2017 Business Week Award Winners

To cap off Business Week 2017, “of the year” award winners were announced at a special ceremony at the Courtyard Marriot on April 20. These individuals represent the high quality of talent at the Carlson School.

Freshman of the Year – Hailey Salden

Hailey Salden is a Panhellenic Delegate for the Alpha Phi Fraternity, a member of the Nordic Skiing Club, and a member of Women in Business. In her free time, she enjoys Nordic skiing, running, yoga, traveling, hiking, boating, reading, cooking, and event planning. She plans to major in entrepreneurial management and hopes to someday start her own business.

Sophomore of the Year – Maddie Jesser

Maddie Jesser has been described as a compassionate leader. She has been involved as a Carlson Ambassador, Carlson Crew Leader, Welcome Week Leader, vice president of Women in Business, and a Carlson Funds Enterprise accounting analyst, among other things. She has plans to study abroad in Europe next spring and to launch a successful career in public accounting. 

Junior of the Year – Nick Alm

Nick Alm is a champion of diversity and inclusion at the Carlson School. He was a co-founder of Compass, a student group focused on advocacy and creating professional opportunities for Carlson's LGBTQ+ community. Although majoring in management information systems, he aspires to enter the world as an entrepreneur. He has already co-founded Mosaic, a non-profit focused on assisting LGBT individuals around the globe start small businesses. Outside of business, he has been a strong advocate for students and a force of positive change in student government.

Senior of the Year – Blake LaBathe

Blake LaBathe has been described as a responsive leader who goes above and beyond to help those around him. He has been a Carlson Crew Leader, student ambassador, SAFA member, Business Board class representative, and, most notably, Business Board president. After graduation, he will begin his career in the finance rotational program at Microsoft. He has enjoyed making the most out of his time at the Carlson School and meeting people with different perspectives than his own.

Student of the Year – Melanie Vossberg

Melanie Vossberg is a senior majoring in marketing and international business. She has served as the president of GLOBE, a Carlson Ambassador, Carlson Crew Leader, marketing peer assistant, and a Carlson Brands Enterprise consultant, as well as being a member of Delta Sigma Pi. She has helped international students feel welcome while helping Carlson School students learn about other cultures. She volunteered with DECA as a district and state judge, and helped the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum launch its Instagram and Pinterest accounts. After graduation, she will work on Nielsen’s Innovation Team in its Chicago office, with aspirations to eventually work out of one of its international offices.

Staff of the Year – Kate Terry

As a Program Manager for the Carlson Global Institute, Kate Terry makes a difference for incoming exchange students and Carlson School students leaving to go abroad. She is also the adviser for the GLOBE Campus Life group that manages an international buddy program between Carlson School students and incoming exchange students. One of her favorite parts of her role is maintaining and building relationships with partner university staff members and students around the world.  She is a great resource for students during especially stressful travel situations, and is admired for her positive attitude.

Faculty of the Year – Rand Park
Rand Park is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship. He currently teaches Corporate Responsibility and Ethics, The Ethical Environment of Business, and Corporate Responsibility and Ethics.

Prior to his faculty appointment at the Carlson School in fall 2013, he was the vice president of development for the Minnesota Private College Council. Prior to this, he held positions in corporate relations and fundraising at the Carlson School and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University.

He has a JD from the Hamline University School of Law and a BA and MA from the University of Georgia. He has held NASD Series 7 and 63 licenses, and remains a member of the Minnesota Bar in good standing. 

Business Week is a one-week celebration focusing on the Carlson School and its connections to the business community. This year's theme, Mission: Possible, acknowledges the different “missions” students have to accept during college and the possibilities that can be used to achieve them.