Speakers

The Role of Technology in the New Normal

Bruce Sommer joined the UIS Department of Management in the College of Business and Management as an executive-in-residence in Spring 2012. In 2018, he was appointed as the Director of Economic Development and Innovation. He is currently working to expand the economic impact of UIS and drive business and social incubation in Springfield and in the greater state of Illinois.

Bruce teaches graduate courses in Entrepreneurship and Family Business Management. He has been teaching a variety of graduate courses in Entrepreneurship, Private Equity/Venture Capital and Quantitative Methods over the past 10 years at the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics. His research, published in academic journals and popular press, primarily focuses on emerging business start-ups and early-stage venture investing. He began his research career in 2001 at the Center for Venture Research, the nation’s leader in business angel research, and he continues to advise various state and local economic development organizations.

Bruce has founded three of his own businesses and has been a founding advisor to a multitude of others. He sits on boards of both mature and early-stage companies. He is co-founder and managing director of NextGen Ventures, an investment firm focused on IT, green-tech, energy, and agriculture and leads business angel groups in the Midwest and East Coast. Bruce is also founder of the Kindle Fund, a socially responsible investment fund that promotes social community development through investments in dynamic social entrepreneurs.

Registration for this session will be available in early July.  Please check this website after July 1.

Investing in a Post-Pandemic Environment

The onset of the Covid-19 virus has had many economic impacts. The investment markets have reacted with volatility in almost all sectors. Mr. Cella will speak to the how the market has reacted in recent weeks. He will discuss the market in terms of sectors which may experience continuing discord and difficulty and those that may present opportunities.  He will also touch on several factors which could have outcomes that are difficult to predict and which could influence the markets to react in different ways.

Joe Cella is a Regional Vice President at American Funds, part of Capital Group, covering Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. He has eight years of industry experience and has been with Capital Group for four years. Prior to joining Capital, Joe worked as a wholesaler at ALPS Portfolio Solutions. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Colorado. He also holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® certification. Joe is based in St Louis, Mo.

Registration for this event will be available in early July.  Please check this website after July 1.