The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Alumni Speaker Series presented “From Point A to Point B: How to Start a Business,” Monday, Dec. 16, in the B. Bernard Birger Hall Special Events room on the SIUE campus. The event was hosted by the Offices of Alumni Affairs and Educational Outreach.
Steps for starting a business were discussed during the event, according to Laura Hopping, assistant director of Alumni Affairs.
“In the beginning of the program, everyone was asked to share why they came to this event,” Hopping said. A wide range of answers were given, from individuals wanting to create a business to sell an invention to wanting to grow an antiques business, she said.
Guest speakers Patrick McKeehan, director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center, SIUE School of Business, and SIUE alum Jeffry Harrison, chief operating officer at Rover Enterprises LLC, will guide guests through the path normally traveled between idea and profitability, using proven techniques and a wealth of available resources.
The session included a business plan outline, a brochure on SIUE’s Small Business Development Center and real life examples of entrepreneurial successes and setbacks. Guests were given the opportunity to discuss their business idea and interact with the presenters.
“The Alumni Speaker Series grew out of a desire of our alumni engagement committee to create more opportunities to have alumni engage with alumni and students in the presentation of lifelong learning,” said Steve Jankowski, director of Alumni Affairs at SIUE. “The series was designed to recruit alumni speakers with expertise in a wide-range of subject areas and offer that expertise to alumni and the greater SIUE community.”
Working closely with the SIUE Office of Educational Outreach, the Alumni Association Speaker Series has included topics such as changing careers and grant writing.
Alumni Affairs again will partner with Educational Outreach to bring “Getting Fiscally Fit,” a presentation that will take place from 6-8:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, in the B. Bernard Birger Hall Special Events Room. The cost is $20 for general admission; free for SIUE students. Registration is available at www.siue.edu/alumni.
“We deeply value the relationship we have with the Office of Educational Outreach as we work together to ensure our alumni know SIUE is their place for lifelong learning,” Jankowski said. “We want our programs to be responsive to the needs and interests of our graduates who may want to learn a new language, become better photographers, or make a dramatic change in their lives or careers.”