IISE students host North Central Regional Conference

On February 7-8, the University of Wisconsin-Madison chapter of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) hosted the 2025 North Central IISE Conference, bringing together over 130 students from peer organizations across the region.

This two-day event offered students valuable insights into the industrial and systems engineering fields through a variety of activities, including site visits to local companies, engaging workshops, and interactive sessions. Nine corporate sponsors collaborated with the students to make this event a success.

UW-Madison Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) alumni Dave Klante and Michelle Ranavat served as the keynote speakers for the Friday and Saturday sessions. Klante, who currently serves as the President of DKE Consulting, LLC, has extensive experience in capital investment planning, manufacturing system optimization, and overseeing large-scale business transformations within manufacturing organizations. Ranavat, the founder and CEO of RANAVAT, a specialty skin and hair care brand inspired by her South Asian roots, shared her entrepreneurial journey. In 2021, RANAVAT made history as the first Ayurvedic skincare line to launch at Sephora, a leading national beauty retailer. UW-ISyE PhD student Eric Stratman also addressed the attendees, sharing his insight into the history of industrial engineering and the path of a PhD student.

The North Central IISE Conference rotates among 17 top engineering schools, with the University of Illinois hosting in 2024 and Iowa State University set to host in 2026.

Lead image photo credit: Alex Kerntop.