Dordt University will host Craig Culver, co-founder of Culver’s, as the keynote speaker for the Business Connections Breakfast during Defender Days.
Dordt University will welcome Craig Culver, co-founder of the Culver’s restaurant chain, as the featured speaker at this year’s Business Connections Breakfast, held during Defender Days. The event will take place in The Atrium, beginning at 6:45 a.m. on Friday, October 17.
Dale Zevenbergen, director of the K&K Dooyema Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, says the opportunity to hear from Culver is invaluable to our local community members, alumni, and students called to serve in business. “Hearing from an entrepreneur, who played a pivotal role in the growth of a single restaurant in Sauk City, Wisconsin, founded in 1984, into a nationally recognized chain with over 1,000 locations, is a wonderful opportunity,” he says.
Culver’s restaurant focuses on putting people first, celebrating guests, and leading by example. They are known for their ButterBurger, frozen custard, cheese curds, and more.
As is stated on the Culver’s website, “from a freshly seared ButterBurger to simply holding the door for a guest, having an opportunity to brighten someone’s day is a very big deal to Craig. He founded Culver’s knowing people just want to be treated nicely—and hopes our guests continue to feel just as welcomed 50 years from now.”
Becky Ringsby, signature and regional events coordinator at Dordt, says, “Defender Days, as a whole, is not only for the Dordt Community, but also for the broader Sioux Center community, and the Business Connections Breakfast is an event that especially embodies that. The breakfast is already well-received each year, especially by Sioux Center’s business community, and having Craig Culver participate will only solidify this as a meaningful event.”
“Defender Days, as a whole, is not only for the Dordt Community, but also for the broader Sioux Center community, and the Business Connections Breakfast is an event that especially embodies that."
“The story behind the Sioux Center Culvers is fascinating, so having Craig Culver here along with the leaders from the local store will bring a local, relatable element to his insight. It will no doubt be impactful for all who attend,” adds Zevenbergen.
According to an article in the N’West Iowa REVIEW, “Culver’s in Sioux Center has received many awards, including the prestigious Ruth Award, which ‘recognizes restaurants whose team members consistently exemplify superior hospitality each and every day.’ Three times, the location has been a finalist for the Culver’s Crew Challenge, where locations compete against each other on quality, service, cleanliness, hospitality, and community outreach. Plus, Culver’s in Sioux Center earned the Commitment to Excellence award for “consistently maintaining a high standard in restaurant operations, guest experiences, community relationships, and team development.”
“Craig Culver is a respected leader of a well-respected restaurant in many communities,” adds Kaysha Steiger, director of alumni and parent relations at Dordt. “I am eager to learn from him alongside all of our guests.”
Since 2007, the Business Connections Breakfast has aimed to provide local community members, visiting alumni, and students with networking opportunities to expand and enrich their work in the business world. “The Business Connections Breakfast helps foster relationships between alumni and current students, allowing them to sit at the table together, share a meal, and learn from an expert in the field of business,” says Steiger. “Community members are also invited to this breakfast, and it continues to be a place where mutual learning happens for everyone in attendance.”
“The camaraderie from events like the Business Connections Breakfast is a blessing,” adds Zevenbergen.
The event is free to attend with online registration. To learn more about this and other Defender Days events, visit https://www.dordt.edu/events/defender-days-2025.
About Dordt University
As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.
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