From Student Worker to COO: Erik Martinson’s Path to Success
The chatter in the Memorial Union carries down the main hall most weekday afternoons. Soon, one of those quick, focused talks will feature Erik Martinson — a UND alum who started as a campus student worker and went on to become a Chief Operating Officer — as part of the university’s 18:83 Speaker Series, according to UND Student Affairs.
The series gives each speaker 18 minutes and 83 seconds to share what they’ve learned — a nod to UND’s founding year, 1883 — and has been hosted on campus with recent sessions in the Memorial Union, per the university’s events listings. If you’ve been looking for a short, practical shot of leadership perspective between classes or during a lunch break, this is built for that.
Tip for attendees
- Where: UND Memorial Union (check ahead)
- When: Date and time to be posted (check the UND events page)
- Cost: Check ahead
- Details and updates: Find the latest via UND Student Affairs’ events listings
Unfolding the UND Chapter
Before the C-suite title, Martinson’s story starts where many UND journeys do — on campus, juggling classes with a campus job. The university frames his arc from student worker to COO as a lesson in steady growth and everyday leadership, according to the 18:83 series description from UND Student Affairs.
That UND-to-career bridge is what the series aims to spotlight: speakers tie formative campus experiences to the decisions and habits that shaped their professional lives, per UND’s event materials. For current students splitting time between labs, shifts, and late-night study sessions, the promise is a practical map from campus responsibilities to larger-stage roles.
Climbing the Corporate Ladder
After UND, Martinson advanced through roles that built operational know-how and team leadership — the kind of experience that leads to a COO seat. His appearance is positioned as a chance to translate those steps into takeaways that work here and now for students and early-career professionals, according to UND’s series overview.
Expect themes the 18:83 Series is known for: clarity under pressure, learning from missteps, and leading with service, per UND Student Affairs. The format rewards specifics over fluff, so audiences typically walk out with two or three ideas they can try the same week.
Why This Resonates in Grand Forks
Talks like this fit the UND rhythm — class to work to hockey, with a quick window for something useful in between. The series connects the dots between campus jobs, internships around town, and long-term leadership roles in the region and beyond, according to UND’s framing of the program.
For the broader Grand Forks community — from young professionals downtown to military families tied to the base — the message tracks with local values: show up, do the work, help your team, repeat. Held steps from the Greenway and a short ride from Ralph Engelstad Arena, it feels rooted in daily campus life, not abstract advice.
How to Take Part
If you want to catch Martinson’s talk, watch for the listing and RSVP details on UND’s events page; the university posts dates, locations, and any registration notes there, according to UND Student Affairs. Plan to arrive a few minutes early — these 19-ish-minute sessions move quickly, and seating can go fast.
Consider inviting a classmate, mentee, or colleague who’s weighing next steps. The compact format makes it easy to attend over lunch or between classes and compare notes after.
Before You Go
- Check the UND events page for the confirmed date, start time, and room location in the Memorial Union.
- Accessibility, parking, and any livestream details are typically included on the official listing — check ahead.
- If you’re attending with a student group, consider coordinating a short debrief afterward to lock in takeaways.
Sources and more information
- UND Student Affairs — 18:83 Speaker Series event information and updates (according to the university’s events listings): UND events page
What to Watch
UND typically updates the 18:83 lineup throughout the semester; keep an eye on the events page for the final date and details for Martinson’s talk. If you can’t make this session, the series rotates speakers, so another campus-to-career story may be on deck soon. We’ll share confirmed timing as UND posts it.
