Two business women will discuss what it takes to survive the odds in the marketplace on Tuesday.

Mary Ellen Sheets, founder and chief executive officer of Two Men
and a Truck, and her daughter, Melanie Bergeron, president and chief
operating officer, will give a keynote address at 2 p.m. in Plachta
Auditorium as part of the College of Business Administration’s Dialogue
Days.

More than 50 office professionals are coming to campus this week.

Two Men and a Truck Marketing Coordinator Kim Hafley said the two businesswomen will talk about what it takes to be successful.

“Persevering and looking at the positive in every challenge lets you
grow into better people and better employees,” Hafley said. “They’re
both very dynamic and persistent women.”

Sheets organized Two Men and a Truck after her sons started the
business in high school as an after-school job. Since then, the Lansing
based company has become the first and largest franchised local moving
company with a nationally recognized name and logo.

CBA Dean John Schleede said the business has been successful.

“The founders of Two Men and a Truck are a real American success
story, an entrepreneurial venture that reflects hard work, flexibility,
sensitivity to the needs of the marketplace and excellent business
sense,” Schleede said.

Beginning at 3:30 p.m., students will have the opportunity to meet
with other business professionals from across the United States.

Schleede said the CBA strives to improve the numbers and types of
opportunities for students to be placed in the business community.
Professionals from Merrill Lynch, Standard Federal Bank, The Westwood
Group and Gordon Food Services are among the participants.

The event continues from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday. Schleede said
the event serves as one of the biggest networking events of the year
put on by the CBA.

“Many professionals who participate come back to CMU to recruit employees or select students for internships,” Schleede said.

Hafley also reinforced the value of the event.

“We’re always looking for new employees and prospective franchisees
to join and grow with our system,” Hafley said. “What’s particularly
exciting is the diversity of our franchise pool. We have people who
came right out of college with an undergraduate degree and became very
successful.”

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