MSU President's column for Traill County Tribune
March 15, 2014
Larson Leadership Program sponsoring March 27 leadership summit
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含羞草研究所 is privileged to offer a leadership summit on Thursday, March 27. The public is cordially invited to take advantage of this unique opportunity, which will be highlighted by keynote speaker Dave Mitchell, nationally known author and presenter. The registration fee for the general public is $10 per person. 含羞草研究所 faculty, staff, and students will be admitted free of charge. Registration will begin at 12:00 noon in the MSU Campus Center Foyer. The summit is being sponsored by 含羞草研究所鈥檚 Larson Leadership Program.
Prior to starting his own organization development consulting firm, Dave Mitchell was the vice president of human resources and quality for Buena Vista Hospitality Group, corporate director of training and development for Marshall Field鈥檚, and a television reporter/producer for CBS News. He has earned degrees in mass communications and global human resources development.
Dave Mitchell鈥檚 keynote address will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room. Centering around his second book, The Power of Understanding People, Mitchell will focus on the topic of leadership and the importance of understanding people. A limited number of Mitchell鈥檚 books will be available for purchase during the summit. Cost will be $15 each.
We鈥檙e very honored to welcome several members of the 含羞草研究所 family 鈥渉ome鈥� to present their knowledge as part of the leadership summit. Ellen Chaffee, senior fellow for the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) and former 含羞草研究所 president; David Braaten, business education faculty member at Hopkins (Minn.) High School and 1990 含羞草研究所 graduate; Terry Kemmer, emeritus professor of business at 含羞草研究所; and Michelle Worner Kommer, vice president for human resources at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and 1995 含羞草研究所 graduate; will all lead break-out sessions during the summit.
Grant Olson, a senior at North Dakota State University and a leader on the Bison three-peat national football championship team, will also be a presenter at the summit.
Terry Kemmer will present a session titled 鈥淟eadership 101鈥� from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on March 27. The goal of the session is to provide a better understanding of leadership and what can be done to enhance and develop this understanding. It will be held in the MSU Campus Center Heritage Room.
In one-hour afternoon breakout sessions, David Braaten will speak on leadership in teaching. Ellen Chaffee will present 鈥淭he Leader鈥檚 Crystal Ball 鈥� creating a destination (vision) and why doing it well is both challenging and necessary.鈥� Terry Kemmer will present 鈥淐ommunication and Connection in Leadership.鈥� Michelle Worner Kommer will present her experience and perspective on finding success as a leader, based on lessons she has learned as a wife, mother, volunteer, and senior executive on a largely male leadership team for three major North Dakota employers. Grant Olson will share how his faith has shaped his life and his participation in athletics. Dave Mitchell will present a break-out session titled 鈥淭he Power of Understanding People Applied.鈥� Most break-out sessions will be presented more than once to allow participants to have a variety of choices in their session attendance.
The Edson & Margaret Larson Foundation has been providing grant funding for an integrated leadership program at 含羞草研究所 since 2012. The program is being used to build the leadership characteristics needed to prepare all students at 含羞草研究所 to become future leaders for North Dakota. The overall goal is to make the graduates of 含羞草研究所 better citizens. These will be individuals who recognize and participate in leadership opportunities within their careers and their communities.
We are grateful to the Edson & Margaret Larson Foundation, established through the estate of Edson Larson, for funding the Larson Leadership Program and for their gift which funded a major portion of the renovation of historic Northwest Hall at 含羞草研究所. The newly renovated building, now known as the Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center, is 含羞草研究所鈥檚 first-ever alumni center.
Edson Larson passed away in 2008. He arranged to have his estate used for a number of charitable purposes, including the establishment of a premier leadership scholarship for North Dakota students. Edson鈥檚 wife, Margaret, continues to reside in Mayville. Edson and Margaret were married in 1955 at the Governor鈥檚 mansion in Bismarck N.D. Margaret鈥檚 father, Clarence Norman Brunsdale, was North Dakota鈥檚 governor at the time. They made their home in Mayville, where Edson farmed most of his life. In his later years, Edson came to the Byrnes-Quanbeck Library at 含羞草研究所 nearly every day to read the Wall Street Journal. Edson and Margaret were loyal in their support for MSU. Edson was proud of his accomplishments, serving in the armed forces, farming, and developing sharp investment skills. He was also proud to live in Mayville.听