ARCHBOLD, OHIO –The second annual Entrepreneurship Forum is coming to Northwest State Community College to help aspiring business owners. The program was launched last year and creates a stage for aspiring entrepreneurs to find support that can act as a launching pad to make their dream a reality. Attendees will have five minutes to present their ideas to a panel of entrepreneurship experts who will provide feedback and advice.
“The hit television show ‘Shark Tank’ has helped put entrepreneurship in the spotlight. However, many of the great ideas for a product or business are never pursued because the people who have the idea don’t know where to go to get started or how to grow the idea from the upstart.” said Lisa Becher, business faculty at Northwest State. “Our goal with this event is to provide an opportunity for people to share their ideas, receive feedback from experts in the field and walk away with an outline of how to make their dream a reality.”
The Entrepreneurship Forum is open to anyone who would like to present an idea, but reservations are required. “This forum is open to any member of the region that has an idea or business concept they want help getting off the ground” said Becher. “We are hoping to see a variety of perspectives and ideas will truly show that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in northwest Ohio. It is our hope that we will be able to provide feedback that will help entrepreneurs to move their idea or business forward.”
The panel of experts will include Jerry L Zielke, director of Paulding County Economic Development; Joel Miller, executive director of Henry County Chamber of Commerce; Matt Davis, executive director of Williams County Economic Development Corporation; Matt Gilroy, executive director of the Fulton County Economic Development Corporation; Darrell Handy, president/CEO of the Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce; Mike Wolfe, Ph.D., dean of business at NSCC; and representatives from the commercial lending department at First Federal Bank.
The Entrepreneurship Forum will take place on Tuesday, October 27 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Voinovich Auditorium at NSCC. Lunch, sponsored by First Federal Bank, is included in the event. The event is free, but reservations are required by Friday, October 23. To reserve a presentation time or for more information, contact Lisa Becher at 419.267.1264 or lbecher@NorthwestState.edu
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