Join us for another exciting series of high-profile, nationally known speakers, right here on the Concordia University Wisconsin campus.


The Concordia Free Enterprise Center (CFEC) promotes the ideals of a free and virtuous society, which ultimately unleashes the nearly unlimited creative potential of the human spirit while producing remarkable levels of economic and human flourishing. Now in its fifth year, the Economics, Politics, and Philosophy on the Bluff series hosts hosts nationally-known thought leaders that attract large audiences of students, faculty, staff, and community members.

This fall’s lineup is headlined by Dr. Art Laffer, known as the father of the “Laffer Curve,” a famous illustration of the relationship between tax rates and tax revenues.

All events are FREE, though registration is preferred. Click the “Learn More/Register” button to sign up for individual events.


Dr. Art Laffer | “Taxes Have Consequences: Does taxing the rich work?”

September 25 | 6:00 PM | Concordia Center for Environmental Stewardship

Arthur B. Laffer is the founder and chairman of Laffer Associates, an economic research and consulting firm.

Dr. Laffer’s economic acumen and influence in triggering a worldwide tax-cutting movement in the 1980s have earned him the distinction in many publications as “The Father of Supply-Side Economics.” One of his earliest successes in shaping public policy was his involvement in Proposition 13, the groundbreaking California initiative that drastically cut property taxes in the state in 1978.


Liberty, Faith, and Economics Summit

October 22 | 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Robert W. Plaster Center Collaboratorium
& Concordia Center for Environmental Stewardship

  • 11:30 AM: Lunch | Robert W. Plaster Center Collaboratorium
  • 12:15 PM: Why are some countries rich and others poor? – Dr. Mark Schug and Dr. Scott Niederjohn | Robert W. Plaster Center Collaboratorium
  • 1:30 PM: The Slaughter of Innocents: The Victims of Socialism – Mr. George Harbison | Robert W. Plaster Center Collaboratorium
  • 2:45 PM: Religious Freedom in a Polarized America – Mr. Mark Rienzi | Robert W. Plaster Center Collaboratorium
  • 5:00 PM: Reception  |  Concordia Center for Environmental Stewardship (CCES)
  • 6:00 PM: Can Principled Philanthropy Protect Freedom? – Rick Graber  | Keynote Speaker | Concordia Center for Environmental Stewardship (CCES)

Mr. Clare Zempel | “Economic and Financial Market Outlook: 2024-2028”

November 19 | 6:00 PM
Robert W. Plaster Center Collaboratorium

Clare Zempel is a leading business economist and top investment strategist. He honed his smart, nimble approach to making sense of complex economic and financial issues over more than 30 years as an economist for major national firms. Through Zempel Strategic, Clare brings seasoned common sense to bear on these issues for corporate business clients and major investors. He specializes in customizing applied economics and financial market analysis to meet each client’s unique needs.


Student impact

While this speaker series is a great way to raise the profile of the Batterman School of Business and its Concordia Free Enterprise Center, it also gives students opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit in unique and valuable ways:

  • Many faculty include the speakers in their curriculum and require students to attend as part of their courses. As an example, Art Laffer is a famous economist whose ideas regularly come up in economics. Faculty invite students to attend to actually meet and hear from someone who is discussed in their classes and textbooks. 
  • All of the events have a pre-reception with the speaker, affording the students to both meet these thought leaders but also network with the dozens of off-campus business people and community leaders that attend. Sometimes this leads to internships or permanent job possibilities.
  • Select students are often invited to a post-lecture dinner with the speakers to continue the conversations in a more personal, intimate environment. It’s not your everyday ordinary student opportunity!

Want in?

The Batterman School of Business at Concordia University Wisconsin offers a complete range of business education programs and degrees including associate’s and bachelor’s degrees for undergraduate and accelerated adult students, licensures, and certifications. Graduate programs include our highly ranked Master’s of Business Administration (with 13 concentrations), Master’s in Leadership, Accountancy, Business Analytics, and a Doctor of Business Administration. Business undergraduate students also participate in the Concordia Core, a rigorous, liberal arts curriculum integrated with Lutheran distinctives. To learn more, click the link below.