Director of local food incubator to speak at Entrepreneurship Forum
Lucy Dilley, executive director and incubation partner at Can-Do Kitchen, will speak at 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 14, in 2150 Schneider Hall. 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) 387-5964 or at wmich.edu/business/e-rsvp. Free parking is available at Schneider Hall in Lot 72R.
Can-Do Kitchen
Can-Do Kitchen launched in 2008, sparked by the growing demand for locally produced food, and an increase of entrepreneurs who wanted to start their own business to meet this demand. Can-Do Kitchen's mission is to build foundations and remove barriers to food business ownership through experiential education and access to commercial kitchen facilities and other valuable resources.
The pilot program of Can-Do Kitchen started in a 20-foot commercial kitchen trailer at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds. Since its inception, Can-Do Kitchen has moved into an interim facility while the organization develops partnerships, expands the board and plans for future expansion. In addition to a board of directors and an advisory group, Can-Do Kitchen is operated by Dilley and Sheena Foster, director of operations and experiential learning.
Lucy Dilley
Dilley has bachelor's degree in environmental studies and earth science from Western Michigan University, which inspired her interest in and involvement with community gardening and the local foods movement. She has experience in natural foods retail, commissary kitchen management, nonprofit program development and management.
About Entrepreneurship Forum
Entrepreneurship Forum is a monthly series hosted by WMU's Haworth College of Business designed to bring stories of entrepreneurial success to the greater Kalamazoo community. The series is devoted to entrepreneurs and unique stories of startup success. To learn more about the series, visit wmich.edu/business/entrepreneurship-forum.
Future Entrepreneurship Forum speakers
- Nov. 11: Benjamin Gott, Boxed Water
- Dec. 9: T.J. Waldofsky and Chris O'Neill, One Well Brewing
For more information or to RSVP, visit wmich.edu/business/e-rsvp or call (269) 387-5964. To suggest an entrepreneur for the series, contact Alyssa Benson at alyssa.benson@wmich.edu.
For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.