Kent State Hosts Seventh Annual Entrepreneurship Extravaganza on Oct. 24 and 25

Kent State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation will host its seventh annual Entrepreneurship Extravaganza on Wednesday, Oct. 24, and Thursday, Oct. 25, at the Kent Student Center. The theme for this year’s event is “The Magic of Entrepreneurship Exposed,” which will feature several workshops, panel discussions and speakers, and the opportunity to learn from experienced entrepreneurs. The program is free and open to the community and to all students, but registration is required by Oct. 19.

The event on Oct. 24 will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Kent Student Center Ballroom, and features former professional baseball player, motivational speaker and Kent State alumnus Nobby Lewandowski as the keynote speaker. Lewandowski will present on the topic “Leadership, Integrity and Success.” The Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour, the first and only nationwide entrepreneurship tour, will present a series of workshops and speakers from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Jeff Hoffman, co-founder of Priceline.com, will facilitate the Lunch with Entrepreneurs panel session at 12:30 p.m. Entrepreneurs on the panel include successful student business owners – Chad Radke, Rachel O’Neill and Ryan Golphin – speaking about their strategies and struggles to success. A seasoned entrepreneur in the Internet, technology and entertainment industries, Hoffman has founded, co-founded and been the CEO of several start-ups and larger companies. Hoffman continues to use his expertise to support Kent State’s entrepreneurship initiatives.

On Oct. 25, the event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. with activities taking place at the Kent Student Center Kiva and Ballroom. Hoffman will keynote the event with a motivational and inspirational talk for entrepreneurs. The Lunch with Entrepreneurs session at 12:05 p.m. will feature a discussion about the “Tricks Entrepreneurs Keep Up Their Sleeves.” The event also includes a panel discussion of classroom and dorm businesses, and participants will have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions.

“As with other years, we have an impressive panel of successful entrepreneurs to help us celebrate our seventh annual Entrepreneurship Extravaganza this year,” said Julie Messing, executive director of entrepreneurship initiatives at Kent State. “I am excited to have experienced entrepreneurs Nobby Lewandowski and Jeff Hoffman keynote our events. If you have a budding business idea, you will benefit from participating in this event and hearing from some from of the best entrepreneurs.”

To register or view a full schedule of events, visit www.kent.edu/cebi/extravaganza.

To watch a preview video about this year’s Entrepreneurship Extravaganza at Kent State, visit http://www.kent.edu/news/video/video-display.cfm?customel_datapageid_1559180=3259342.

For more information, contact Kent State's Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation at 330-672-9430 or cebi@kent.edu. 

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Media Contacts:
Julie Messing, jmessing@kent.edu, 330-672-9430
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595