Lake Campus summit maps global strategies

(L-R) Lake Campus Adjunct Business Technologies Faculty member Ronald Kremer, MidMark Foundation Member Mitch Eiting, and Southwestern Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Scott Frey discuss key factors for economic growth in the region at the Lake Campus Regional Summit.

Filling the pipeline with talented graduates prepared to excel in the global marketplace is a growing need of U.S. companies, business leaders said at the Lake Campus Regional Summit.

The third Annual Summit, held Feb. 22, drew about 150 business and community leaders as well as Wright State officials.

“This is a community conversation,” Lake Campus Dean Bonnie Mathies told the gathering. “We want to hear your thinking.”

Sharyl Gardner, chief administrator for Midmark Corp., said the medical equipment company has been expanding its global presence.

“Today what we need is global talent,” Gardner said. “We need more exposure to international opportunities for students earlier in their careers.”

And Gardner said Midmark is committed to continual learning.

“We have tons of people who are back at school, finishing degrees, getting degrees,” she said.

Pat Carus, director of sales for Emerson Climate Technologies, said his company would like to take greater advantage of Wright State.

“What we hope to get from the community is engineering and technology graduates,” Carus said.

Following the speakers, the audience broke into groups to brainstorm ideas on how higher education can help increase global outreach in the region.

Later, there was a panel discussion moderated by Robert Sweeney, executive vice president of planning and secretary to the Wright State Board of Trustees.

Since its establishment at the Lake Campus in 2010, the Regional Summit has provided a networking opportunity in which the region’s business, political, community and university leaders discuss how higher education can be a partner in creating opportunities for the region.