Previous Forum Series Sessions

Fall 2012

Nail it then Scale it!

Thursday, September 13, 2012 3:30-4:30 p.m, 107 Devlin Hall, WSU

• Paul Ahlstrom, entrepreneur, investor, co-founder of Kickstart
  Seed Fund and Alta Venture Mexico, and author of the book Nail It
  Then Scale It (Free copies while they last to those in attendance!)

New Franchisees: Lessons Learned to Date

Thursday, October 18th, 2012 3:30-4:30 p.m, 107 Devlin Hall, WSU

• Rachel Allen, Mathnasium
• Chris Gerhardt & Matthew McClure,TITLE Boxing Club Wichita
• Garret Peterman,Two Men and a Truck

Hobby Lobby

Thursday, November 8th, 2012 3:30-4:30 p.m, 107 Devlin Hall, WSU

• David Green, CEO & Founder

Spring 2012

Artist Management

Thursday, February 9, 2012, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 107 Devlin Hall, WSU

• Denise Stiff, Founder of DS Management, a Nashville-based artist management company

           Click here to view Denise's bio

Jimmy John Liautaud

Thursday, March 8, 2012, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 107 Devlin Hall, WSU

• JImmy John Liautaud, Founder and CEO of Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shops

           Click here to view Jimmy's bio

From Employee to Entrepreneur

Thursday, April 5, 2012, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 107 Devlin Hall, WSU

• Ron Greiving-Owner, Haysville Rental Center
• Mike Relihan-Owner, Bullseye Shooting Range
• Kevin Swinicki-Co-Owner, Go Run Wichita

            Download 2012 flyer here

Fall 2011

The "Green" Industry - Thursday, September 15, 2011

• Eric Borland, President & CEO, Alpha BioSystems, Inc.
• David Daniels, CEO, AESI, Inc. (Alternative Energy Solutions, Intl., Inc.)
• John Wesley, CEO, Universal Lubricants, LLC.

          View Pictures of The "Green" Industry

The "Service" Industry - Thursday, October 20, 2011

• Norman Arensdorf, Chairman of the Board, Village Tours & Travel
• Ben Arnold, Owner, Corporate Caterers of Wichita, BLA Enterprises
• Bill Maness, President, Syndeo Outsourcing

Global Entrepreneurship Week - Thursday, November 17, 2011

• Jack DeBoer, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Author

Spring 2011

Commercial Real Estate and Development - Thursday, February 10 , 2011

• Paul Jackson, President & Owner, Vantage Point Properties
• George Laham, President, Laham Development 
• Bradley Saville, President,Landmark Commercial Real Estate Inc.

          View pictures of Commercial Real Estate and Development

The Creative Mind Behind Redbox - Thursday, March 10, 2011

• Micheal DeLazzer, Founding Member of Redbox

The Internet of Tomorrow - Thursday, April 7 , 2011 - 208 Hubbard Hall

• Gary Bridge, Senior Vice President and Global Lead Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group

             View pictures from The Internet of Tomorrow

             Download flyer here

Fall 2010

Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards Finalists - Thursday, September 30, 2010

• Paul Farmer, CEO/President of Mgmt TV Inc., dba Famhost
• Scott Pitman, President and Operating Partner, Suzuki of Wichita
• Bill Ramsey, Founder, Owner, President and Head Geek in Charge, The Bill Guy Technology Solutions, Inc.

              Download flyer here

Building A Bear Business - Thursday, October 21, 2010

Maxine Clark, Founder and Chief Executive Bear, Build-A-Bear Workshop

Maxine Clark founded and built Build-A-Bear Workshop, a teddy-bear themed retail entertainment experience, into a 400-store global success. How did she use a blend of innovation and business basics to fulfill her dream? Learn how one of retail’s icons grew an idea from one store in St. Louis to an international “brand” based on the concept that retailing is entertainment, and the customer wants to have “fun.”

View pictures of Building A Bear Business

Download flyer here

Emerging Entrepreneurs - Thursday, November 18th, 2010 

• Clint Brauer, President, Cyberread.com
• Shadi Marcos, President, Cybertron
• Jamie Tabor, President, Simone Chickenbone Natural Put-Ons, and Founder of Chicken Poop

              View pictures of Emerging Entrepreneurs 

               Download flyer here

Spring 2010

What About Franchising? - February 11, 2010
The first session of the Spring Entrepreneurship Forum Series will focus on Franchising. Is this a good time to become involved in franchising as either a franchisee or a franchisor? Three proven franchising "pros" give us insights into this major and often dominant form of distribution and ownership.

• David Redfern - President, Value Place
• Bill Simon - Co-Founder and CEO, Timberline Steakhouse & Grill and Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
• Bill Walsh - President and COO, Daland Corporation, Pizza Hut and Sonic franchisee

So You Want to Buy or Sell a Business? - March 4, 2010
Buying a business, for what it is worth, is one approach for attaining ownership. You can also spend years building a business, then you decide to "cash out" and move on to the next phase of your life. In this session, our panel will share their insights on these two crucial events for entrepreneurs. Download the flyer.

• Steve Hayes - President and CEO, Hayes Holdings
• Bill Phillips - President and CEO,Vornado Air, LLC
• Dave Nesbitt - President, Devlin Enterprises

Growing a Technology/Entertainment Business - April 8, 2010
Few areas of business face the extreme dynamics as in the technology and entertainment sectors. In this session, our panelists share how innovation and flexibility have helped them carve a successful and profitable niche. Download the flyer.

• Jared Brickman - Founder/Owner, ROK ICT!
• Jason Opat - Founder/CEO, Integrated Media Group
• Brian Pettey - Founder/CEO, Robotzone, LLC

Download flyers here.

Fall 2009

The fall Entrepreneurship Forum will focus on the start-up firm. Our first session will feature a panel of three talented entrepreneurs who will share their experiences in starting their own businesses. Our second program features Michael Chasen, co-founder and CEO of the billion-dollar software company, Blackboard. We finish the fall series featuring Joel Barker, internationally known author and speaker, who will share his ideas on the use of innovation to re-invent or start a business.

ACE Students with Michael Chasen (center)

Guest Speakers Include:

Make Your Passion Your Business - September 17, 2009

• Todd Gentry - Founder and CEO, Inno-Labs, LP
• James Wiebe - Founder and CEO, Belite Aircraft; Founder, Newer Technology and WiebeTech, LLC
• Kay Wiggins - Founder and Owner, Kay Wiggins Jewelry, Beads and Gifts

The Colossal Success of Blackboard - October 1, 2009

• Michael Chasen - Co-Founder and CEO, Blackboard Inc.

Innovation at the Verge: How to Find a New Territory for New Ideas - November 12

• Joel Barker - Author and Futurist

Spring 2009

Click here to check out all previous forums! The spring Entrepreneurship Forum Series line-up of panel members is a talented group of world class entrepreneurs and specialists. The panel will share their "lessons learned" and unique experiences in the entrepreneurial marketplace today. Download the flyer here.

The spring series will cover various topics, such as: how to be successful in the global marketplace, issues female entrepreneurs encounter today, and how to become a more entrepreneurial-driven firm.

The Entrepreneurship Forum Series is free and open to the public. Each session is from 3:00 - 4:00 pm in Devlin Hall, Room 107, WSU Campus.

Guest Speakers Include:

Global Entrepreneurship - February 5, 2009

• Dr. Aidan Dunleavy - Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, BG Products, Inc.
• Ryan Durst - Senior Manager of Sales and Marketing, The Bradbury Co., Inc.
• Karyn Page - President and CEO, Kansas World Trade Center, Inc.

Women Entrepreneurs Today - March 5, 2009

• Susayn Brandes - President, Chairman and CEO, Great Plains Ventures, Inc.
• Cindy Carnahan - President, The Carnahan Group, Inc. at JP Weigand & Son's Realtors
• Beth Tully - Founder, Cocoa Dolce Artisan Chocolates

Corporate Entrepreneurship - April 2, 2009

• Jeff Turner - President and CEO, Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.

Fall 2008

These entrepreneurs will come together to answer your questions, such as: What are the best sources for capital for beginning and growing firms? What sources of capital are used more often? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each of the financial sources? Download the flyer here.

Guest Speakers Include:

Financing the Start-Up - September 25, 2008

• Jay Feist - former CFO and COO of Feist Publications, Inc. and angel investor
• Vanessa Klein - Busienss Development Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration
• Steve Radley - Director, Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship, DBA NetWork Kansas, formal owner Carnival Homes

The Role Money Plays in Family and Privately Held Firms - October 15, 2008

• John Ward - Clinical Professor of Family Enterprises, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

Financing Growth in the Entrepreneurial Firm - November 20, 2008

• Rob Harbison - Vice President, Business Development, INTRUST Bank, former President, DP TEK Inc.
• Greg Klenda - Corporate Lawyer, Klenda, Mitchell, Austerman & Zuercher, L.L.C.
• Marshall Parker - President, Kansas Venture Capital, Inc.

Spring 2008

The spring Entrepreneurship Forum Series will focus on the very essence of entrepreneurship - the "start-up." Specifically, the programs will feature two of the hottest start-up areas, the technology and service sectors.

World class entrepreneurs will come together to answer your start-up questions: Where did their start-up ideas come from? How much experience did they have before they took the leap of faith? Were their markets easy to enter? How much capital was needed, and what were the key steps and decisions made along the way? What was most surprising and /or most difficult? Perhaps most importantly, what do you do when things don't go according to your plan?

The spring Entrepreneurship Forum Series line-up of panel members is a virtual "who's who" of world class entrepreneurs. Insights from these accomplished professionals will prove invaluable to anyone wishing to start or grow their own business.

To download the flyer in Adobe click here.

Guest Speakers Include:

Starting a "Famous" Business - January 31, 2008

Wally Amos - Founder of Famous Amos Cookie Company 
Listen to the Wally Amos radio interview on National Public Radio!

Starting a Technology-Based Business - February 28, 2008

• Stan Brannan - President/CEO of Purifan, Inc., Developer of Mycro-Tek and Brite Voice Systems
• James Mock - President/CEO of 360directories.com
• James Wiebe - CEO of WiebeTech, LLC

Starting a Service-Based Business - March 27, 2008

• Barry Downing - Corporate Lodging Consultants
• Dr. Joseph Galichia - Galichia Medical Group, P.A.
• Sonia Greteman - Greteman Group, A Branding Agency

View pictures from the 2008 Spring Forum Series!

Fall 2007

The fall Entrepreneurship Forum Series focuses on the different methods available for assuming or divesting ownership of a business. The programs will specifically address the buying or selling of a business and the important topic of determining the value of a privately held business. The series will focus on lessons learned from a legal, taxation, evaluation, and negotiation perspective. Panel participants include experienced practitioners and support professionals from the consulting, legal and accounting fields. Their expertise will prove invaluable to anyone contemplating the purchase or sale of an existing business. To download brochure in Adobe PDF click here.

Guest Speakers Include:

Buying a Business: "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"

• Larry Carney - President, L.D. Carney & Associates, Inc.
• Tim Cesarek - President, Koch Genesis Company
• Anita Oberwortmann - President/CEO, Wilson Building Maintenance and Metro Courier, Inc.

Selling a Business: "Deal or No Deal"

• Randy Love - former President, Love Box Co.
• Dave Nesbitt - President, Devlin Enterprises
• Tom Ritchie - former CEO, Ritchie Companies and former President, Ritchie Corp.

Business Valuation: "The Price Is Right"

• Mike Biggs - Attorney at Law, Biggs Law Group, L.C.
• John Harris - Certified Business Counselor, Marketing and Consultant Services, Inc.
• Harvey Jabara - Principal, Jabara Ventures Group

Spring 2007

The Entrepreneurship Forum Series focuses on the different methods available to entrepreneurs for assuming ownership. The spring 2007 Entrepreneurship Forum Series will focus on family (privately held) businesses, presenting both inheritance and purchasing options for acquiring a family owned business. These mostly privately-held concerns possess a number of unique characteristics and issues that distinguishes them from many other ownership methods.

Typically, privately-held family businesses deal with issues surrounding succession and estate planning, governance, growth strategies and interpersonal dynamics associated with doing business with other family members.
To downloadbrochure in Adobe PDF click here

Fall 2006

The fall series was a four-part discussion on franchising. Franchising was chosen as the initial topic because it has become one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy and provides an opportunity for business ownership.

Several leading franchisees and franchisors shared their wisdom about keys to successful franchising and potential roadblocks. Topics included: 1) embarking on an entrepreneurial venture, 2) financial and legal issues faced by franchisees and franchisors, 3) managerial, employee, and operational issues unique to franchising, and 4) proper management of the franchisee/franchisor relationship. To downloadbrochure in Adobe PDF click here

Guest speakers included:

• Frank Carney, co-founder of Pizza Hut and Papa Johns franchisee
• David Mitchell, partner with Mitchell & Richards CPAs
• David Redfern, Value Place president
• Laura Fent, attorney with Klenda, Mitchell, Austerman & Zuercher
• David & Jon Rolph, owners of Carlos OKellys and franchisees of
  several Applebees
• Roger Haynes-Robertson, Hoop Mountain Central BasketballLLC
  and SportClips Haircuts Franchisee
• Eric Burrus, Planet Sub franchisee
• Bud Gates, Pizza Hut and Rent-A-Center franchisee
• Dave Goebel, Applebees CEO
• Pat Neville, Beauty First franchisor