Judson University’s annual Network Night event will take place on Thursday, September 22 at 6:30 p.m., as part of the 2022 Homecoming and Family Weekend Celebration!
The speaker for this year’s event will feature Michael Parker, president of uniball Corporation, a division of uni Mitsubishi Pencil Company and a worldwide leader in quality writing instruments since 1887. Parker has more than 20 years of experience working in sales, international, and executive management.
Prior to joining uniball, Parker helped establish Lifesong Impact, a private holding company that buys, builds, and holds businesses in the lower middle market while providing sustained support to faith-based charities. He remains a Partner in the firm and continues to serve in an advisory capacity. In 2017, Parker founded Kardia, LLC, a management consulting firm that helps clients deliver measurable results in the areas of strategy development and execution, domestic and international expansion, sales excellence, and optimal organizational design. Before establishing Kardia, Parker served as the president of Fellowes Brands, a large multi-national organization with 1,500+ employees and omni-channel distribution in more than 100 countries. In this role, he provided executive leadership across all facets of the business and was responsible for driving revenue and profit growth, increasing operational efficiencies, developing new capabilities, and enhancing culture throughout the entire global organization.
Parker received a B.A. degree in Business Administration, graduating with honors from Covenant College. He completed executive education courses from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2008 and received a Certificate of Financial Management from Cornell University in 2017. Parker has served on the Board of Directors of Crossway Books, as well as the National Business Products Industry executive council for the City of Hope cancer research and treatment center.
Parker and his wife, Sasha, reside in Winfield, Ill., and are parents of nine children, five of whom have come through domestic and international adoption. Both are active in helping bring sustainable solutions to vulnerable children and orphan advocacy.
Judson alumni, students, and fellow community members are all invited to attend. The in-person event will take place in the Reed Room of Lindner Tower (1151 N. State St., Elgin), with networking and mingling beginning at 6:30 p.m. Virtual access to the presentation will be offered beginning at 7:00 p.m. A link to the webinar will be provided via email, to those who register to attend virtually
Each year, Judson’s Network Night provides opportunities for students and alumni to hear from distinguished businesspersons or alumni of the University, allowing the opportunity to build connections, community, and careers.
Previous speakers of the event have included Dave Raymond, founder of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce, Dan Shaver ‘01, District Manager at Amazon Web Services, Kesha Kent ’05/’14, empowerment speaker, author and trainer, Lori Heiselman ’93, founder and CEO of Biscuit Media Group in Nashville, Tenn., David Plummer ’98, executive producer of WCIU-TV “The Jam,” and Jack Frisby ’81, sales coaching executive and author.
Alumni and Current Students are invited to learn more and register for Network Night, as well as other Virtual Networking Day events here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/judson-university-homecoming-family-weekend-2022-registration-328457353787