PALS: Beth Shissler

In creating the Patricia Adams Lecture Series, John and Pat Adams sought to provide extraordinary opportunities for all Heidelberg students, graduate and undergraduate, as well as faculty and staff, and the broader Tiffin community. The first lecture in the series was held in September 2010 and coincided with the grand opening of Adams Hall at Heidelberg University, home to the new School of Business.

The lecture series is named to honor Pat Adams’ long-standing loyalty to and passion for Heidelberg University, her tireless philanthropic spirit, her values of education and leadership and her desire to leave a legacy at the university that has meant so much to both her and John throughout their lives.

Keynote Speaker

Heidelberg University alumna Elizabeth (Greenlaw) Shissler is President & Chief Operating Officer of Sea Bags, LLC. Born and raised in Maine, Beth built her career in sales distribution, working for global companies such as Northern Telecom and Philips Semiconductors. Building on those experiences, she created Sea Bags, an entrepreneurial venture that hand-stitches totes out of recycled sails on a wharf in Portland, Maine.

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

Beth and Sea Bags have been recognized in many publications, including Forbes. Sea Bags was named Small Business of the Year by the Small Business Administration and received the Governor’s Business Excellence Award in 2018. In addition to community service, Beth has been named a Woman to Watch by Maine Biz.

Beth earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration and international studies from Heidelberg in 1990 and her MBA from Boston University. She lives in Scarborough, Maine, with her son, Aiden.

Schedule

• 11 a.m. – Noon – Session 1: Presentation and Q&A, Gundlach Theatre​
  "Fireside Chat with Beth Shissler"
   
• 2-3 p.m. – Session 2: Presentation and Q&A, Gundlach Theatre
  "What If? Finding Your North Star"
   
• 6:30 p.m. – Dinner & Keynote Address, Seiberling Gymnasium
  "What I Didn't Learn in Business School About Building a Business, Brand and Company"

Register

• Faculty, staff and alumni can register in Marketplace.
• Students can register on BergSync.

Questions?

• Contact the Alumni Engagement Office, 419-448-2231.
• Students are required to bring their student ID to all events. 
• Learn more about the Patricia Adams Lecture Series.