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Northern Illinois University

NIU Office of Public Affairs


News Release

Contact: Trish Sellers, Alumni and External Relations Coordinator
NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
(815) 753-1281

September 6, 2006

NIU presentation to focus on
Rockford in the global marketplace

DeKalb, Ill. — “America’s Competitiveness in a Global Environment” will be the topic of a Sept. 27 event for alumni of Northern Illinois University’s College of Business and College of Engineering and Engineering Technology and other members of the Rockford business community.

The panel will focus on ways NIU can help the Rockford manufacturing community and its workforce prepare for the new age of global competitiveness and at the same time expand business and manufacturing opportunities. 

The event will be held at the NIU Rockford Campus, 8500 East State Street, Rockford. Registration will begin at 4:45 p.m., with the panel discussion slated to start at 5:15 p.m. The presentation will be followed by a wine and cheese reception from 6 until 7 p.m. The event is free.

The panel will include representatives from both the manufacturing and the academic communities, including:

  • John Oller, executive director of the Manufacturing Alliance of the Rock River Valley;
  • Andrew Mealey, director of strategies, electric systems, Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation;
  • Richard Johnson, director of research and development for NIU’s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology;
  • Denise Schoenbachler, dean of the NIU College of Business;
  • Promod Vohra, dean of the NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. 

The discussion will be moderated by John Lewis, associate vice president of NIU Outreach and Regional Development.

A questionnaire for those interested in attending is available on-line at http://www.cob.niu.edu/rockfordclub/survey.asp. Answers to those questions will help the panel to address the issues which most concern those currently in the manufacturing workforce. 

For more information, or to register contact any of the following individuals: Candy Hintzche, NIU College of Business Alumni Relations, (815) 753-7068 (chintzche@niu.edu); Trish Sellers, NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology Alumni Relations, (815) 753-1281 (tsellers@niu.edu); or Sonya Hetzel at the NIU ROCK Program, (815) 316-6370 (shetzel@niu.edu).

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