Business students present 'Voices of Entrepreneurship'

Business administration students enrolled in the Event Management & Coordination class recently hosted “Voices of Entrepreneurship,” an event they developed to present the expertise of alumni business owners and small-business-development experts to students and the community.

Five guests offered short talks in the Klump Academic Center Auditorium, sharing how and why the started their own business, along with tips and challenges.

The speaker line-up:

• Erin S. Shultz, manager of LaunchBox operations for the Williamsport LaunchBox supported by Ken and Kristie Healy, and Chelsea Blair, a business consultant for the Penn State Small Business Development Center
• Melyce E. Kenyon, a 2017 culinary arts technology graduate and owner of MK Bubble Drinks
• Justin M. Rinehimer, a 2017 landscape/horticulture technology and 2018 applied management graduate who owns Stubbs Landscaping
• John Yogodzinski, a 2007 graphic communications management graduate and owner of The Graphic Hive

Their talks were followed by questions from a highly engaged student audience.

Sierra N. Klinger, of Klingerstown, who was co-master of ceremonies for the event with classmate Virginia R. Yost, of Lancaster, said the class chose the topic because of the wealth of alumni who have started their own businesses, and because it appeals to a broad range of people.

“This topic is for everyone,” she said. “As a student, when I talk to others, I hear many mentions that they started their own small business and would like to make it larger. With all these factors, we decided entrepreneurship is the perfect topic!”

In addition to what they learned from the speakers, Klinger said she and classmates also practiced many “soft skills” required to manage a successful event.

“This experience has taught our class that setting up a campus event requires time management skills and communication to ensure our speakers are properly informed,” she said. “Also, from a marketing standpoint, we realized how crucial spreading the word is for attendance, which included talking to students and professors ourselves and hanging posters around campus. We also realized that our first and even second ideas did not always work, so being adaptable and resilient were skills learned during our experience hosting this event.”

The class is working on its next project, an April 7 networking event that brings together Penn College business and hospitality students and employers looking to hire them.

To learn more about the college's business administration degree, call 570-327-4505.