The Center for Entrepreneurship in the Craig School of Business at Missouri Western State University has partnered with American Family Insurance to offer Entrepreneurship Week, a week-long series of workshops and events for the St. Joseph community March 28-April 1. Entrepreneurship Week is targeted toward local business professionals, aspiring entrepreneurs, college students, high school students, and those curious about the skills needed to run a small business.

Business professors from multiple disciplines will offer small, personalized sessions at various times throughout the week. Examples of the sessions include “How to Write a Business Plan” with Annette Weeks, “Artists as Entrepreneurs” by Mike Lane and Bob Willenbrink, “QuickBooks for Beginners” and “Advanced QuickBooks” by James Adkins, “Social Media Tools for Small Businesses” by Hillary Mellema, “Protect Your Business Idea” by Susan Montee and “Using Excel for Beginners” by Peggy Lane. All of the sessions are open to the public and students. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration will help the speakers prepare materials and examples for the sessions.

The week will also feature a special edition of the Cup of Joe, which will take place at the East Hills Library at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 30. Also on Wednesday, the MECA Challenge Kansas City Youth Competition will travel to St. Joseph and local high school students will have the opportunity to participate in an all-day event sponsored by the Innovation Stockyard. As part of this event, students are paired with a local business owner and get to practice career skills, network with peers and mentors, and engage in problem solving for real world startup businesses.

The final day of Entrepreneurship Week, Friday, April 1, features an opportunity for students to meet with Steven L. Craig before he delivers the capstone talk at the business luncheon. The student gathering is at 10 a.m. in Blum Student Union, rooms 222-223. The lunch will be at noon in the Enright Community Rooms, Spratt Hall rooms 214-216. Tickets for lunch are $10 and must be purchased in advance. Because seating is limited, we suggest that you register for the luncheon prior to March 18.

For more information or to register for any of the events, call the Center for Entrepreneurship office at 816-271-4283 or email aweeks@missouriwestern.edu. You can also visit the CFE website at CSB-CFE.missouriwestern.edu.

The week’s complete schedule is below.

March 28

  • How to Write a Business Plan, 1-2:30 p.m., Spratt 214
  • Artists as Entrepreneurs, 1-2:30 p.m., Potter Hall

March 29

  • Breakfast: Technology and Apps in Business, 8:30 a.m., Kit Bond Incubator
  • QuickBooks for Beginners, 10:30-noon, Spratt 214
  • Advanced QuickBooks, 1-3 p.m., Spratt 214
  • Social Media Tools for Small Business, 6-7:30 p.m., Spratt 212

Wednesday, March 30

  • Cup of Joe, 8:30 a.m., East Hills Library
  • MECA Challenge, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Spratt 214

Thursday, March 31

  • Protect Your Business Idea, 9-10:30 a.m., Spratt 214
  • Using Excel for Beginners, 1-2 p.m., Remington 105
  • Social Media Tools for Small Business, 2-3:30 p.m., Remington 105

Friday, April 1

  • Students: Entrepreneurship with Steve Craig, 10 a.m., Blum 222-223
  • Capstone Business Luncheon with Steve Craig, noon, Spratt 214-216

Registration required, cost $10

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.