Entrepreneurship Forum is a monthly series hosted by Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business. The forum brings stories of entrepreneurs and startup success to the greater Kalamazoo community.
Reservations for the event can be made at wmich.edu/business/e-rsvp. To recommend an entrepreneur for the series or request information, please contact Amy Coughenour. Presentations begin at 8 a.m.
speakers 2022-23
September 9: Steve Jbara, Co-owner and CEO, Green Door Distilling
October 7: Doreen Gardner, Owner and CEO, Papa's Peanut Brittle
November 11: Daniel J. May, Owner, Dabney & Co.
December 9: Tamara Davis and Sarah Forrest, southwest Michigan Small Business Development Center and Starting Gate
January 13: Idris Rashid, owner of several local Chick-fil-A® franchises
February 10: Kyle Buzzard, Founder, Bird Buddy
March 17: Phil Grimm, Climb Kalamazoo
April 7: Patrick Turner, Vintage in the Zoo
speakers 2021-22
September 10: Rose Lounsbury, speaker, author and simplicity coach, RoseLounsbury.com l View presentation.
October 8: Gordon van Gent, president, Overneath Creative l View presentation
November 12: Jarrett Blackmon, co-founder, Damn Handsome Grooming l View presentation
December 10: Ken Miller, owner and co-founder, Millennium Restaurant Group l View presentation
January 14: Sydney Davis, founder, NixCode l View presentation
February 11: Jamauri Bogan, chief executive officer, Bogan Developments l View presentation
March 18: Jake and Kayleigh Lohse, founders and owners, Presidential Brewing l View presentation
April 8: Bryan Mayes, director of operations, Plumeria Botanical Boutique
speakers 2020-21
October 16: Kiar Gamsho, CEO, Midtown Fresh Market and Park Street Market l View presentation.
November 20: Todd Sanford, CEO and president, Sanford Advisory l View presentation.
December 4: Mike Knapick, Owner, Knapick Management l View presentation.
January 15: Alberto and Sagrario Guerrero, Mango Healthy Fruit and Food l View presentation.
February 5: Tim Hills, founder, Trystcraft l View presentation.
March 19: Amy Kenny, CFO, New Holland Brewing
April 2: Kyle Monk and Natashia Monk, co-owners, Nonla Burger
speakers 2019-20
September 13: David Wheatley, owner and principal, Humanergy
October 18: Rhonda Ethridge, founder, LifeCycles Studios
November 8: Kristen Chesak, executive director, Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo
December 6: Mike Klok, owner and creative director, Stuffed Brain Studio
January 17: Tim Krone, owner, Pedal
February 14: Nathan Harte, chief sales officer, Inovelli
March 13: Brett Vanderkamp, president, and Amy Kenny, CFO, New Holland Brewing
April 10: Kiar Gamsho, CEO, Midtown Fresh Market and Park Street Market