TOPICS
|
 In November, Fresno State students had the opportunity to learn from successful entrepreneur and Fresno State graduate Scott Graham.
Graham, CEO of XPACS (Xtreme Personal Assistant Concierge Services), was this year’s Entrepreneur in Residence.
The Entrepreneur in Residence program is sponsored by the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fresno State. Each year the program brings a renowned entrepreneur to the campus to connect with students, entrepreneurs and community leaders. Graham’s visit coincided with Global Entrepreneur Week, where universities across the nation engaged in activities to demonstrate entrepreneurship as a viable career path. "I feel privileged, fortunate and honored to have been given this opportunity," Graham said. "I am very appreciative of Fresno State and am excited to give back in any way that I can." Graham’s company, XPACS, is the premier international concierge service for corporations, employees, lawyers, doctors, celebrities and others too powerful and busy to be concerned with day-to-day details. The company has a private, exclusive network of global concierges and relationship managers dedicated to handling everything from travel arrangements to dry cleaning. Graham started his company in 1999 while he was a student and basketball player at Fresno State. While under Coach Jerry Tarkanian, Graham met many professional athletes. He noticed that they usually had little time for personal errands and came up with the personal concierge idea. He began by doing odd jobs and eventually grew his company to what it is today. Graham, 29, graduated with a degree in international business but said, "Entrepreneurship is a beautiful thing. Had I known then what I know now, I would have definitely pursued it from the start." As this year’s Entrepreneur in Residence, Graham attended an intimate dinner at University President John Welty’s home. During the week, he spoke to students about entrepreneurship in classes and in organization/ club meetings. His stay concluded with a social reception. Graham said his goal while visiting was to give students a fresh perspective that they may not have heard. "I wanted them to know I’m young and I’m doing it," he said. "I wanted to give them a message of hope and encouragement." Entrepreneur student and Entrepreneur Mentorship Program participant, Cody Smith says his parents taught him table manners when he was growing up but not how to eat at a fancy restaurant. Cody, like many other college students, felt unprepared to attend professional
dinner interviews or meetings. The Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship stepped up to help students feel confident in such situations. The Lyles Center hosted a business etiquette lunch at Manhattan Steakhouse on October 24. Students involved in the Lyles Center’s Mentorship Program,
which pairs aspiring entrepreneurship students with the Central Valley’s leading entrepreneurs, attended the workshop with their mentors. The lunch was the second installment of a two-part workshop to help college students learn business etiquette. The first workshop, which was hosted by Cathy Frost, of Bennett Frost, focused on general business etiquette. Topics ranged from introductions and handshakes to proper dress and cubicle courtesy. The Etiquette Lunch was led by business etiquette specialist, Tiffany Smith. Tiffany Smith, of Visalia, is also an entrepreneur and has her own consulting business, "Premier Etiquette." Her business teaches practical etiquette skills that build confidence and composure which help lead to success in the business world. "Employers are looking to see if candidates are capable of conducting business over a meal without drawing negative attention to themselves or the company they may soon represent," she said. The three-hour workshop featured a full four-course meal and focused on attending and leading a business meal. The goal was for participants to learn how to be polite and act professionally in business situations. "Applying good manners to the principles of good
business builds trust and rapport," Tiffany said.
Tiffany addressed how to navigate the place setting, Continental vs. American Dining, eating difficult foods, when to discuss business, handling the bill and other important skills that make business dining both productive and enjoyable. She also discussed smaller blunders that could hinder a student’s success. Cody said he learned to take small bites and cut up his food one piece at a time to allow for participation in a conversation. As part of the seminar, Tiffany also addressed other common business etiquette issues that students and new graduates may face. She focused on communication skills in person, on the telephone and through email because these skills can assist in securing a job
interview. She also teaches the proper steps to follow through after an interview. "Employers are quick to act on first impressions," she said. "When an employer's focus turns to mistakes, there's a chance for lost opportunities."
Cody said he is grateful the Lyles Center offered these workshops. He said the skills he learned will give him confidence when dining with business clients or potential employers throughout his career. "I have realized how important business etiquette really is," he
said. "A person who displays proper business etiquette leaves a better impression with the people they interact with in the business
world." 
SPOTLIGHT
Vine Global Solutions wins $250K Business Plan Competition
Vine Global Solutions, Inc. is the winner of "Start it Up: Fresno’s $250K Entrepreneur Challenge." CEO Marc Raygoza, said he is excited about winning the competition mostly because it will help his company grow.
Vine Global is an international e-commerce provider that allows on-line retailers in the U.S. to reach international markets and sell
directly to international customers. Raygoza said his company allows businesses based in the U.S. to expand their markets and reach
clients across the globe. Raygoza’s company has been up and running for almost two years but he says they have made the most progress within the past seven months. The main components of the competition included writing and presenting a business plan. "The presentations were the most successful and the most fun," Raygoza said. "It was a pleasure to explain our company to people, but there was a lot of pressure because this was for all the marbles." The next step for Vine Global, looking to double in size, is to hire more people. Raygoza would also like to move to a new office "as soon as [they] have free time, which is never," he said. He plans to use the in-kind services he won in the competition to receive accounting and marketing advice. Raygoza, a last minute entry into the competition, said his hard work and dedication have already begun to pay off. "The competition really helped us to hone in our thoughts on where we wanted the company to go," he said. The competition, a joint effort between the Lyles center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at California State University, Fresno and the City of Fresno Economic Development, is sponsored by the Fresno Redevelopment Agency, the Craig School of Business and Table
Mountain Rancheria. The competition was the first of its kind and was open to all United States citizens with a business plan for an
existing, promising business or an innovative new business. The competition received more than 100 entries nation-wide. Vine Global was one of 10 finalists. In total, Raygoza will receive $250,000 including $100,000 in cash and $150,000 of in-kind services to benefit his business. Link>> |
CREDITS
EDITORS
Timothy Stearns
Genelle Taylor
STORIES
Kaley Delarosa
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Helga McCurry |
|
The College Entrepreneur’s Organization (CEO) at Fresno State hosted an elevator pitch competition on October 24 in conjunction with the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
"Elevator pitch" competitions, which literally mean, "tell me about you business in the time it takes to ride up an elevator," or about 90 seconds, create an opportunities for students to present their business venture or idea to a panel of judges in an environment that promotes new venture creation and entrepreneurial spirit.
"Our competition was a great opportunity for students to present their business idea in front of a panel of judges and their own peers" said Fresno CEO President Bryce Majors. "It was a great environment that brought together students from many different departments across campus to celebrate entrepreneurship in a high energy and creative way."
The competition was open to all Fresno State students. CEO received 11 total entries for the competition. "Students were able to go out on a limb and either practice a critical skill in entrepreneurship that is brand new to them, or hone a technique on that they have been working on for years," Majors said.
Pepijn Dekker, a senior entrepreneurship major, who has an existing business that cleans solar panels, won the competition. Dekker said his company, "Valley Solar Cleaners," is between the idea and the start up phase.
He came up with the idea when his parents realized their solar panels would work more efficiently if they were cleaned. After the company that installed them put them on a six-month waiting list, Dekker’s dad told him to get on the roof and do it himself. From there, his business idea grew.
Other top entries included a business that buys and sells snowboards that hopes to grow into a retail location with an attached skate-park and a product idea for a hyper-efficient, insulating water bottle that holds the exact amount of water a person should drink in a day.
Dekker said participating in the competition, which was judged by local entrepreneur experts, was a valuable experience. "The feedback from the judges was really helpful," he said. "It is good to get other people’s insights that are not just friends and family."
Dekker won an all expense paid trip to Chicago to attend the National CEO Conference that was held November 6-8. He also received an automatic entry into CEO’s National Elevator Competition. After winning the local competition, Dekker used the coaching made available to him through the Lyles Center to help him improve and prepare for CEO’s National Elevator Pitch Competition.
At the conference Dekker and two other members from CEO, Fresno presented their ideas to the nation’s leading entrepreneurial leaders. They competed against other winners from campuses across the country for up to $2,500.
The CEO, Fresno considers their first elevator pitch competition successful. Majors said, "Participants, judges, and observers came away from the innovative event with a positive experience and that was our main goal." 
On October 16, community and business leaders had the unique opportunity to spend money like they have never spent it before. Participants of the Central Valley Stock Exchange, which was hosted by the Central Valley Business Incubator (CVBI), were given $1 million in CVBI bucks to "invest" in local businesses vying for their support.
The event provided a fun and creative way to support CVBI’s efforts to develop the local economy by supporting high-growth companies. "In order to grow the Central Valley’s economy we must invest in local companies," said Craig Scharton, chief executive officer of CVBI. "These companies develop and create job growth and wealth for our area. CVSE benefits both companies competing for investment and
the ‘investors’-or guests- attending the event by creating an eruption of investing in, and awareness of, everything the Central Valley has to offer."
The Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship was able to assist by providing students involved in their Mentorship Program to serve as volunteers. While the students acted as runners, helped with set up, registration, water stations, and tear down of the event, they were able to learn.
CVSE was an opening act for the third annual Central Valley Venture Forum, which was held on October 17. The forum was presented by the Lyles Center, CVBI, the Central Valley Fund and the City of Clovis. It featured leading global, national, statewide and local experts in the areas of private equity investing, venture capital, angel investing and entrepreneurship and was beneficial for all local business executives, entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists, professional service providers, consultants, educators and civic leaders.
Bob Grady, Managing Director of The Carlyle Group, an $89 billion private equity fund, spoke on the nation’s current economic crisis and the potential for entrepreneurs and venture capital in Fresno. Grady was among several venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and business leaders in attendance.
California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi also spoke. His talk centered on the role government can play in strengthening the local economy.
The event featured panel discussions on investment banking, raising equity capital and building world-class companies. An additional focus was what investment sectors within the Valley will be ripe for investment within the next 5 years. Five Central Valley businesses were selected to present to panels of investors that are actively seeking investment opportunities.
The forum showcased growing companies in the Valley and demonstrated their candidacy for private equity investment. "The continued interest and expansion of venture capital activity in the Central Valley underscores our ability to develop and present viable startups that have high potential growth with considerable rewards to investors. Dr. Timothy Stearns, Executive Director for the Lyles Center, said. "The Lyles Center has been a leader in this effort and the forum will showcase local talent across a wide variety of technology sectors."
The Entrepreneurs Mentors Program at the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship continues to grow and improve. The program is led by Dr. Timothy Stearns, Executive Director of the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at California State University, Fresno. Stearns said it is unlike other similar programs around the county, in that it focuses on quality, not quantity. "This program is not about how many students we have. We take an elite group and try to be impactful with a lot of resources," he said. The Entrepreneur Mentorship Program teaches key entrepreneurial skills such as leadership, vision, team building, networking, and selling. Students are provided with resources to build their skills and network with professionals in their field.
More than twenty entrepreneurs in the community have volunteered their time to mentor the students in the program. Each student is matched one-on-one with a mentor that best fits their area of interest. Stearns said the program provides connections, resources and experiences that help the students in their entrepreneurial endeavors.
The program has been in place for five years. Last year, it developed into a three-unit, year-long class. Students attend weekly seminars, listen to entrepreneur presenters, participate in workshops and take two field trips. This semester they traveled to Visalia and in the spring semester they will visit Modesto.
Mentorship students also take a trip to San Francisco to take the Johnson O’Connor aptitude test, the most widely used skills assessment to help students discover natural potential and identify personal strengths. The students in the program go through an interview process and are selected from a pool of candidates who have made a commitment to pursue resources and experiences that will result in the enhancement of their entrepreneurial skills. Students network with other students and professionals during class and are able to develop a stronger relationship with their particular mentor.
The main goal of the Entrepreneur Mentors Program is for students to develop skills that will prepare them to succeed professionally as entrepreneurs. "This class is about more than learning" Stearns said. "You can learn about entrepreneurship anywhere. This class is about building skills in entrepreneurship."
Rather than sitting in class, a main part of the students’ grades is their community involvement. Grades in the class are based on student’s participation in class and with their mentor, community involvement, a culminating project and evaluations by other students and mentors.
This year, students in the program are working with each other and their mentors to plan and execute a $25,000 student business plan competition that is open to Fresno State students as well as students from participating Central Valley community colleges. "This class is a chance for students to actively ‘pitch-in’ and add value to their entrepreneurial skills as a group," Stearns said. "The Lyles Center provides the space and mentoring for them to do so."
The Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at California State University, Fresno fosters and encourages entrepreneurship in young people throughout the Central Valley through programs for elementary through college aged students.
At the elementary and middle school level, Kids Invent! encourages entrepreneurship by providing hands on applications of science through innovative and creative after school activities and summer camps. Kids Invent! inspires creativity in children as they build their own toys, prepare business plans, present marketing ideas and create web pages while working in teams. The skills that students are introduced to promote life-long creativity and help them succeed in the future. The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), teaches entrepreneurship to high school students from low-income communities. NFTE’s goal is to enhance student’s economic productivity by improving their business, academic and life skills. NFTE teaches entrepreneurship through semester, year-long, or stand alone entrepreneur elective courses that can be completed in an after-school setting or integrated with economics, marketing or business courses. Students learn business concepts and skills, work on their own business plans and are mentored by college entrepreneurship students. Last year, 115 students from five schools completed the program. They concluded the year by showcasing their extensive business plans in a competition. "We are thrilled to see how successful the program has become and are thoroughly impressed with the students’ work," Program Coordinator AJ Johnston said. This year, two new schools are involved with the program. McLane High School began working with NFTE in August and Sunnyside will begin in January. "We are excited to see the competition that McLane and Sunnyside will bring to the table," Johnston said. The Lyles Center’s entrepreneurship program for community college students has now expanded to nine campuses. Those campuses are: Merced College, Fresno City College, Madera Community College, Reedley College, College of the Sequoias, West Hills College, Bakersfield Community College, Porterville Community College and Columbia College. The Central California Entrepreneur Pathway (CCEP), which is sponsored by the Coleman Foundation, is designed to partner community colleges with the Lyles Center in an effort to build curricula, classroom content and community support for students interested in entrepreneurship. The ultimate goal of the program is to produce a higher yield of successful business start-ups in the Central Valley by encouraging cooperation and collaboration between the various local educational institutions. To do so, teachers from the various community colleges come together to write curriculum with the same learning outcomes as the entrepreneurship classes offered at Fresno State. Some of the campuses have started their own Collegiate Entrepreneur Organization (CEO) Club and twenty-seven students attended the National CEO Conference in Chicago. The scholars, who are faculty members at the various community colleges, are the driving forces behind the development of entrepreneurship programs on their respective campuses. They are laying the foundation for courses and programs with the goal of forming a consistent pathway for students to launch their businesses and continue onto four-year universities. In January, these teachers will attend the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship’s (NACCE) conference. "It’s refreshing to be surrounded by such proactive faculty from such different campuses," Johnston said. Through entrepreneurial programming for students of all ages throughout the Central Valley, the Lyles Center hopes to advance learning, cultivate creativity and innovation and encourage entrepreneurship at all level.
Seventy students from California State University, Fresno and Central Valley community colleges traveled to Chicago for the Collegiate Entrepreneur’s Organization (CEO) National Conference November 6-8. Bryce Majors, president of CEO, Fresno said, "It was an excellent forum which harbored some of the greatest and most up and coming entrepreneurial minds in the country." The annual conference brought more than 135 university clubs and more than 1,200 students, faculty and public from across the country together. More than 80 outstanding entrepreneurs and business leaders shared their ideas and expertise with students on how they launched their businesses, the lessons they've learned and where they are today. Fourteen CEO members from Fresno State attended the three-day conference. A total of forty five students from Fresno City College, Madera Community College, Reedley College, College of the Sequoias, West Hills College, Bakersfield Community College and Porterville Community College also attended.
The Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fresno State is a key sponsor for the CEO clubs on the various Central Valley campuses. It provided a portion of the funding for the students to attend the conference. Students fundraised to come up with the rest of the money. At the conference, students participated in breakout sessions, speaker presentations and workshops. Members from the Fresno State
chapter spoke on some of the panels during the breakout sessions. "I loved speaking on the discussion panels with representatives from chapters from all across the country," Majors said.
CEO, Fresno discussed creating an awesome organization, bringing entrepreneurship to middle and high schools, holding elevator pitch competitions on campus and chapter development Community college students were able to gather ideas and suggestions to take back to the CEO clubs on their campuses. Individually, they received advice on growing their own businesses ideas. Program Coordinator AJ Johnston said the community college students who attended benefitted from seeing and interacting with four-year college students who have more experience with CEO clubs and entrepreneurship.
Three students from Fresno State competed for $2,500 in CEO’s National Elevator Pitch Competition, where they pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges in the amount of time it takes to ride up an elevator, or about 90 seconds.
Majors said the most valuable part of the conference was the networking. "We had the ability to walk up to countless super successful entrepreneurs and interact with them on an even playing field," he said. "Every member that went grew their network ten-fold and got a million great ideas to enhance our club as well as the necessary tools to implement them."
Lizhu Davis, Department of Child, Family & Consumer Sciences
Fashion Entrepreneurship
Henry Delcore, Department of Anthropology
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Entrepreneurship Education in Engineering, Social Science and Business
Dave Goorahoo, Department of Plant Science
Organic Farming for Entrepreneurs Link> |
