Innovator In Residence
UWRF Innovator in Residence speaker events showcase individuals that exemplify the application of innovation in their organization. Promoting a culture of innovation is increasingly important in the competitive business environment. Innovation occurs at all levels of an organization and employers are eagerly searching for talented individuals who understand the importance of innovation, product development, process improvements and creative thinking. We're committed to creating a culture of innovation that provides high quality opportunities for students to enhance their problem solving, creative thinking and self-starting skills.
Fall 2025 Innovator in Residence: Grace Adofoli, Founder and CEO, Shifting Waters Leadership Institute
Grace Adofoli is the Founder and CEO of the Shifting Waters Leadership Institute and an award-winning global speaker, advisor, coach, and consultant. With over a decade of experience across 30+ countries in Africa, the Americas, and Asia, she bridges strategy and soul to guide leaders and organizations in creating sustainable, people-centered impact. A modern-day tentmaker, Grace integrates international relations, organizational strategy, emotional intelligence, and responsible management into a holistic leadership approach. Known for building bridges across cultures, she empowers leaders to lead from the inside out with courage, clarity, and purpose
October 29, 2025, 2 p.m., UC Ballroom
Past Innovators in Residence
Spring 2023: Zimmerman describes herself as a “developer of people” and is active in a wide variety of civic organizations in the St. Croix Valley. As co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of River Falls born Sajan, Inc., a language translation technology company, Zimmerman would go on to lead various operational areas of that business as it expanded across three continents, adding hundreds of employees.
Fall 2022: Nate Boettcher, President and CEO of Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services and SwiftCurrent Connect spoke about Innovative Rural Broadband Solutions and what it means to be connected in 2022.
Spring 2022: Michael Mader’s vision of helping homeless youth inspired the creation of Hippy Feet in 2016. The company initially donated one pair of socks for every pair sold, but quickly recognized and started addressing another urgent need—job training and transitional employment for young people experiencing homelessness.
Fall 2021: Jeremy, Director of Research, Insights and Analytics for Land O’Lakes Dairy Foods spoke about “INNOVATION in Sales and Marketing Strategy Through Cutting-Edge Technologies”. By connecting endless sources of consumer data with practical in-market execution through these technology, Land O’Lakes Dairy Foods is growing market share and profit and thus enhancing the financial viability of its 1600+ farmer-member owners.
Spring 2021: Brooke Lee spoke on: "It all started with a Seed: How an Innovative Product Transformed our Business". Lee is the CEO and the 4th generation family owner of Anchor Paper Company, a dual-source Paper & Packaging Distribution Company headquartered in downtown St. Paul with a retail location in Plymouth, Minn., and a recently expanded manufacturing facility in River Falls.
Fall 2020: Thompson, Founder and CEO of KairosAg, spoke on “Global Impact through Innovation.” Thompson is passionate about eliminating poverty and hunger and is professionally engaged in consulting and agriculture business development.
Spring 2020: Van Bellinger spoke about "Innovation; Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow." He has over 25 years of experience in product design and creative leadership ranging between apparel and industrial design. He leads the product design and development vision, brand strategy, quality roadmap, and innovation for Target Corporation’s Home and Hardlines business, including electronics, sporting goods, seasonal, furniture, and lighting.
Fall 2019: This presentation, "Innovation Big and Small," discussed Wahlin's viewpoint on leadership and innovation. Wahlin has served in leadership positions with large Fortune 500 companies and medium-sized entrepreneurial companies for over 30 years.
Spring 2019: Galler, whose leadership spans nearly 30 years at 3M, General Mills, and Pillsbury in key operating positions, strategic marketing assignments, and innovation strategy roles spoke about, “What Drives Innovation Excellence?”
Fall 2018: Shin spoke about leadership and innovation as it relates to the changing business landscape, how the innovation process functions, industry 4.0 and the implications for innovation and growth, leadership principles, innovation leadership, and his personal journey of philosophy of innovation.
Fall 2017: This presentation, “Growing a Brighter Future,” discussed how using innovation in agriculture will be able to grow more food with fewer resources to feed a growing population.
Spring 2016: This talk, “Bridging Views Of Innovation,” discussed the speaker’s perspective on how technology sectors view and promote innovation and suggest ways academic cultures might broaden their conceptualization of innovation to more fully overlap that of industry allowing for better preparation of students for professional life and the enhancement public-private partnerships.
School of Business and Economics
Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
