DUBOIS, Pa. — Penn State DuBois will take part in Global Entrepreneurship Week, Nov. 6-15, by hosting several livestreamed events and welcoming local business leaders into the classroom to introduce students to entrepreneurial opportunities in our region.
Penn State DuBois will be livestreaming Global Entrepreneurship Week events from University Park for those students and community members who cannot make the live events in State College. In addition to the five livestream events on campus, several classes will welcome local speakers during the week to start conversations about entrepreneurship opportunities in the region.
Luke Dillinger, wood procurement manager for the Domtar Johnsonburg Mill and part of the forest products industry for 25 years, will be speaking to students in two wildlife technology classes at the campus and initiating conversations about entrepreneurial opportunities. He has held various positions in our region, including district forest manager, log sales and GIS manager. In all of his roles he has worked with entrepreneurs in the forestry industry and serves on several state and federal forestry boards and councils that focus on forestry products, conservation and jobs.
Jennifer Jackson and Dan Bowman will be guest speakers in two business administration courses during the week. Jackson is the owner of Brady Street Florist in DuBois, and is in the process of renovating the former DuBois National Bank Building in downtown DuBois. Bowman is a Penn State DuBois graduate and the new manager of the Downtown DuBois Revitalization Group. Jackson and Bowman are influential figures in the revitalization of downtown DuBois and bringing in new businesses. The downtown section of DuBois provides many great opportunities for budding entrepreneurs to work in a more affordable space while benefiting from the foot traffic that the specialty shops and other establishments bring to the downtown area.
Rick Graham, president of Brookville Equipment Corporation, will be speaking to an engineering class about entrepreneurial opportunities in manufacturing and engineering related businesses. Graham and his company have continued to evolve and become a leader in the manufacturing industry. Originally founded in 1918, Brookville Equipment builds and refurbishing specialty equipment for the mining, locomotive, streetcar and many other transportation industries. Known for being innovative, dependable and environmentally responsible, Brookville Equipment has a great reputation with its customers throughout the world.
In addition to the classroom events, the public is invited to attend several events being held in room 202 of the DuBois Educational Foundation Building. Programs open to the public include:
— “Passion to Business: Turning What You Love into a Viable Business," noon-1 p.m., Nov. 7, with guest speaker Nick Gilson, founder and CEO of Gilson American Snowboard and Ski Company.
— Tanya Wright will be the keynote speaker for Global Entrepreneurship Week, 6-7:30 p.m., Nov. 8. Wright is an actress, writer and entrepreneur, developer of her own brand of hair care products called HAIRette. Carolyn Donaldson, Community Engagement Manager at WPSU, will moderate the program.
— “Entrepreneurship Essentials, Lessons Worth Remembering," 11 a.m.-noon, Nov. 9, featuring guest speaker Frank Koe, associate professor of engineering entrepreneurship in the Penn State College of Engineering.
— Michael DelGrosso, vice president of global sales at DelGrosso Foods of Tipton, will present “Rejuvenating the Family Business” and lead a group discussion on these types of entrepreneurial opportunities, 11 a.m.-noon, Nov. 9.
— A Veteran Entrepreneurship Presentation and Panel Discussion will be held featuring the leaders of seven successful veteran-owned and operated businesses in Pennsylvania, 10-11 a.m., Nov. 15.
A complete schedule of GEW events across the Penn State system can be found at https://gew.psu.edu/attend/schedule/.
