bunnell as executive assistant to the chancellor, a position that evolved into the chief of staff and legislative liaison position he holds today. He is the primary advisor to the chancellor and serves as the chancellor’s liaison to the campus and community. As legislative liaison, Rob advocates on behalf of the university to elected officials at the local, state and federal levels. In 2015, Rob earned his Ph.D. from UW-Madison after seven years while continuing to work full-time at UW-Stevens Point. Rob lives in Plover with his wife, Tara, and their four children.

9:30-10:45 a.m. COMM 342: Training and Development CAC 237 11-11:50 a.m. Networking Time with Students CAC 227 12-12:50 p.m. ARTM/COMM 100: Orientation to Arts Management/Communication NFAC 221 2-3:15 p.m. COMM 345: Small Groups Communication CAC 237 3:30-4:45 p.m. COMM 280: Introduction to Interpersonal Communication CAC 333

9:30-10:45 a.m. Comm 221: Basic Journalism CAC 301 11-11:50 a.m. Networking Time with Students CAC 227 12-12:50 p.m. ARTM/COMM 100: Orientation to Arts Management/Communication NFAC 221 2-3:15 p.m. ARTM 300/Comm 338: Fundraising & Institutional Advancement CAC 239

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Monday, October 9 Tuesday, October 10

Derek Wagner Professional Development SpecialistLorman Education Services, Eau Claire, Wis.

A native of Milwaukee, Derek chose to attend UWSP based on the recommendation of a high school friend already in the communication program and because he enjoyed the campus. He chose to study interpersonal organizational communication and in addition to his studies played for the club rugby team, serving as president of the club his senior year. After graduating in 2013, Derek moved to Eau Claire and began working at Lorman Education Services, a continuing

education company that provides an online training resource for professionals in various fields, including lawyers, accountants, human resources professionals and engineers. Derek works in sales, interacting with companies of various sizes across the United States. He also serves as a team lead, which involves training and assisting others on the sales team. Outside of work, he has continued pursuing his passion for rugby through coaching the UW-Eau Claire women’s rugby club.

Kurt BenzineGeriatric PharmacistDivine Savior Healthcare, Portage, Wis.Co-Owner of Cercis Brewing Company,Columbus, Wis.

A 1984 graduate of UW-Ste-vens Point, Kurt majored in communication with an em-phasis in advertising and PR. His first post-graduation position was as an advertis-ing sales representative at a small newspaper near his hometown of Rio. From there he moved to inside sales and customer service in the business sector. In 1990, he took a position as customer service supervi-sor for Ohmeda, a medical manufacturing company in Madison. After two years in

middle management and with exposure to the healthcare industry, Kurt wanted a change. At age 30, he was accepted to the pharmacy program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy in 1999, he has been a hospital, long-term care and board-certified geriatric pharmacist at Divine Savior Healthcare in Portage since 2001. Established in his career, he is now pursuing his other passion -- beer. He is part owner and part-time brewer for Cercis Brewing Company, a brewpub opening in late 2017 in Columbus.

9:30-10:45 a.m. COMM 342: Training & Development CAC 237 11-11:50 a.m. Networking Time with Students CAC 227 12-12:50 p.m. ARTM/COMM 100: Orientation to Arts Management/Communication NFAC 221 2-3:15 p.m. Comm 240: Introduction to Organizational Communication CAC 204 3:30-4:45 p.m. Comm 280: Introduction to Interpersonal Communication CAC 333

9-9:50 a.m. Networking Time with Students CAC 227 10-10:50 a.m. COMM 334: Public Relations Writing CAC 315 11-12:15 p.m. COMM 330: Public Relations Social Media CAC 201 12:30-1:30 p.m. COMM 330: Public Relations Social Media CAC 201

Jordan GibbonEducation CoordinatorWisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts, Cedarburg, Wis.

Since graduating in winter 2015 from UW-Stevens Point with an arts manage-ment major and dual minor in communications and art history, Jordan landed a job as the education coordinator at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts in Cedarburg. While at UWSP, she participated in the Division of Communica-tion externship program in London, interning at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology. Before her experience in England, she

had held four other museum internships throughout Wis-consin. These experiences, combined with working at the UW-Stevens Point call center, gave Jordan the involvement she needed within her field. In January 2016 she started as a part-time youth education coordinator at the Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts, and just four months later she took on adult education responsibilities. In February 2017 she was promoted to full-time education coordinator.

9-9:50 a.m. Networking Time with Students CAC 227 10-10:50 a.m. COMM 334: Public Relations Writing CAC 315 11–12:15 p.m. COMM 330: Public Relations Social Media CAC 201 12:30–1:30 p.m. COMM 330: Public Relations Social Media CAC 201 3-4:00 p.m. ARTM 395: Seminar in Arts Management CAC 315

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Michelle Gress Assistant to the DirectorThe Oshkosh Opera House Foundation, Oshkosh, Wis.

Michelle received her Bachelor of Arts in arts management from UW-Stevens Point in May 2015. She has been with The Oshkosh Opera House Foundation since January 2015, when she started as an intern. In July 2015 she transitioned to her role as assistant to the director, where she manages development and marketing, along with planning and producing the annual fundraiser. While at UW-Stevens Point she was

very involved in residential living, including as an academic resource coordinator and community advisor. In her second year at UW-Stevens Point, Michelle began an internship with the theatre department as a house manager and realized performing arts was the field in which she would one day want a career.

9-9:50 a.m. Networking Time with Students CAC 227 10-10:50 a.m. COMM 334: Public Relations Writing CAC 315 11-12:15 p.m. COMM 330: Public Relations Social Media CAC 201 12:30-1:30 p.m. COMM 330: Public Relations Social Media CAC 201 3-4:00 p.m. ARTM 395: Seminar in Arts Management CAC 315

Tuesday, October 10

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Tuesday, October 10

Kelly CaughlanFoundation Director Stevens Point YMCA, Stevens Point, Wis.

Since graduating from UW-Stevens Point in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in communication, Kelly has worked as a mall marketing director, national publication advertising representative and assistant executive director for a chamber of commerce. For the past 20 years, she has been the foundation director for the Stevens Point YMCA. To date, she has been a part of raising more than $10 million dollars for the Y as well as conducting special

event planning, grant writing and endowment development. At UW-Stevens Point, she was active in PRSSA and was awarded the Susan Moriarity Memorial Award. Married for 22 years, she and her husband have two children.

10-11:50 a.m. COMM 338: PR Persuasion CAC 300 12-12:50 p.m. ARTM/COMM 100: Orientation to Arts Management/Communication NFAC 221 2-3:15 p.m. ARTM 300/COMM 338: Fundraising and Institutional Advancement CAC 239 3:30-4:30 p.m. Networking Time with Students CAC 227

Ashley HommerNews ProducerWSAW-TV NewsChannel 7, Wausau, Wis.

A native of Farmington, Minn., Ashley knew UW-Stevens Point was the school for her the second she stepped on campus for a college visit in 2010. She began with dual majors in French education and arts management before finding her passion for television and film in a media studies class her junior year. From that moment, Ashley made it a point to get involved in the student-run television station SPTV. She did everything from reporting and anchoring

to helping out with live football coverage before accepting a position as a news producer. Shortly after graduating in December 2014, she became the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. news producer at WSAW/WZAW-TV in Wausau. Her responsibilities include finding unique content for the newscasts, keeping track of show timing and making adjustments when breaking news hits.

8:00-8:50 a.m. COMM 107: Foundations of Media Writing CAC 300 9-9:50 a.m. Networking Time with Students CAC 227 10-10:50 p.m. COMM 334: Writing for Public Relations CAC 315 11-12:15 p.m. COMM 105: Intro to Media Studies Production CAC 300

Brian Rasmussen Co-Owner and Co-PublisherInsight Publications, Appleton, Wis.

A 1984 communication and business graduate of UWSP, Rasmussen has used his education and drive to lead sales, marketing, publishing and other media endeavors throughout his professional life. After graduation, he worked for Jacobs, Viscondi & Jacobs Co. as manager and marketing director for several regional shopping centers. In 1990, he became marketing manager for Park Plaza in Oshkosh, and in 1995 moved to Marketplace

Magazine, where he became publisher and sales manager. Since 2008, he has been with Insight, where he develops marketing and advertising strategies for Northeast Wisconsin businesses. With roots in the Fox Valley, he is dedicated to building connections to grow and improve the New North region of Wisconsin.

10-11:50 a.m. COMM 338: PR Persuasion CAC 300 12-12:50 p.m. ARTM/COMM 100: Orientation to Arts Management/Communication NFAC 221 2-3:15 p.m. ARTM 300/COMM 338: Fundraising and Institutional Advancement CAC 239 3:30-4:30 p.m. Networking Time with Students CAC 227

Wednesday, October 11 Wednesday, October 11

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