Spring Seminar 2015 Speaker Collegiate Track
Getting the Best From Distracted, Stressed Employees (Including You!)
"From frazzled to finally focused!" -- use the latest research on focus and attention to your advantage.
Immediately useful! Learn self-management techniques and strategies for helping you eliminate
distractions and sustain solid focus when you need to. Better time and priority management and more
effective use of meeting time will result as well! Feel calmer, more in control, and be more productive.
Dr. Erika Garms
Dr. Erika Garms is an organizational learning and change expert with a gift for translating cutting-edge
science into powerful workplace practices. As CEO and Principal Consultant of Garms Group, Inc., she
leverages neuroscience in developing people and shaping healthy and effective organizations.
Erika has played a number of consulting and leadership roles including internal consultant, organization
development unit manager, and organization development/change/executive management consultant.
She has worked for global consulting firms and start-ups, public sector and private sector organizations
across many industries.
Erika earned a BA and an MA from the University of Colorado, a PhD from the University of Minnesota,
and post-graduate certificate from the NeuroLeadership Institute/Sussex University. Erika is the author
of, “The Brain-Friendly Workplace: Five Big Ideas From Neuroscience That Address Organizational
Challenges” (ASTD Press, 2014) and is based out of Maplewood, MN where she enjoys gardening,
reading, walking, being with her three daughters. She is also a founding board member of Books on
Wings, a non-profit organization providing at-risk elementary school kids with high-quality books to start
their own, personal libraries.
Noches de Ciencias
Come learn about the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and their thriving outreach that
spans both professional and collegiate to help educate our youth. SHPE would will be partnering with us
in the session to understand more about diversity and learn a new way to engage our entire section.
Noches de Ciencias –Science Nights – is a national initiative established in 2008 by the SHPE Foundation
to promote knowledge and interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) among the
Hispanic community. SHPE professional and student chapters conduct Noches de Ciencias around the
country.
Anita Swanson
Anita Swanson is the Webmaster for SHPE Twin Cities Professional Chapter. She received her B.S. in
Systems Engineering from Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria (National University of Engineering) in the
city of Lima, Peru. She has been working in the IT field in both management and network administration
for different companies, having owned a computer support business in Peru. She migrated to the
United States in 2009. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband, her daughter and a dog.
Our first job and what to expect from the Corporate world
Learn from a panel of new graduates as they have uncovered the challenges from collegiate life to
corporate. They will review their first impressions; lessons learned and help you learn through their
experiences. Bring your questions about work / life balance, unwritten rules and challenges in starting
your career.
Samantha Madden
Samantha Madden has been working as a professional for a little under a year. She graduated with her
Masters from the University of Minnesota’s Biomedical Engineering program in May 2014 and has been
working as a System Engineering in a rotational Program at Beckman Coulter in Chaska, MN. She has
worked in two 3-month R&D rotations and is transitioning to a manufacturing rotation this spring. Sam
interned at Beckman Coulter the summer before graduation and has been very excited to return for a
full time opportunity.
Samantha enjoys going to dance and zumba classes in her free time and continuing to explore the
Minneapolis area outside of campus.
Kristen Wagner
Kristen Wagner started her corporate world career at Vision-Ease Lens, a recognized leading
manufacturer of quality ophthalmic lens solutions headquartered in Ramsey, Minnesota, as an intern in
Research and Development in 2012. In 2013, she started full-time in Quality as a Materials Engineer
working on root cause analysis initiatives and color metrology theory. In 2014, she took on the role of
Supplier Quality Engineer and currently works with global raw material suppliers and is heading the tier
one Six Sigma project for the company.
By building her network, working with mentors, and applying creativity and passion to her projects,
Kristen has been able to navigate through her first few years in a corporate structure.
Kristen has a degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in Materials Science and
Engineering. She has been active in SWE since her freshman year of college and is currently the Social
Media Chair. In her spare time, Kristen enjoys rock climbing, cooking, and spending time with friends.
Kim Miller
Kim Miller works in Research and Development for General Mills. She graduated in 2012 with a degree
in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin- Madison. While in school, Kim was an active
member of her SWE section and served in various positions, including section president. She has
continued her involvement in SWE by becoming a member of the Region H Collegiate Leadership
Coaching Committee as well as being involved in the professional SWE section in Minnesota.