Drake to host inaugural Zimpleman Business for Good Summit

Wednesday, April 10th, 2024

The Zimpleman College of Business is proud to announce its inaugural Business for Good summit set to take place on Friday, April 19, at the Olmsted Center on Drake University’s campus. The day-long event will bring together influential thought leaders from across campus and the business community to showcase how business can be a force for good in our rapidly evolving world. The summit is free and open to the public. Advanced registration is required.

“The Business for Good Summit will spur our students to envision how to use the power of free enterprise to make positive changes in the world—from neighborhoods to nations and everywhere in between,” said Alejandro Hernandez, dean of the Zimpleman College of Business. “This gathering of thought leaders gives us the chance to explore how to address some of the biggest challenges we face as a society while generating sustainable and inclusive economic growth.”

Since the naming of the Larry and Kathleen Zimpleman College of Business in February 2023, the College has furthered its strategic approach of empowering students to use their business education as a force for good to solve today’s most pressing issues. The summit is a milestone for Zimpleman, as the college answers the societal call for the business sector to enact positive change.

The first annual summit will feature Sunrise Banks CEO and President David Reiling, a highly respected social entrepreneur and innovator in community development finance and financial inclusion. Reiling’s lunchtime keynote, part of the Archie Boe Lecture Series presented by Drake’s Kelley Center for Insurance Innovation, will center on his life philosophy: You can do well by doing good. The summit will also feature morning workshops on the business school’s societal impact focus areas—social mobility, mission-driven business, and financial inclusion—and the afternoon will be highlighted by a session to move attendees—students, faculty, staff, and members of the community—from thought to action.

Through these engaging sessions, attendees will be able to connect with fellow change agents committed to shaping our economy while upholding the values of positive business practice. Additional speakers and panelists include:

• Pernell Cezar – CEO and Co-Founder, BLK & Bold
• Adam Hammes – ESG Director, Business Assurance, SGS
• Ena Babic Barnes, MPA – Executive Director, Iowa Credit Union Foundation
• Jaimie Miller, MPA, CUDE – Vice President, Iowa Credit Union League
• Chris Draper, Ph.D., P.E. – Chief Executive Officer, ESG RAC
• Dr. Matthew Mitchell – Professor and Chief Executive Officer, Baton Global

To register for the summit, visit businessforgood.eventbrite.com.