Business Summit is a longstanding tradition at Haile College of Business. It's the vital link between the classroom and boardroom. This annual event exposes students to valuable, cutting-edge business-centered presentations from experienced professionals and provides students with networking opportunities with local employers.
This year the theme is "Innovating Today for Tomorrow's Success". We are focused on today's innovation and where business is heading so that we are prepared to succeed tomorrow.
Mark your calendar! Business Summit 2025 will be September 24 - 25 with keynote speaker, Pete Blackshaw, founder of BrandRank.ai. There will be breakout speaker sessions, 90+ hiring employers, a luncheon celebration and more!
On Wednesday, September 24 and Thursday, September 25 all Haile College of Business classes are canceled to allow students to participate in the two-day business-centered conference.
Pete Blackshaw
Founder of Brandrank.ai
Pete Blackshaw is the Founder and CEO of BrandRank.AI, a Cincinnati-based startup and SaaS platform and service that helps brands measure, protect, and grow trust through the power of AI-driven search and discovery.
Pete recently served as CEO of Cintrifuse, a startup catalyst, incubator, and venture fund backed by corporations such as P&G and Kroger, and considered a national role model. At Cintrifuse, Pete and his team supported hundreds of startups.
Previously, Pete was the Global Head of Digital at Nestl茅, Switzerland, the world鈥檚 largest food company. He also served as CMO at NM Incite, a Nielsen and McKinsey joint venture, and started his career in brand management at Procter & Gamble, where he co-founded the first 鈥淚nteractive Marketing鈥 team and later launched PlanetFeedback.com, a VC backed consumer feedback platform that was acquired by Nielsen.
Pete is the author of鈥疭atisfied Customers Tell Three Friends, Angry Customers Tell 3000鈥(Doubleday). He holds an MBA from Harvard and a Bachelor鈥檚 from UC Santa Cruz.
Every year, the Haile College of Business recognizes three outstanding alumni for their contributions in humanitarianism, leadership and a young professional who is already making an impact.
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Drinks and Networking
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Program
Busting the Myths of Public Accounting
Blake Roe
Managing Partner
Plante Moran
CPA or Not: Choosing Between Public and Corporate Accounting
Rebecca Wilson
Senior Accountant, Real Estate
Last Mile Investments
Creating Impact Through Sports
Ben Huffman
Executive Director
Cincinnati Regional Sports Commission
A Day in the Life of a Procter & Gamble Brand Manager
Malcolm Henderson
Brand Director, Charmin Upstream
Procter & Gamble
Built to Adapt: What They Don鈥檛 Tell You 小猪视频 the Real World of Business + Tech
Michael Marker
VP of Transformations
Accuserve
TBD
James Biro
CSCO / COO
Sara Lee Frozen Bakery
Choosing Your First Job When You Don't Know Your Dream Job: When I Found My Fit in Accounting
Sallie Willingham
Bancorp Controller | Sr. Vice President
Fifth Third Bank
TBD
Kolston Marshall, Director of Field Operations
Olivia Tarvin, Project Engineer
Seth Martin, Project Manager
Hemmer Construction
How to Stand Out and Succeed After College
Matt Frey
Executive Director of Public Policy, State Government Audits, and Technology
Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts
TBD
Devon Kutzman, PCC
Author and Founder
Transforming Toddlerhood
TBD
Sian Bitner-Kearney
Communications Expert & Founder
Sage Sure / Rock Your Beauty
Distribution in the Food Service & Hospitality Industries
Mike Haunert
Region President (ret)
Sysco
TBD
Jonathan Hickman, CPA, CVA
Senior Accountant
Muninghoff & Lange, Co.
TBD
Guy Harmon
Senior Process Manager
HGC Construction
TBD
Bob Nienaber, JD, ChFC, President
Stacy Nienaber, JD, Director of Client Relationships
The Lyon Group
TBD
Kelsey Sucher, Director of Operations
Ashley Day, Talent Manager
AMEND Consulting
TBD
Michael O'Hara, CPA
Tax Senior Manager
Barnes Dennig
TBD
Chris Soto
Project Executive
Skanska
Where Sport & Youth Development Instersect: First Tee - Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
Patty Lusheck Ragio, CEO
Ben Walker, Program Director
First Tee 鈥 Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky
TBD
Zach Richardson
Lead Consumer Researcher
84.51
The Art of the Interview
Michael Jones, Internal Sales Manager
Tiffany Hall, Director of New Business
Western & Southern Financial Group
Public Accounting: Myths vs. Reality
Kendra Anderson
Talent & Engagement Coordinator
Rudler, PSC
Workplace Ready: How to Transfer and Elevate Your Skills Beyond College
Jenna Conn and Team
University Relationship Lead
Fidelity Investments
Play the Long Game: Building a Career in Sports
Anthony Reed
Sr. Manager of Membership Sales
FC Cincinnati
A+ Women in Tech: From College to the Tech Channel
Sara Schlueter
Emily Jackson
A+ Women in Tech
What I Wish I Knew Before Starting in Human Resources
Stephanie Coyle, SHRM-CP
HR Administrator
City of Erlanger, KY
Explore full-time and internship/co-op opportunities with 90+ employers filling for business-related positions! Dress professionally and bring your resume.
Meet fellow graduate students at this exclusive happy hour event. Mingle with your cohort, engage with new connections, and more!
Business Summit exposes over 2,700 students to valuable, cutting-edge business-centered presentations from experienced professionals and provides networking opportunities with local employers. Proceeds generated from sponsorship will help cover expenses for this event, bringing quality learning and networking experiences to our students.
Contact Kimberly Roush, roushk3@nku.edu with any questions or to secure sponsorship today.
