Entrepreneurism: For many, a road to a successful career

POLY 102

E. Ann Nalley, annn@cameron.edu, Physical Science Department, Cameron University, 2800 W. Gore Blvd, Lawton, OK 73505
Through the years I have had the opportunity to help start 7 new businesses and to work in other businesses with individuals who were highly successful entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is often difficult and tricky and many new ventures fail. This presentation will present the history of how a number of these small businesses grew and developed and will discuss some of the risks taken and problems encountered in the early years of the business. It will also illustrate the role that universities can play in helping to support economic development in their community by assisting in the development of new businesses' in the community. Many universities have established Centers for Entrepreneurial Studies that take an active role in both training their students in entrepreneurial studies and in supporting new business development. My university has taken on entrepreneurism as a part of their mission. Cameron University has established a Center for Emerging Technologies and Entrepreneurial Studies (CETES). The operations of this center will be discussed and compared with similar centers across the nation.