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Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC), under the leadership of the Business and Computing Studies Division and with grant support from Wells Fargo, recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Entrepreneurship Center, a key resource for student innovation and business growth. The event started with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke, CGCC President CJ Wurster, Faculty Chair Barbara Gonzalez, and Lead Residential Faculty members Jamie Goff and Lana Short.
Mayor Hartke and President Wurster delivered inspiring speeches, emphasizing the importance of entrepreneurship in the community, before President Wurster and Faculty Member Jamie Goff cut the ceremonial teal ribbon, officially opening the center. Guests then toured the facility, which features collaborative spaces for students, a greenscreen, business resources, and office hours with a Small Business Development Center coach. They also enjoyed a breakfast spread and CGCC merchandise before diving into a series of informative workshops featuring:
- Steven Baron of Pluralsight, a seasoned Software Engineer, shared his insights on building successful tech ventures and the importance of innovation in software development.
- Eric Tolotti of Snowflake, a Data Engineer, joined Steven Baron in discussing how data and technology intersect with entrepreneurship, providing attendees with valuable tools to leverage data for business success.
- Anita Telle, a successful Entrepreneur, spoke about her journey in the business world, including the ins and outs of selling products through Amazon and the process of publishing her books. Her session gave attendees actionable advice for building and selling products online while addressing the social impact of entrepreneurship.
The following day, the celebration continued with even more workshops:
- Business Analyst George Kimble and Coaching Consultant Kate Mayeski teamed up to share their expertise on business analysis and coaching strategies for entrepreneurs.
- Anton Silantev, owner of Fred Astaire Gilbert, gave a presentation on owning a business within a franchise, followed by a live dance demonstration with Faculty Chair Barbara Gonzalez, combining entrepreneurship with a creative twist.
- C. Anthony Schmidt, CGCC Adjunct Faculty, wrapped up the workshops with a session on IT entrepreneurship and the critical importance of cyber security.
The Entrepreneurship Center is now open and ready to foster a new generation of innovative entrepreneurs, providing valuable resources and networking opportunities for students and the community.
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