Story by Karissa Stolen

Jeremy Vallerand, president & CEO of Rescue: Freedom International, will be speaking at the College of Business on Feb. 13.

Rescue: Freedom International is a nonprofit organization that works around the world to empower the rescue and restoration of those in sexual slavery. His talk will be held from 3 to 4:15 p.m. in Rockwell West 116 (the Bohemian Auditorium).

During the presentation, Jeremy will discuss the factors driving this global injustice and explore how individuals, organizations and businesses can play a role in combating slavery. Human trafficking is the second-largest, and fastest-growing, criminal enterprise on the planet. Slavery is all around us, touching our lives in ways we don’t even realize.

Vallerand has an undergraduate degree in business from Trinity Western University in British Columbia, Canada, and a graduate degree in diplomacy from Oxford University. As an entrepreneur and consultant, he worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies, global NGOs and start-up ventures. He also worked in Washington, D.C., to coordinate the National Prayer Breakfast, serving as a liaison to the U.S. Congress, the White House and foreign dignitaries. He is an avid outdoorsman, outdoor gear tester, and the co-founder of Climb for Captives, an initiative that utilizes mountain climbing to combat human trafficking. Vallerand lives in Seattle with his wife, Maren, and their three children.

The event is sponsored by the CSU Ethics Colloquium, Richardson Foundation and the College of Business. Seating is limited, so please RSVP here.