February 7, 2013
A free seminar on leadership traits of successful entrepreneurs will originate from Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Enid on Thursday, Feb. 14, from noon-8 p.m., and on Friday, Feb. 15, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Diverse entrepreneur and leadership experts will be speaking from Northwestern-Enid, located at 2929 E. Randolph, room 218, over the course of the two-day seminar.
Each presentation will be sent via ITV to Northwestern-Alva’s Industrial Education building, room 131; Northwestern-Woodward, room 145; and the University Center in Ponca City, room 123 on Thursday and room 124 on Friday. This seminar is open to the public.
Special speakers Dr. Tony Woodlief, Dr. Ernesto Sirolli and Sen. Tom Coburn also plan to lead sessions on different topics. Woodlief will lead “Applying Market-Based Management;” Sorolli will talk about “The Trinity of Management” and “Entrepreneurism Today.” On Friday at 3 p.m., Sen. Coburn will end the day with his discussion as the keynote address.
Coburn was elected to the Senate in 2004. His priorities in the Senate include reducing wasteful spending, protecting liberty, balancing the budget, improving health care access and affordability, protecting the sanctity of all human life - including the unborn - and representing traditional Oklahoma values. In 2006, he teamed up with then Sen. Barack Obama to create an online database of all federal spending.
Sirolli has worked in the field of economic development in Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US and the United Kingdom. He is a noted authority in the field of sustainable economic development and is in demand as a speaker worldwide. Sirolli is the Founder of the Sirolli Institute, an international nonprofit organization that teaches community leaders how to establish and maintain Enterprise Facilitation, a unique economic development approach based on harnessing the passion, determination, intelligence and resourcefulness of local people working on projects within communities.
Woodlief guides the Bill of Rights Institute in teaching young people the words and ideas of America’s founders. Previously, Woodlief was president of the Market-Based Management Institute, where he worked with non-profits to improve performance using the tools of market-based management. Prior to that, he was president of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, a center for economic research, education and outreach. Before joining Mercatus, Woodlief was vice president for education projects at the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, where he worked with university research centers specializing in economics, entrepreneurship and social change.
Other experts on the topic of entrepreneurism include Mary Buthman, Sal Alvarado, Marlin Esau, Cara Carson, Vicki Brown, Cecilia Hollie, Lynn Biddle and Connie Sturgeon-Hart.
Buthman owns and operates Maria Rae’s Gourmet Foods in Enid. In 1981 she opened the restaurant in downtown Enid. She eventually began selling her original salsa to local grocery stores and expanded the product line to include three levels of salsa which are currently available in grocery stores and all Wal-Mart stores in Oklahoma with expanded sales in limited stores in Kansas and Arkansas.
Alvarado, 2003 grad, worked for Advance Food Company for 12 years. In September 2007 Alvarado purchased C & C Ironing and Laundry in hopes of taking something small and making it bigger. In May 2012, Alvarado opened in another location in Enid. Living life in the corporate world, having a formal education and real life experiences have prepared him to succeed.
Esau made the decision early in life to take a position at a local Kansas oil company as a roustabout. After working for two local contractors, Esau wanted to start his own company. In the winter of 1982, Marsau Enterprises, Inc., was open for business.
Carson works with entrepreneurs and small businesses from the Enid area as they seek funding commercialize technology and brand building. She works with several angel funds and economic development groups to encourage an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Oklahoma.
Brown has an experienced background in business operation and development. For 34 years Brown has owned and managed the T-Shirt Store in downtown Enid. Her recognition from the business community includes 2001 Main Street Business Owner of the Year, Main Street Board Member of the Year and 2006 YWCA Woman of the Year.
Hollie is a "gym mom" to more than 150 clients, and leads an ever-expanding team of fitness professionals and GYM staff. She is a practicing personal trainer, an entrepreneur and repeatedly reminds herself "that her job has changed" now that she runs her own, successful business in Enid. GYM specializes in personal training, yoga, Pilates and athletic development.
Biddle is the owner of the McDonald franchises in the area.
Sturgeon-Hart, 1986 graduate, has been the owner and operator of Chick-fil-A of Oakwood Mall for nearly 30 years. She is an active member of the chamber of commerce and many other community groups.
Dr. Gustafson, professor of business, will provide the introduction at noon on Thursday and Woodlief, from The Bill of Rights Institute, will discuss “Principled Entrepreneurship.” The rest of the schedule for Thursday is as follows with time, presenter, company name and topic:
• 1-2 p.m., Buthman, Maria Rae’s Gourmet Food, “Taking Product to the Market;”
• 2-3 p.m., Alvarado, C & C Dry Cleaning, “Don’t Take No for an Answer;”
• 3-4 p.m., Esau, Marsau Enterprises, “Building a Successful Business;”
• 4-5 p.m., Carson, Encompass Financial Services, Inc., “Validating Ideas and Funding Dreams;”
• 5-6 p.m., Sirolli, The Sirolli Institute, “The Trinity of Management;”
• 6-7 p.m., Sirolli, “Entrepreneurism Today.” This dinner presentation is by invite only.
Following Sirolli’s presentation, Gustafson will conclude the day with a wrap-up session from 7-8 p.m.
Friday’s schedule with time, presenter, company name and topic is as follows:
• 8:30-9 a.m., Gustafson, orientation;
• 9-10 a.m., Woodlief, The Bill of Rights Institute, “Applying Market-Based Management;”
• 10-11 a.m., Brown, T-Shirt Store, “Change Encourages Growth;”
• 11-12 p.m., Hollie, GYM, “Developing a New Business:”
• 1-2 p.m., Biddle, McDonald’s, “Managing Your Organization;”
• 2-3 p.m., Sturgeon-Hart, Chick-Fil-A, “It’s Easier to Succeed than to Fail;”
• 3-4 p.m., Coburn, “Keynote Address;”
• 4-5 p.m., Reception for Coburn.
To make a reservation for the seminar, contact Robyn Eitzen, Northwestern-Enid administrative assistant and event and facility coordinator, at (580) 213-3101 or rleitzen@nwosu.edu.
This learning experience is made possible by a grant from the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, Ward Petroleum and the generosity of many other local corporate sponsors.
-NW-