live from SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITYCalling all emerging entrepreneurs! Prepare to be inspired by a remarkable team of experts who are poised to deliver an unparalleled educational event. Our Dream Conference is an opportunity like no other. Secure your spot today and be a part of the excitement! Oh, and be sure to bring your business ideas!
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571 University Ave
Selinsgrove, PA 17870 |
LAST EVENT'S EXPERTS
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The panel below includes knowledge experts in innovation, business aptitude, and finance.
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Marvin Rudnitsky, Esquire
Senior Counsel
RHP Law Group, LLC |
Gerald Stauffer
Co-Owner
Ideal Group, Inc. |
J. Todd Troxell
President & CEO
The Northumberland National Bank |
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Matthew Rousu, PH.D.
Dean of the School of Business
Susquehanna University |
Basil Holobetz
CEBEE Center Director
Susquehanna University |
Stephanie Painter
Co-Founder
Painterland Sisters |
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Kristie Anderson
SWSB Programs Coordinator
Susquehanna University |
Michael Daven
President
Advanced Concrete Systems |
BIOS
Marvin Rudnitsky, Esquire
Marvin J. Rudnitsky is Senior Counsel of RHP Law Group, LLC, a law firm he founded in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. A Distinguished Military Graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, he was named a Penn State Liberal Arts Centennial Fellow in 2009 and serves on its Liberal Arts Development Council. He is an honors graduate of University of Pittsburgh School of Law. His government experiences include service as a US Army Judge Advocate, US Army Military Judge, Assistant Attorney General for the Pennsylvania Department of Justice, and as Chief Counsel for the Pennsylvania Department of Commerce.
He was appointed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Board and served as its chair. After serving on the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Board of Governors, he received the Gilbert Nurick Award for lifetime achievements. He also served as president of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the leading provider of continuing education for Pennsylvania attorneys. He served three terms in the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates. Marv served on the Selinsgrove Borough Council for nine years and six as president.
Marv sings with the Susquehanna Valley Chorale and is very active in his church where he is a choir tenor. He is a four-decade Rotarian and oversees the club’s International Exchange Student Program.
He is a co-founder of several small manufacturing companies and serves as chairman of Advanced Concrete Systems, Inc., a Middleburg, Pennsylvania company employing about 115 people.
His is married to his college sweetheart, Raven, with whom he recently shared their 58th Wedding anniversary. They have three daughters and six grandchildren.
He was appointed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Board and served as its chair. After serving on the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Board of Governors, he received the Gilbert Nurick Award for lifetime achievements. He also served as president of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the leading provider of continuing education for Pennsylvania attorneys. He served three terms in the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates. Marv served on the Selinsgrove Borough Council for nine years and six as president.
Marv sings with the Susquehanna Valley Chorale and is very active in his church where he is a choir tenor. He is a four-decade Rotarian and oversees the club’s International Exchange Student Program.
He is a co-founder of several small manufacturing companies and serves as chairman of Advanced Concrete Systems, Inc., a Middleburg, Pennsylvania company employing about 115 people.
His is married to his college sweetheart, Raven, with whom he recently shared their 58th Wedding anniversary. They have three daughters and six grandchildren.
Gerald Stauffer
Gerald Stauffer's entrepreneurial journey began with a series of bold and calculated moves that would lay the foundation for a diverse and successful career. At the age of 16, Gerald moved to Central Pennsylvania with his family. By 18, he was living independently. At just 19, he purchased an 840-square-foot home, where he continues to reside with his 16-year-old twin daughters. Gerald’s early career was marked by hands-on experience in various demanding jobs, including working in a weld shop, on a farm, and catching poultry. These roles provided him with a solid work ethic and practical skills that would prove invaluable in his entrepreneurial ventures. His significant break came when he joined Zimmerman Glasslined Storage in Oakland Mills, PA, where he initially worked in steel construction for silos and tanks. His dedication and hard work quickly earned him a partnership in the business and a promotion to crew foreman. Despite the success, Gerald recognized that the physically demanding nature of the job could not sustain him long-term. This insight drove him to seek more sustainable sources of income.
In pursuit of financial independence, Gerald ventured into real estate at a young age. By 21, he had acquired his first rental property, a two-unit home in Sunbury PA. This initial investment marked the beginning of a successful real estate portfolio, which expanded to include several local rental properties. In 2003, he co-founded Ideal Associates, LLC with a business partner. This partnership proved highly productive, as they acquired up to 12 residential properties in strong market years. Their portfolio also grew to include self-storage facilities, starting with the acquisition of Old Trail Storage in 2007.
The partnership's expansion continued with the acquisition of a large farm, which became a significant operation producing and fattening 30,000 hogs annually. Over the next 11 years, the farm was a cornerstone of their business, alongside their self-storage ventures, which they operated under Ideal Self Storage.The sale of the farm in 2018 and the self-storage properties in 2019 marked a transition in Gerald's business focus.
Post-sale, Gerald began investing independently, acquiring residential properties through single-member LLCs. In January 2020, just two months before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he acquired the Farmers Market in Lewisburg PA. Under the management of a dedicated team, the market has continued to thrive, reflecting Gerald’s strategic acumen. His real estate investments have also extended to an oceanfront home in the Outer Banks in 2021, enhancing his diverse portfolio.
Gerald’s entrepreneurial spirit extends to innovative financial ventures, including high-interest, real estate-secured lending to other investors and business owners. He also leverages retirement accounts for real estate investments, demonstrating a sophisticated approach to asset management. Currently, he is engaged in developing a community in Milton, Pennsylvania, planned to include 90-100 homes.
In addition to his real estate and investment activities, Gerald is a private pilot. His passion for flying complements his business ventures, enabling him to manage and visit properties in South Carolina, including two townhomes rented to families.
J. Todd Troxell
J. Todd Troxell has been with NNB since 1998. Todd has served NNB as a Lender, Branch Manager, IT Operations Assistant, VP and Branch Administrator, EVP, COO and now President and CEO. Todd holds degrees from Susquehanna University, Bloomsburg University, Pennsylvania Bankers Association Commercial School of Banking and the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking. Todd and his wife Jennifer have two children, James and Abigail. Todd enjoys playing guitar and boating with his family.
Kristie Anderson
Kristie is the Sigmund Weis School of Business Programs Coordinator and the director of CEBEE (Center for Economics, Business, and Entrepreneurship Education). She is also an adjunct professor in the Management and Marketing Department and the Education Department at Susquehanna University. Kristie has experience in both the public and private accounting fields and was also a high school business education teacher before transitioning to higher education.
Matthew Rousu, PH.D.
I recall the first time I sat in a principles of economics course. I had one of those “Aha!” moments you hear about. Economics presented a set of tools that helped to explain the way the world worked. I loved that first class, eventually decided to major in economics and subsequently decided I’d like to teach this wonderful subject to others. I enjoy both teaching and researching economic issues, and love that Susquehanna allows me to do both while having a positive impact on students’ lives.
I enjoy Broadway musicals and turned my hobby into a way to teach economics with the new website I created, BroadwayEconomics.com. I also enjoy travel, golfing, trivia and many other activities.
One of my main hobbies over the past decade has been playing poker. I used to play online poker as a semi-professional (i.e., it wasn’t my main job, but I earned money from it every year), but now I only play occasionally. I played at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2014 with two cashes in eight events.
I enjoy Broadway musicals and turned my hobby into a way to teach economics with the new website I created, BroadwayEconomics.com. I also enjoy travel, golfing, trivia and many other activities.
One of my main hobbies over the past decade has been playing poker. I used to play online poker as a semi-professional (i.e., it wasn’t my main job, but I earned money from it every year), but now I only play occasionally. I played at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2014 with two cashes in eight events.
Basil Holobetz
Basil is the CEE Center Director at Susquehanna with decades of experience in the Global Business & Management world. He currently teaches numerous business & management courses at SU including Principles of Management, International Business & International Marketing, among many others.
Stephanie Painter
I am Stephanie Painter, with my Sister Hayley Painter
Sisters, Co-Founders, and Co-CEO's.
We grew up running barefoot at Painterland Farms in the rolling hills of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, where our family has been farming for four generations.
We eventually left for college and to travel the world. But the more we experienced, the more we realized just how special our home really is.
It’s our passion to share the joy, beauty, and hard work of farming. We wanted to find a way to connect more people directly with American farmers.
Painterland Sisters Organic Skyr Yogurt was born.
Painterland Sisters organic skyr yogurt is always made with USDA certified organic milk. We and Our partner farms go above and beyond USDA standards to care for our land, animals, and workers. check out some of the benefits…
From growing the grain to harvesting and milling it ourselves, we take control over every step of the process.
We feed our cows a mix of our homegrown feed and sweet grass from open pastures. We use all-natural fertilizers (aka cow poop) to restore fertility to our fields.
The result is happy cows, healthy soil, and organic skyr yogurt that tastes good and does good.
Sisters, Co-Founders, and Co-CEO's.
We grew up running barefoot at Painterland Farms in the rolling hills of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, where our family has been farming for four generations.
We eventually left for college and to travel the world. But the more we experienced, the more we realized just how special our home really is.
It’s our passion to share the joy, beauty, and hard work of farming. We wanted to find a way to connect more people directly with American farmers.
Painterland Sisters Organic Skyr Yogurt was born.
Painterland Sisters organic skyr yogurt is always made with USDA certified organic milk. We and Our partner farms go above and beyond USDA standards to care for our land, animals, and workers. check out some of the benefits…
From growing the grain to harvesting and milling it ourselves, we take control over every step of the process.
We feed our cows a mix of our homegrown feed and sweet grass from open pastures. We use all-natural fertilizers (aka cow poop) to restore fertility to our fields.
The result is happy cows, healthy soil, and organic skyr yogurt that tastes good and does good.
Michael Daven
With 27 years of experience in corporate, acquisition, and leveraged finance, Michael Daven has completed over 150 transactions as a lender, investor, or investment banker and managed a portfolio of more than 300 companies. His management roles include significant positions at CIBC World Markets, General Electric Capital, Equitable Capital (now Alliance Capital), and IBJ Whitehall. Mike possesses extensive merger and acquisition experience, focusing on assessing the creditworthiness and valuation of lower middle-market companies. He has structured senior and subordinated debt, as well as equity investments, for leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth situations across various industries. His capital markets expertise encompasses private placements and public offerings of both debt and equity securities.
In addition to his finance background, Michael co-founded a highly profitable regional security alarm company in 2000, which was sold in 2011, delivering substantial returns for investors. He has also served as a director for two private companies and was a partner and co-founder of Brush, Kunz & Daven LLC, an investment banking firm specializing in the outdoor advertising and security alarm sectors. He holds a B.A. from Trinity College (Hartford, CT) and an M.B.A. from Cornell University.
Currently, Mike serves as President and partner of Advanced Concrete Systems, Inc. (“ACS”), a privately held manufacturer of pre-cast concrete foundation systems, since 2005. ACS is an independently owned licensee of Superior Walls of America, serving multiple counties across Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia.
Mr. Daven is also the President and CEO, and a founding member of Commonwealth Security Resources, LLC (“CSR”), a specialized security alarm company focused on acquiring and managing security alarm contracts since 2015. Additionally, from 2000 to 2012, Michael was the President and founder of Hawkeye Capital Associates, LLC, a consulting and advisory firm dedicated to raising capital for middle-market companies, assisting in business formation and divestitures, and providing financial consulting and valuation services to lower middle-market firms.
In addition to his finance background, Michael co-founded a highly profitable regional security alarm company in 2000, which was sold in 2011, delivering substantial returns for investors. He has also served as a director for two private companies and was a partner and co-founder of Brush, Kunz & Daven LLC, an investment banking firm specializing in the outdoor advertising and security alarm sectors. He holds a B.A. from Trinity College (Hartford, CT) and an M.B.A. from Cornell University.
Currently, Mike serves as President and partner of Advanced Concrete Systems, Inc. (“ACS”), a privately held manufacturer of pre-cast concrete foundation systems, since 2005. ACS is an independently owned licensee of Superior Walls of America, serving multiple counties across Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia.
Mr. Daven is also the President and CEO, and a founding member of Commonwealth Security Resources, LLC (“CSR”), a specialized security alarm company focused on acquiring and managing security alarm contracts since 2015. Additionally, from 2000 to 2012, Michael was the President and founder of Hawkeye Capital Associates, LLC, a consulting and advisory firm dedicated to raising capital for middle-market companies, assisting in business formation and divestitures, and providing financial consulting and valuation services to lower middle-market firms.
RISE UP! |
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Our organization is challenging our youth to rise up and meet the needs of our ever-changing world. We want our students to experience personal prosperity and satisfaction as they craft innovative ideas that may change lives.
Our world is riddled with social, economic, and environmental issues. Society won't progress without new ideas and the entrepreneurs who pursue them. There's an old proverb that says: "If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime." Inspiring the next generation to "fish" is the first step to restoring The American Dream. |
LAST EVENT'S AGENDA
9:30 am |
10:30 am |
