BGHS, WHS Students to Learn from Entrepreneurs

Students from all six schools in District 214, as well as those from five District 211 schools and Barrington High School, will participate in the third annual Entrepreneurship Day Nov. 18 at Northern Illinois University's Hoffman Estates campus. The event is sponsored by the Northwest Suburban Education to Careers Partnership, with funding from the Coleman Foundation.

Entrepreneurship Day is an excellent opportunity for young, future business leaders to learn from the experts in a conference setting. Entrepreneurs from all over the Chicago area will offer presentations to students, discussing how they formed and implemented goals for their businesses and how they are planning for the future, especially with the challenges of the current economic climate.

Michael Hennessy of the Coleman Foundation will open the event, followed by an introduction by Dean Sarah Marks of the NIU Business Department.  Dennis Barsema of NIU's Barsema Hall will deliver the keynote address.

The following entrepreneurs, all NIU alumni, will meet with students in breakout sessions, covering such topics as "General Business," "General Management Consulting," "Event Planning," "Real Estate Development/Construction," and "Sporting Goods,": Jay Beaton (Off the Beaton Path), Amanda Burdick (La'Di Events), Mike DeMar (Fidelity Wes, Construction), Dan Nicholson (Position Tech, pioneered new athletic cleats), and Ariel Ries (Small Town Skate Shop, retail skate shop).

The following are Coleman/DePaul speakers, also alumni: Reid Lappin (CEO, VOKAL Interactive—owner of multiple companies), Mark Bertrand (Business Development at Cloudbot), Domingo Meneses (founder, CrowdNoize)—music/entertainment), and Jamie Pritscher (CEO, That's Caring, also works at Tasty Catering).

The day will conclude with a luncheon, allowing students to meet with the business professionals and ask questions in a more relaxed setting.

— Submitted by School District 214