Northland Community & Technical College is launching a new lecture series this fall to bring notable voices to campus and engage students and community members in topics that matter to the region. Each event offers an opportunity to learn from leaders in their fields and connect real‑world experience to Northland’s academic and community mission.
The inaugural lecture features Chelsea Treboniak. She is a West Point graduate, U.S. Army veteran, published author, and founder of Critical Ops, a consulting firm specializing in critical infrastructure protection. Treboniak’s work includes transportation resilience, fraud and e‑crime intelligence, energy innovation, UAS, and remote sensing. She also founded the Fraud Working Group, a national credit‑union collaboration credited with saving and avoiding millions in losses. A sought‑after speaker and facilitator, she is known for helping organizations translate emerging risks and research into practical solutions.
Treboniak’s presentation, Built to Go Further, explores how strong foundations, purposeful action, and continuous learning can shape a career—and a life—with possibilities not yet visible. Drawing from her journey from Thief River Falls to West Point, military service, entrepreneurship, and national leadership, she shares personal stories and practical lessons that encourage attendees to recognize the value of where they are today while staying open to where it can lead.
The lecture will be offered twice on Thursday, September 17. The first lecture will be at the East Grand Forks Campus Commons from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. The second lecture will be held at the Thief River Falls campus theatre from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
More information about Chelsea Treboniak and Critical Ops can be found on the Critical Ops website www.criticalops.com and the Critical Ops LinkedIn page at www.linkedin.com/company/criticalops.
