Student Veterans of America | 2009 Midwest Regional Conference

7:00-8:00am          Breakfast Courtesy of: McCormick Foundation

8:00-9:00am          Introductory Remarks and Chapter Roll Call

                              Presented by: Rodrigo Garcia, SVA Midwest Regional Director

9:00-9:15am          Guest Speaker: Dr John Schupp, SERV Program Director – Cleveland State Univ

9:15-10:00am        Student Veteran Leader, A Panel Discussion

                              Shane Lee – Chapter President, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Gerald Kapinos – Chapter President, University of Wisconsin – Madison

Bryan Axelrod - Chapter President, University of Minnesota –Twin Cities

10:00-10:15am      Break

10:15-11:00am      Post 9/11 GI Bill Presentation

Presented by Keith Wilson, Education Services Director – Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs

11:00-11:30am      ACE and Serving Those Who Serve Initiative

Presented by Elizabeth O’Herrin, American Council on Education

11:30-12:15pm     Integrating Student Services for Veterans, A Panel Discussion

                              Cindy Miller – Chapter President, Cleveland State University

                              Robert Roether – Chapter VP, University of Toledo

                              Gerry Schma – Office for Transfer Students and Military Affairs, Western Michigan

                              Donald Pfeffer – Director of Higher Education Veterans Programs, Minnesota DVA

12:15-1:00pm       Lunch Courtesy of: McCormick Foundation

                              Presented by: Derek Blumke, SVA President and Russell Silver, SVA Secretary

1:00-1:45pm         Working with Veterans Service Organizations, A Panel Discussion

                              John Mikelson – Veteran Service Officer, Disabled American Veterans

                              Denise Fields, IL Public Relations Director, American Legion

                              Paul Kallembach, IL Membership Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars

1:45-2:30pm         Transitioning from Combat to Classroom Session 1

                              Presented by Military Family Research Institute

2:30-3:30pm         Transitioning from Combat to Classroom Session 2, A Panel Discussion

                              Dr Randy Plunkett, National Director of Military Programs – DeVry University

Dr Jerry Field, Center for Professional Development – Illinois Institute of Tech

Dr Ann Hower, Director of New Student Programs – University of Michigan

Paul Eisenstein, Director of Operations, the Mission Continues

3:30-3:45pm         Break

3:45-4:30pm         Perspectives on Student Veteran Needs, A Panel Discussion

                              Nick Bielinski – Chapter President, Indiana University

                              Eric Hiltner – Chapter President, Eastern Illinois University

                              Kevin Cajas – Chapter President, Moraine Valley Community College

                              Carl Ireland – Chapter President, University of Michigan

4:30-4:45pm         Guest Speaker: Paul Schneeberger, Director – Beyond Tribute Initiative

4:45-5:30pm         Public Relations & Advocating your Cause

                              Presented by Jack Amberg, Veteran’s Programs Director - McCormick Foundation

5:30-6:00pm         Strategic Planning

                              Presented by Catherine Brown, Communities Program, McCormick Foundation

7:00-9:00pm         Dinner @ Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery Courtesy of: Veterans@ IUPUI

February 28, 2009: Day 2

7:00-8:00am          Breakfast Courtesy of: Military Family Research Institute

8:00-08:50am        Veteran Support Services, A Panel Discussion

                              Matt Randle, Outreach Director – Vets 4 Vets

                              Prof. Joe Butler, Director, John Marshall Law School’s Veteran’s Legal Clinic

                              Dr. John Mundt, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center

8:50-9:00am          Guest Speaker: Bill Foster, Congressman (D-IL)

9:00-9:35am          Job Protection & Employment Opportunities

                              Presentations: Timothy Soderlund, Assistant Director - Department of Labor VETS

                                                      Ted Daywalt, President, Vetjobs.com

9:35-9:45am          Guest Speaker: Dan Grant, Director - Illinois Department of Veteran’s Affairs

9:45-10:30am        Event & Activity Planning for Student Veterans

                              Presented by Military Family Research Institute

10:30-11:30am      State Breakouts

                              Moderated by: State Directors/Lead Persons

11:30-12:30pm     Lunch Courtesy of: McCormick Foundation

                              SVA Business

1.       Midwest Initiatives

2.       Issues & Concerns for the National Conference

3.       By-Laws and Governance

4.       Administrative Details

                              Moderated by: SVA Leadership

12:30-12:45pm     Closing Remarks & Sponsor Appreciation

                              Presented by: Rodrigo Garcia, SVA Midwest Regional Director

12:45-2:45pm       First Division Museum & Col. Robert McCormick Museum Tour Visits

*** Student Lodging Courtesy of: DeVry University and the Student Veterans of America

Conclusion of Conference