The only thing bigger than the “Big Game” are the big commercials! On Monday, Feb. 3, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Christie Theatre, join Austin E. Cofrin School of Business Associate Prof. Sampath Ranganathan (Marketing) and Associate Lecturer Kathy McKee, as well as Associate Prof. Bryan Carr (Communication and Information Science) for a fun, informative and interactive multimedia discussion of the best and worst commercials of the 2020 Super Bowl and the economic and media motives behind them! Bring your questions and be ready to vote for the ad you think was the year’s best. This event is free and open to the public.
Prof. Sampath Ranganathan talks to WalletHub about winter holiday destinations
UW-Green Bay Associate Prof. Sampath Ranganathan (Business Administration) tells WalletHub readers about winter holiday destinations, including some great travel advice. “Weather-wise, the Midwest region has equal chances of being hot or cold than normal during the upcoming winter. The rest of the continental USA would be warmer than normal winter months. Economy wise, the job market is at historic heights, inflation is low, gas prices are low, so we can expect a very good travel season. If snowfall is lower than normal, industries that depend on wintery conditions like ski resorts could be affected.” See more.
Show UW-Green Bay Pride at Summerfest June 29
UW-Green Bay is proud to announce its participation in Milwaukee Summerfest’s new “Show Your College Pride Day” on Friday, June 29. The special day promises all who arrive at the Mid Gate booth between noon and 3 p.m. wearing a shirt or hat representing UW-Green Bay, one free weekday admission, valid for the day and time of the promotion only. Once guests are inside, they may stay until grounds close.
UW-Green Bay will have a booth at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater Forecourt. All are encouraged to stop by the booth to say hello, play games, win prizes and show your support.
“We’re very excited to join with Summerfest and our other educational partners from the Milwaukee area for this new and innovative promotion,” said Eric Craver, UW-Green Bay Director of Marketing Strategy and Advertising. “Over the last few years we have strengthened our position in the greater Milwaukee area, and this event promises to bring Phoenix students, alumni and potential students to the park, wearing their UW-Green Bay gear and showing their Phoenix Pride.”
“Show Your College Pride Day” is a new free admission promotion, the likes of which have existed almost since the festival’s inception. “Every day of the festival, as part of our non-profit mission, there is a way to enter the grounds for free,” explained Lena DeLaet, Summerfest Sponsorship Sales Manager. “This ability to give back to the community happens in large part because of our partners.” Summerfest 2018 Daily Promotions were announced Monday (May 7, 2018).
UW-Green Bay’s sponsorship is made possible by the joint efforts of the following UW-Green Bay offices and programs: Marketing and University Communication, Student Affairs and Campus Climate, Admissions, Student Life, Alumni Relations, Student Government Association, Weidner Center, Athletics, Graduate Studies, Provost, University Union and the Phoenix Bookstore.
Established in 1968, this annual 11-day music festival features 800-plus acts with more than a thousand performances and draws an average annual attendance of 900,000 people and is recognized in the Guinnes Book of World’s Records as “The World’s Largest Music Festival.”
Innovation in Aging Student Idea Competition winners bring stability to seniors
With aging population rising, there is an increasing need for innovation to improve the lives of seniors. In an effort to address this need, nine teams came together to explore solutions. The UW-Green Bay teams then presented their ideas in the second annual Innovation and Aging Student Idea Competition, Feb. 23, 2018. The winner, Team Stability, will compete against other great ideas and inventions at the Wisconsin Big Idea Tournament, Saturday, April 21 in Madison.
Team members AJ Jensen (Mechanical Engineering Tech), Rosalyn Stoa (Psychology/Marketing) and Katherine Mikhail (Business Administration) designed a stabilizing cup which allows individuals with tremors to drink liquids with ease. Stability’s company description reads: “Balance. Grace. Longevity. At Stability, we believe in innovation. There are over 8 million people in the United States alone that are affected by tremors. Despite that, very few technologies combat shaking hands or give dignity to the user. We created a series of products that combine the technology of other devices to create something better, something exceptional, something new. Our solutions hide in plain sight and give users their independence back. This is Stability.”
The first-place winner at the Madison competition will receive cash prizes, up to $25,000 in funding through Ideadvance and paid travel to the International Business Model Competition May 10-11 in Provo, Utah with the opportunity to present on an international stage and win up to $27,000.
Ideas for the Aging: Team ‘Stability’ takes home win and cash prize
Nine teams and 40 students represented all four of the UW-Green Bay colleges in the second annual Innovation in Aging Student Idea Competition, Friday, Feb. 23, 2018. The competition is sponsored by UW-Green Bay’s College of Health Education and Social Welfare, WiSys Technology Foundation and the UW-Green Bay Gerontology Center.
Innovation and Aging Competition
First prize and $500 was awarded to members of team Stability for their designed cup which allows the drinking of liquids for individuals with tremors. Team members were AJ Jensen (Mechanical Engineering Tech), Rosalyn Stoa (Psychology/Marketing) and Katherine Mikhail (Business Administration). Only Jensen (pictured) was able to be present for the competition.
Second place and $250 was awarded to team EAST for their idea for a device to put in a car trunk to help handle items, e.g., groceries). Team members were Leah Zorn, Dylan Ringham and Evan Polkinghorne (all from Business Administration).
Third place and $100 was awarded to team Embrace Age in Wisconsin Campaign for their idea about a social campaign to reduce ageism. Team members were Liza Steffeck and Gabrielle Jochman (both from Social Work).
In addition, the People’s Choice Award went to team Stability (see above). Other presentations included:
- Age-sistance: Business idea to assist older adults with non-healthcare needs (technology, driver, etc)
- The local Food Experiment: Social approach to provide fresh, prepared food for pick up at sites
- Before It’s Lost: Summer camp for older adults to learn new things (technology, various content, etc.)
- Switchboard: Service to help entrepreneurs innovate solutions for aging issues, especially related to mind, body, environment, and communication
- Tumble-Preventing Belt – Product idea to identify imbalance and prevent injury if falls occur
- Back in My Day: Service involving setting up video interview of older adults and platform that they will drive traffic (older adults and younger folks) to
Before It’s Lost (Engineering Club), Back in My Day (Philosophy Club) and The Local Food Experiment (Public Environmental Affairs Council), each won $100 award designated to the student organizations they represent.
Serving as judges were:
- Devon Christianson, Director, Aging & Disability Resources Center, Brown County
- LaReina Tipping, Director of Home & Community Services, Curative Connections
- Justin Richter, BCC Planning Team Leader at Kimberly-Clark
- Marcus Dumke, Executive Director, T2 Accelerator
- Dianne Murphy, Assistant Professor of Management at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
“We are excited to sponsor this creative event that allows students to apply their coursework in a practical setting,” said WiSys President Arjun Sanga.
Prof. Ranganathan presents texting and driving research, Oct. 18
It is onto the Denver finals for UW-Green Bay’s ‘Wisco Ninja’ Luke Chambers
He made it! Revealed in the July 17 episode of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, Luke Chambers made it past the Denver qualifier and into the Denver finals to be aired nationwide in late August. Chambers, a UW-Green Bay fifth-year senior (Business Administration) with a double major in marketing and management, didn’t complete the difficult course, but made it far enough to stay in the running.
The “Wisco Warrior” has been training for three years following a weight loss transformation that occurred in high school (Bay Port). He competes with Green Bay friends Drew and Dalton Knapp.
“It’s been such an eventful, yet very challenging journey to being accepted to compete on season nine of American Ninja Warrior,” he said. “Working full time, going to school full time (He is also working toward certification in Environmental Sustainability and Business.) and a full training schedule has definitely paid off. I tagged myself as the Wisco Warrior in hopes of putting a good name out in the ninja community for a place that I like to call home.”
Chambers hopes to combine his passions for coaching and ninja warrior to collaborate on the opening of a ninja warrior gym in Green Bay called Warrior Jungle.
“It will be the first ninja gym in Wisconsin and I cannot wait to apply my education to the gym and make it a great experience for everyone who comes to train,” he says. “Along with the opening of Warrior Jungle, this summer I had the privilege to coach at a camp in Tennessee called Ninjafest. It was six weeks long and couldn’t believe how amazing that experience was. I’m excited to help and do whatever I can to watch that program grow as well as it’s the first ninja camp offered to kids as of now.”
For those not familiar with the wildly popular show, its the ninth season of the action-packed competition where contestants tackle challenging obstacle courses in cities across the country. As the competition progresses, competitors continue toward the national finals in Las Vegas, where they take on a four-stage course modeled after Japan’s famed Mt. Midoriyama. The fastest timed contestant who can conquer Mt. Midoriyama wins $1 million.
Photo from America Ninja Warrior website
Thanks for those who sought professional portraits… More open times ahead
Thanks to those who took advantage of open studio times during winter interim to have a professional portrait taken. The Office of Marketing and University Communication hosted a steady flow of faculty and staff. Additional times will be announced for the spring semester. If you have a large group of faculty and staff who are already gathering elsewhere for departmental meetings, photographer Dan Moore is willing to take headshots onsite if his schedule allows. Please contact Moore to arrange.
Thursday is open studio time for professional portraits
Demand is high for professional headshots from various departments and units. To accommodate the requests, University photographer, Dan Moore, is holding open studio hours. Individuals are welcome to drop in anytime during the open hours. Groups of five or more should provide Moore with advanced notice at moored@uwgb.edu. This opportunity is for new employees or those who have not had a professional portrait in the past two years. The newly remodeled studio is located in CL 820. Next open time: Thursday, Jan. 12, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Bonkowski named Director of Communications and Marketing at UW-Green Bay
GREEN BAY – The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Chief of Staff Ron Pfeifer announced the appointment of Janet Bonkowski as UWGB’s Director of Communications and Marketing, beginning March 1.
Bonkowski will provide strategic vision and leadership for the University’s integrated communications, public relations and marketing efforts as they support student recruitment, retention and fundraising at UW-Green Bay. Her position will oversee communication planning, media and public relations, publications, event marketing, branding, social media, web communications, multi-media productions, marketing plans, graphic styles and advertising. She will supervise a staff of six in the University’s Office of Marketing and University Communication. She will also serve as the public relations spokesperson for UW-Green Bay, and advise Chancellor Gary L. Miller and his leadership team on public communication strategies and messaging. She will also manage campus crisis communication.
“We are delighted to welcome Janet Bonkowski to our University,” said Pfeifer. “We’re happy to have attracted such a high caliber, experienced individual. We believe Janet is a great fit and I am confident that she will provide us with renewed energy and vision. We are eager for her to arrive on campus and get started.”
Bonkowski comes to UW-Green Bay from Schneider National Inc. where she served as Public Relations Manager, overseeing all public relations for one of the nation’s largest transportation and logistics companies. She has been with Schneider since January of 2005 and has more than 20 years experience in strategic planning, marketing and public relations with businesses and non-profit organizations.
The Denmark, Wis. native has been a member of Denmark State Bank’s Board of Directors since 2009. From 1997 through 2004, she worked for The Goltz Seering Agency, Green Bay, as the director of public relations.
“I am beyond excited and grateful for this opportunity to help the University grow while promoting the Wisconsin Idea and all the ways the UW System overall — and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in particular — improves the quality of life for so many in our community…and our world,” said Bonkowski.
The 1990 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (journalism and political science) has an extensive record of professional and community involvement.
She is accredited in public relations (APR) by the Public Relations Society of America. She attended the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce’s Political Training Institute. She is a member and “Competent Toastmaster” designee of Toastmasters International — a national organization that empowers individuals in becoming more effective communicators and leaders.
Bonkowski currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Childhood Safety and has served the needs of the community in roles with St. Matthew Grade School, Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, National Railroad Museum, Great Explorations Children’s Museum, and other community businesses and organizations. She is currently the president of the Brown County Chapter of the UW-Madison Alumni Association.
Bonkowski will fill the role left vacant by the departure of Christopher Sampson, who retired in January 2016 after a 30-year public relations career with the University. Members of the media can reach Bonkowski by calling 920-465-2527, or reach her by e-mail, bonkowsj@uwgb.edu.
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