Entrepreneurship Week 2024 April 8th - April 12th

Entrepreneurship Week is a collaboration of the Kutztown University College of Business, the Entrepreneurial Leadership Center (ELC), and the KU Small Business Development Center (SBDC).  This event includes panels, workshops, and presentations that provides students and the local community with insights, strategies and tools from experts to launch or strengthen their business.

TUESDAY - APRIL 9, 2024

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS PANEL
11am, de Francesco, Room 101

Meet student innovators who are in the process of bringing creative new ideas to life.  Panelists will discuss their experiences and provide insight and advice.

WEDNESDAY - APRIL 10, 2024

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS PANEL LUNCHEON
12pm - 1:30pm, McFarland Student Union, Room 218
RSVP to cob@kutztown.edu by April 2nd

Panelists include:
Katrin Hillner, Partners in Change
Kerry Lord, Kerry Lord Design
Raven Gabriele ('19), The Raven 96
Jacquelynn Beckers ('91), Thin Cow, Inc.

Katrin Hillner

Katrin Hillner is President & CEO of PCN, a global leader in Managed DNS, DHCP, and IPAM services and recently launched ClearSky DDI™, an as a Service solution that delivers and manages scalable, resilient, and secure DDI services from the cloud. As a WBENC-certified Woman Owned Business Enterprise, PCN also provides staffing, service desk, and security-GRC solutions that complement its core DDI technology offerings to buyers with commitments to diversity spend in their supply chains.

Kerry Lord

Kerry Lord Design is an independent graphic design business with over 20 years of experience in helping people create the perfect logo, brand campaign, publications, and visual marketing, to reach their goals, amplify engagement, and leave their mark. My passion and focus are in higher education, however I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with a wide range of clients, globally, from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses just starting to grow. It is rewarding to take on new challenges and bring fresh perspectives to the design table.

Raven Gabriele '19

Raven was a business management and marketing double major. Now, she’s the restaurant owner of The Raven 96. After working in the restaurant industry since she was 16, she decided it was time to work for herself. Raven was originally, a business management major, but had taken a few marketing classes and really felt that she wanted to explore a degree there as well. With the help and advice from her advisor, Raven was soon a double major and found the encouragement she needed to find her path. Though the job is tiring, it is rewarding. Raven suggests having a solid support system. With the help from her dad and sister (also a KU alum) she is confident in her new adventure. "If you want to be a business owner, find your support system, and you can do it".

Katrin Hillner
Kerry Lord Design
RAVEN GABRIELE '19
FRIDAY - APRIL 12, 2024

SOCIETAL IMPACT & SUSTAINABILITY PANEL LUNCHEON
12pm - 1:30pm, Old Main, Georgian Room
RSVP to cob@kutztown.edu by April 2nd

Panelists include:
Alexandra Ingram, Make the Distinction
Keri Neidig, Greater Lehigh Valley Athletics
Silvia Lucci, LUVH Food
Jim Byrnes, Love Ran Red Foundation

Alexandra Ingram

Make the Distinction's mission is to develop girls between the ages of 13-18 with lifelong skills in the areas of personal and professional development, so that they can become leaders in their communities. Our goal is to ensure girls are prepared to graduate high school with confidence to enter any space knowing that they belong and they are capable of succeeding. Teens who possess strong leadership skills become effective communicators, critical thinkers, and contributors to their communities. Ultimately, these transferable soft skills are imperative to their personal and professional growth becoming a young adult. 

Keri Neidig

Greater Lehigh Valley Athletics (GLVA): Co-Founder and Vice President of the Board of Directors. GLVA is a non-profit youth sports organization that my husband and I created in late 2003. We provide a recreational NFL flag football and cheer program for boys and girls aged 5-14. The league itself is primarily volunteer-run and registration costs are kept low through the generous support of community sponsors. We speak with every business or professional (dentists, financial planners, restaurants, etc.) that we meet to provide sponsorships and have generous donors that individually help families where cost is a barrier to participating.

Silvia Lucci

Silvia Lucci is an entrepreneur who believes we can change the world by the way we eat. She is the Founder/Owner of LUHV FOOD, a manufacturing company of nutritional vegan foods. Her company sells wholesale in stores like Whole Food Markets and retails in several LUHV storefronts. She has recently franchised her LUHV Bistro, and expanded her wholesale to all Mid-Atlantic region. LUHV was born in 2015 from the love and struggles of her family. Silvia has dedicated her life to her passion, mainstreaming veganism. She created a company that supports sustainability in every area of their business and manufactures foods that are healthy, delicious, and cruelty-free. At LUHV, they are thoughtful of the foods we put in our bodies and conscientious of the world we share.

Jim Byrnes

Love Ran Red Foundation recognizes that families who have a member with Autism and Developmental Disabilities need assistance. Their child has become a young adult who has aged out of the education system and now faces the most difficult stage of their journey. These young adults need gainful employment in a safe environment to encourage their confidence and sense of purpose. Meaningful employment is nearly impossible to find. Love Ran Red has provided this exact type of employment-one where an adult with different abilities is accepted for who they are. They can be themselves while learning vital growth skills which include responsibility, teamwork, communication, and socialization. This program is Duke’s Delites.

Alexandra Ingram
Keri Neidig
Silvia Lucci
Jim Byrnes
KU SBDC WORKSHOPS

Monday, April 8, 2024
9am - 6pm LinkedIn Revamp
Click here to sign up.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024
4pm - 6pm Blueprint for Success
E-mail sbdc@kutztown.edu to sign up.

Thursday, April 11, 2024
6pm - 8pm Mastering AI for Social Media Success
Click here to sign up.