Simply Eight founder to speak at Entrepreneurship Forum

KALAMAZOO—The founder of a Michigan-based company dedicated to simple, great-tasting foods will kick off the 2013-14 Entrepreneurship Forum at Western Michigan University.

Ernie Pang, founder of Simply Eight, will speak at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, in 2150 Schneider Hall as part of the Haworth College of Business Entrepreneurship Forum. The event is free and open to the public and begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (269) 387-5050 or at wmich.edu/business/e-rsvp. Free parking is available.

Ernie Pang

After working in food product creation and marketing for 20 years, Pang decided to bring a new concept to consumers with the creation of Simply Eight. Currently, Pang is an active founding partner at ITEAS Group LLC, a consulting firm specializing in growth creation for companies, especially through product innovation.

Prior to Simply Eight and ITEAS Group, Pang was a marketing executive at several consumer package goods companies, where he helped commercialize and test new products in the marketplace.

Simply Eight

Simply Eight challenges the status quo of the processed foods industry and is bringing the basics back to the kitchen. With only eight or fewer all-natural ingredients per product, the company is committed to providing a healthy alternative to processed breakfast and snack foods. The idea for the company sprouted out of Kalamazoo in 2011, which is now home for Simply Eight.

Other forum speakers

• Friday, Oct. 4: Andrew and Kathleen Widner, owners of The Spirit of Kalamazoo
• Friday, Nov. 8: Joel Mueller, founder of MacUpdate

The Entrepreneurship Forum is sponsored by Educational Community Credit Union and hosted by the Haworth College of Business.

For more information, visit wmich.edu/business or call (269) 387-5050.