Missouri Western State University’s Craig School of Business has announced that three Missouri Western alumni will have the chance to own and operate their own business. Ross Theesen, Ernest Chamblee and Mindy Schimming have been awarded stores.
“The program continues to grow and get better, and this may have been the best competition we’ve ever had,” said Steve Craig, benefactor of the Craig School of Business.
Theesen, Chamblee and Schimming were among students in a senior-level applied entrepreneurship class this spring. The students created business plans for a store and presented their plans today to an interview panel made up of Craig, Missouri Western graduates who won franchises in previous years, Missouri Western faculty members, other business leaders and representatives of franchise companies, including Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.
Theesen graduated last month with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He has owned his own mowing business since 2010 and has been a warehouse manager for Red Wheel Fundraising since 2008. Theesen will receive a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Store.
Chamblee graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2011. Since graduation, he has served as an officer in the United States Army. While at Missouri Western, Chamblee was very active, including a term as vice president of the Student Government Association. Chamblee will manage the St. Joseph Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Aspen Leaf Yogurt stores until another ownership possibility becomes available.
Schimming graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2014. She has worked in the business office of Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory since 2009. Schimming has ownership opportunities in Missouri and Wisconsin. Two of Schimming’s brothers previously won store ownership opportunities through the entrepreneurship program.
The businesses owned by Theesen, Chamblee and Schimming will join 16 other “program stores” in 11 states. Several of the program’s alumni have gone on to a second franchise opportunity, with more expected to open this year.
The program to present Missouri Western graduates with this unique opportunity was founded in 2009 by Craig, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Missouri Western to offer entrepreneurship opportunities to graduating seniors.
In 2012, the program partners announced a significant expansion, allowing any alumni of the Craig School of Business to take the class and compete for a business, no matter when they graduated. Other franchise companies have joined Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in the program as well.
The program provides initial capital for the stores, which the alumni pay back over five years. The entrepreneurs also receive ongoing support from faculty members, the Craig School of Business Advisory Council, Craig and each other. Additionally, the owners are expected to donate a portion of their store’s proceeds back to the University.
At a dinner the night before the competition, Craig, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory founder, president and CEO Frank Crail, and Rocky Mountain field consultant Casey Crail received the first Champion of Entrepreneurs Award.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.