The Craig School of Business announced in May that four new entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to own and operate their own businesses as part of the CSB’s entrepreneurship program, continuing the legacy of Steve Craig’s gift to the University in 2008. Zachary Brelsford ’14 was awarded an Aspen Leaf Yogurt (ALY) in San Antonio, Texas; Amanda Keeling ’12 was awarded a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (RMCF) in Oak View Mall in Omaha, Neb.; Caleb Mackey was awarded an RMCF in Silverthorne, Colo.; and Melanie Ware ’14 was awarded an RMCF in Naperville, Ill.
Four is the greatest number of stores awarded at one time since the program began in 2009. With the addition of this latest class, alumni have been awarded 19 stores.
Missouri Western’s four newest entrepreneurs.
“We had an outstanding class of finalists, and a very strong group,” said Craig, Missouri Western benefactor and one of the judges for the competition. “Missouri Western faculty and staff did a great job preparing this group.”
The four winners were among the students in the senior-level applied entrepreneurship course this past spring. They created business plans for a store and presented their plans to an interview panel made up of Craig, Missouri Western graduates who had won franchises in previous years; Missouri Western faculty members; other business leaders and representatives from RMCF, including company founder and president Frank Crail.
For the RMCF and ALY stores, RMCF provides initial capital for the stores, which the alumni pay back over five years. To date, five owners have paid off their stores, all within less than three years.
Mackey, from Frisco, Colo., is not an alumnus. He had been a business associate at Wells Fargo Bank and part-time employee at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory owned by Seth ’08 and Kelsey ’08 Lyons in Silverthorne, Colo. since 2011. He purchased that store from the Lyons.
Dr. Mike Lane, dean of the Craig School of Business, said when Mackey requested to take the class, a local committee reviewed his application and an interview was held, and he was allowed to participate in the program.
“Once in a while, we make an exception for candidates who want to participate, whose credentials are strong, and whose references are very positive,” Dr. Lane said.
The program has been very successful: Six Missouri Western owners have been awarded RMCF’s “Rookie of the Year” awards. At the 2013 awards ceremony, Leslie Oberg ’11 and James Burris, owners of the St. Joseph RMCF/ALY stores, received the Customer Service Award. Additionally, every store owned by a Missouri Western graduate increased sales over the past year.
The RMCF store in Lehi, Utah, owned by Allie Humphrey ’11 and her business partner Matt Canaday was named the 2012 Small Business of the Year by the Lehi Chamber of Commerce and the RMCF store in Vicksburg, Miss., owned by Brady ’10 and TyAnn ’10 Ellis was named the 2013 Small Business of the Year by the Vicksburg Chamber of Commerce.