RIVER FALLS – The University Business Collaboration Center (UBCC) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls will host the first guest speaker in the 2026-2027 Innovators Speaker Series Tuesday, Sept. 22. Pat Ptacek, owner of Ptacek’s Family Market, will speak at 6 p.m. in room 194 of the Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech), 262 E. Cascade Ave.

Introducing a successful, century-old brand to a new community can be challenging. For Ptacek, it was about more than just filling shelves with groceries, it was about creating a feeling of community in the store. He will talk about implementing his own vision for a new shopping experience in River Falls by creating a community-centered culture where neighbors can feel at home.

The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session at 7 p.m. and a reception featuring cheeses and meats made on campus by students and available at Freddy's Dairy Bar and Ptacek's Family Market.

Future guest speakers scheduled in the series include:

• Kim Peterson, founder of KPT Collaborative, Oct. 27.
• Brittany Germain, founder and CEO of Laser Engrave It Your Way, Nov. 17.

For more information, contact Blane Huppert at ubcc@uwrf.edu.

Submitted by UW-River Falls