e-Club changes name to promote broader vision
Utah State University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council wants students to know that everyone can adopt an entrepreneurial spirit and benefit from the Council’s activities and competitions. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council (IEC) recently changed names from the Entrepreneur Club, or e-Club, to more effectively promote a broad vision of entrepreneurial spirit.
The IEC focuses on aiding students in evaluating their ideas and in providing the necessary tools to transform their creative ideas into successful businesses.
Paul Rossiter, IEC president, has been involved with the organization for three years.
“The IEC is a great organization for any student to become involved with,” Rossiter said. “Not only business students benefit from the activities and competitions we put on. There are so many ideas out there; I think that this change to the IEC allows us to put more focus on helping all students to realize their ideas.”
According to the council’s website, the IEC, Utah State’s local chapter of the national organization of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO), has a mission to provide students a platform to network with successful entrepreneurs, refine business plans and ideas, apply and gain business and leadership experience, provide internship opportunities and allow interaction with other students who also have entrepreneurial spirit.
IEC faculty advisor David Clark said the transition from the e-Club to the council is to “allow inclusiveness, spread entrepreneurial spirit and encourage all students to pursue the creation of value.”
He said, “By changing our format to a council instead of a club, we are trying to get the message out that our activities are open to everyone. We want people to be involved without any restrictions whatsoever.”
Brianna Peterson, vice president of events for the council, said she is excited about the transition. “With us now a council instead of a club, students will hopefully be more interested in attending events,” Peterson said, “If something is presented by a council, I am more inclined to go.”
The council’s website states the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council provides students many opportunities to spark entrepreneurial spirit through competitions and activities like e-Week and Opportunity Quest. The website continues to explain that last year, the IEC gave away more than $16,000 in cash prizes through entrepreneurial business competitions. Recently, applicants submitted their executive business summaries for Opportunity Quest to receive prizes.
The Awards Reception for Opportunity Quest will be held on Thursday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. in the Sky Room. The event will be catered and everyone can get in for the negotiable price of $8. Everyone can bring cans of food to barter down their entrance fee.
The council agrees that this event is a great opportunity for business networking and resume-building. Regardless of whether students win prizes, all applicants can move forward to the statewide competition with their full business plan.
Aside from the impressive cash prizes, the council feels students can greatly benefit by becoming involved with the council and the competitions available.
“Being involved is one of the best ways to get ahead of the competition when looking for a job,” said Trevor Fullwood, vice president of marketing. He said if students are interested in pursuing a business idea, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council can be a resource for understanding how to start and run a business.
“Our school motto is “Dare Might Things,” said Troy Oldham, executive director of marketing and brand management for the Huntsman School of Business. “We want our students to have the courage to experiment with bold, innovative ideas and to aspire greatly. Fortunately, they do not have to look far to find great models of fresh, innovative thinking. Against the backdrop of a struggling economy, we are creating a business school that is more innovative and effective than ever before. It is gratifying to know that so many successful business leaders think our emphasis is in the right place and are willing to invest in our students.”
Clark said, “Entrepreneurial spirit is a pillar of Utah State University. Every student that walks through the doors of this school should be aware of that fact,” Clark said. “You need to be thinking like an entrepreneur. This means to think innovatively and think of ways to add value to your ideas.”
The council’s website states that for years, The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council has helped to launch student’s business ideas into successful companies. Some of the current working businesses include CupAd, The Big Water Raft Company, LocalWork.com, and NutraTrue. These successful businesses are proof that USU students can make their ideas tangible and lucrative.
“I see the IEC becoming the cornerstone of our entrepreneurial programs and I see it becoming an increasingly important organization in the business school. I see the council working more closely with the Business Council and with ASUSU to provide opportunities for learning to all students in our school and on USU’s campus,” Clark said.
“One of the pillars of the business school is entrepreneurial spirit. The purpose of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Council is to spread awareness about innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the campus,” Fullwood said, “The council will take a strong role in promoting entrepreneurial spirit and we will continue to grow.”
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