Alum, Entrepreneur to Return for Spring PALS

The campus community will have several opportunities to engage with Beth and hear about her successful journey to lead Sea Bags, a Portland, Maine-based company that hand-stitches totes and accessories out of recycled sails. Beth will present two sessions during the day on April 4:

• Session 1: Fireside Chat with Beth Shissler -- 11 a.m. in Gundlach Theatre
• Session 2: What If? Finding Your North Star -- 2 p.m. in Gundlach Theatre.

Students faculty and staff are invited to dinner and Beth's keynote address, What I Didn't Learn in Business School about Building a Business, Brand and Company. The evening begins with a cash bar and reception at 5:45 p.m. with dinner at 6:30.

Students should sign up on BergSync.

Faculty and staff can sign up here. Cost is $15 for the chicken or vegan option or $25 for the steak option.

RSVPs are due by Friday, March 22.

About Beth Shissler and Sea Bags

Born and raised in Maine,  Beth built her career in sales distribution, working for global companies such as Northern Telecom and Philips Semiconductors. In 2006, she created Sea Bags, a company that is committed to sustainability in product and practice as well as economic development and job creation at the grassroots and state levels.

Since its founding in 2006, Sea Bags has grown to operate 23 retail stores, a robust online business and more than 800 wholesale accounts. The company has employed over 200 people, many of whom Beth has personally mentored to go on to operate their own companies.

Beth and Sea Bags have been recognized in many publications, including Forbes. The company was named Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration and received the Governor’s Business Excellence Award. In addition to community service, Beth has been named a Woman to Watch by Maine Biz.

Completing the first decade of PALS, Shissler is the second Heidelberg alumna to return to Heidelberg as a keynote speaker. She graduated in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and international studies, later earning an MBA from Boston University.