Events & Activities

The Center offers a varied program throughout the year. Here are thumbnails of the specific events. For a complete calendar of current events, please click here.

ATHENA PowerLink

ATHENAPowerLink is a national program that assists women-owned businesses in achieving economic growth through voluntary advisory panels. The PowerLink program began in 1992 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when two businesswomen recognized that female entrepreneurs often lack access to valuable advisors and mentors. The premise was simple - panels of volunteers willing to advise women business owners on important issues can help them achieve greater success. The Central Florida Program is administered by the Rollins College Center For Entrepreneurship. Foley & Lardner, LLP are the founding sponsors. For more information visit the ATHENAPowerLink web site.

New Venture Competition

The New Venture Competition is an important entrepreneurial activity and a great experiential learning tool for the participants. Rollins students, faculty, staff and alumni are eligible to compete. It culminates when the finalists, chosen from all applicants by a distinguished panel of local entrepreneurial-minded businessmen, will present their plan to an audience comprised of their peers as well as members of the business community, including potential investors. This competition is intended to be an annual event, and may include teams from other institutions next year.

Crummer Challenge

The Crummer Challenge is a unique competition that was held on January 25, 2008. The event awarded $5,000 in total prize money to the individuals who came up with the best evaluation of a web-based travel-related product. The winner was Todd Sherman with Tyler Russell receiving second place and Alexis Norton in third place.

Student Consulting Practica Program

Every year, nearly 110 students participate in this cornerstone program that provides them the opportunity to apply principles and lessons learned in the classroom in the actual business environment. Teams of 3-5 students work with a firm who has a project it wishes to have completed in the 12 week Fall or Spring term. Students meet weekly, often at the firm’s office, and under the auspices of a supervising instructor. At term’s end, an oral presentation and a written report are delivered. Over 24 firms a year are participants in this program, which is a for-credit elective. 80% of full-time students participate.The program is run by Dr. Robert Prescott who can be reached at 407-646-2593 or rprescott@rollins.edu.

Collegiate Entrepreneurship Organization Chapter

The Chapter of this international organization of more than 18,000 members was formed in the summer of 2004 as the student arm of the Center for Entrepreneurship. With over eighty members, including Rollins undergrads, the officers have developed a framework and an agenda that will permit the organization to be sustainable beyond this year.

The CEO supports the Center and its activities through assistance in organizing and in student attendance at workshops, seminars and conferences. Members routinely meet entrepreneurs who attend the post-event receptions and seek career opportunities from these contacts.

Independently, it has organized some useful learning experiences for members and taken an active role in the National CEO organization that could lead to greater visibility for Crummer and more quality applications from the undergrad CEO members at other schools.

One goal is to increase the participation of Rollins undergrads, 400 of whom are business majors, and begin to offer opportunities to realize the entrepreneur potential that they have.

Executive-in-Action Speaker Series

We believe our entrepreneurial students and entrepreneurial-minded business executives can find real value in the stories of successful entrepreneurs. As a result, we have 3-4 speakers a year who basically relate the trials and tribulations they faced on the road to success, how they overcame these obstacles, and what principles and lessons they want to pass on to others to help them find success.

This series is very popular not only with our students but also with entrepreneurial-spirited executives of early or mid-stage organizations.

Effective story-telling is a very useful way to make a point, and our speakers have a great story to tell and are generally good communicators.

Growing-your-Business Workshops

The Center organizes 3-4 interactive workshops every year on a subject of broad interest to established enterprises that have significant growth opportunities. Generally, a panel of knowledgeable executives addresses this subject and then the audience can question and comment extensively.

In the past we have dealt with such issues as Validating the Market, Key Issues in Selling a Business, and Understanding Outsourcing of Services. The February workshop will be addressing the subject of Women in Entrepreneurship.

Receptions are held after each workshop in Crummer Hall and represent a great networking opportunity for executives and students, and a chance to meet the speakers. Speakers, several Center Board members and prospective sponsors are invited to dinner locally which provides a chance to exchange ideas and build some relationships.

NewsJournal

The Center publishes a NewsJournal twice a year with the purpose of increasing awareness of the Center, its purpose and its program. We combine articles by our professors and distinguished practitioners on entrepreneurial subjects, with interviews, recaps of events and announcements of upcoming activities.