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K-State Today

March 25, 2013

Business of Design Thinking symposium April 5

Submitted by Communications and Marketing

The department of apparel, textiles and interior design in the College of Human Ecology is hosting "Business of Design Thinking," the ninth annual student symposium on April 5. 

Two keynote speakers will give lectures about their businesses at 9:30 a.m. in the K-State Student Union Forum Hall.

Dave Dreiling, entrepreneur and owner of GTM Sportswear — formerly called It's Greek to Me, — will speak about his perspective on the dynamics of growing a successful business while operating within a globalized supply chain. By highlighting GTM's newest UltraFuse technology, he will discuss strategies for maintaining an advantage in a competitive economy. 

Dreiling started GTM Sportswear, after graduating from Kansas State University, by traveling across the U.S. selling sportswear to fraternities and sororities. Since 1989, the company has outfitted 1.1 million groups in customized sportswear for cheer, dance, athletic teams and other related markets. It employs more than 900 people. Inc. magazine listed the company on its list of the fastest growing privately owned companies.

Jo Staffelbach Heinz, president and CEO of Staffelbach, an interior design company in Dallas, will talk about strategic positioning of design and business. She will discuss the emerging picture of interior design, its level of sophistication and the essential connections of clients, projects, design thinking and profits. 

She received her bachelor's degree from Kansas State University. Her extensive industry profile has earned her awards such as Women in Business Industry Leaser by the Dallas Business Journal and Distinguished Leader Award from the university's College of Human Ecology.

A networking lunch for apparel, textiles and interior design students and professionals will start at noon in the K-State Student Union Ballroom. Registration for the lunch is $10 for students and $25 for non-students. The registration form must be completed before April 1 to attend the lunch. All other symposium events are free and open to the public.

Two panel discussions will start at 2:30 p.m. in Justin Hall. The interior design discussion will be in Room 164 and the apparel and textiles discussion will be in Room 163. Following the panel discussions will be the student gallery viewing at 3:30 p.m. in Justin Hall's Hoffman Lounge. 

For more information about the symposium contact Amber Vossen at amvossen@k-state.edu. For questions about the lunch registration contact Jennifer Rettele-Thomas at 785-532-7592 or jenniferr@found.ksu.edu.