The Center for Entrepreneurship in the Craig School of Business at Missouri Western State University will hold its second annual Entrepreneurship Week March 27-31, 2017. Sponsored by Don Tolly American Family Insurance Agency and Sumner, Carty, Hardy & Schwichtenberg, PC, Entrepreneurship Week is a series of workshops and events for local business professionals, aspiring entrepreneurs, college and 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. Sessions include “How to Write a Business Plan,” “Artists as Entrepreneurs,” “Accounting for Beginners: QuickBooks Awareness,” “Advanced QuickBooks,” “What is Your Business Worth?” “Social Media Tools for Small Businesses,” “Protect Your Business Idea” and “Using Excel for Beginners.” 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 entrepreneur gathering, which will take place at the East Hills Library at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 29. 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, March 31, features an opportunity for students to meet with Steven L. Craig for a question-and-answer breakfast. The student gathering is at 10 a.m. in Blum Student Union, rooms 222-223. The capstone luncheon, featuring keynote speaker David Bradley, will be at noon in the Enright Community Rooms, Spratt Hall rooms 214-216. The winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year and Emerging Entrepreneur awards will also be announced at the luncheon. Tickets for lunch are $15 and must be purchased in advance. Seating is limited for the luncheon, so you may need to register early.

All of the sessions are open to students and the public. There is a $15 cost for the capstone lunch Friday; all other events are free.

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

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.