Index of University Press Releases

Feb 19, 2007

Executive of the Year to Speak at McGovern Center

MITCHELL — Colin Steen, president and general manager of the two-time United Indoor Football (UIF) League Bowl Champion Sioux Falls Storm, is the next presenter of the 2006-2007 McGovern Center Brown Bag Lunch Speakers Series at Dakota Wesleyan University.

Steen will discuss his role as the head of the sports organization at noon on Thursday, Feb. 22 at the McGovern Library, Room 126 on the DWU campus.

“Steen has been working as a mentor for our public service and leadership major at DWU and he will be on campus guest lecturing in some of our classes,” said Donald Simmons, director of the McGovern Center at Dakota Wesleyan University. “He is one of the most impressive executives that I have ever worked with and I encourage the public to take advantage of the opportunity to hear him speak at the brown bag lunch.”

Steen, a Brookings native, played football at Northern State University where he studied management and marketing. Before joining the Storm he worked for Midcontinent Communications in their sales and marketing division. After being hired as the sales and marketing director for the Storm, Steen moved up the ranks to general manager and ultimately president of the organization. During the last three seasons, the Storm has competed in three straight UIF League Championship games, winning the last two.

“Steen has been recognized as the League Executive of the Year for the past two seasons,” said Simmons. “Considering where the Storm was four years ago, the guy knows how to put together a successful organization, both on and off the field, while giving back to his community. Our public service and leadership students can learn a lot from him.”

The McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service offers both a major and minor in public service and leadership. Leadership is a relatively new academic discipline that offers possibilities for almost any chosen career field, according to Simmons. Students in the program are introduced to the many theories and models of leadership that are applicable in any setting. Students who graduate from the program can expect to find employment in government agencies, business, nonprofits, public service and many other fields.

Lunch will be available for purchase at Java City in the library before the lecture. For more information about the McGovern Center Brown Bag Lunch Speakers Series, contact Donald Simmons at 995-2937, or visit the Web site at www.mcgoverncenter.com for regular program updates.