June 25, 2021–The Craig School of Business Center for Entrepreneurship will host Entrepreneurship Week, a series of workshops and events July 12-16 at Missouri Western State University. The weeklong program is designed for local business professionals, aspiring entrepreneurs, college students, and those curious about the skills needed to run a small business.
Experts and business professors will offer small, personalized sessions at various times throughout the week. Sessions include “How to Write a Business Plan” with Annette Weeks, “Protecting Your Business” with Tolly & Associates and Murphy, Taylor, Siemens & Elliot, PC, “Increase Your Sales” with Professor Casey Bell, “Quickbooks” with Sumner, Carter, Hardy & Schwichtenberg, PC, “Creating a Marketing Plan” with Dr. Phillip Frank, “Social Media for Small Business Owners” with Miu Edlin and more.
All of the sessions are open to the community and students. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is preferred. You can register online at csb-cfe.missouriwestern.edu or by calling or emailing the Center for Entrepreneurship, 816-271-4283 or entrepreneurship@missouriwestern.edu.
The week will also feature a special edition of Cup of Joe, which will take place at Restoration Natatorium, 117 Francis Street, downtown St. Joseph on Wednesday, July 14. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and presentations start at 9 a.m.
The final day of Entrepreneurship Week, Friday, July 16, is the capstone business luncheon. Guest speaker Joe Gray will be interviewed by Steven L. Craig, entrepreneur and benefactor of the Craig School of Business.
Gray was born in St. Joseph in 1922. After graduating from Missouri Western’s forerunner, St. Joseph Junior College, in 1942, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Kansas in 1944. After two years in the Navy and defense-related jobs in Baltimore and at the Pentagon, Gray returned to St. Joseph and co-founded Gray Manufacturing in 1952. The family-owned lift jack manufacturer continues to thrive today as a key element of St. Joseph’s economy.
Gray currently serves as chairman emeritus of both Gray Manufacturing and Vektek, Inc. of Emporia, Kansas, a company he founded in 1974 and sold in 2016. In addition to his success as a businessman, Gray has been an active member of the St. Joseph community, serving as Chamber of Commerce president, board member of the St. Joseph Library, founding member of the Missouri Western Foundation’s Clocktower Society, founding member of the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri and as a patron and donor to most St. Joseph arts organizations over the years.
The lunch featuring Gray and Craig will be held at noon July 16 in the Fulkerson Center. Tickets for lunch are $20 and must be purchased in advance. Because seating is limited, reservations are recommended prior to July 12.
At the luncheon, winners of the Emerging Entrepreneur and Entrepreneur of the Year will be announced. The awards recognize two outstanding entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship Week is sponsored by Tolly & Associates Insurance Agency; Sumner, Carter, Hardy & Schwichtenberg, PC; and Murphy, Taylor, Siemens & Elliot, PC. For more information or to register for any of the events, call the Center for Entrepreneurship office at 816-271-4283 or email entrepreneurship@missouriwestern.edu. You can also visit the CFE website at csb-cfe.missouriwestern.edu/.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 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 missouriwestern.edu.