New Club to Encourage Entrepreneurs and Provide Business Leadership

By Richard Dye · The Mainstream
Published October 19, 2011

The newest club on UCC is the Business and Entrepreneurship Club, founded by business student Reese Kersteter.

UCC Business instructor and entrepreneur Toni Clough who formerly owned the Bagel Tree Cafe is the clubs new advisor. Meetings are being held every Wednesday at noon in the Wayne Crooch Hall room 16.

The club was approved officially on Oct. 3 2011 by the ASUCC, the student government association.

The recognition of the club allows the utilization of college classrooms and technology for meetings and club-related functions. The new club will hold activities giving business knowledge and insights from guest speakers, UCC staff members and fellow students free of charge.  Business department instructor Bill Armstrong sums the club up with one word: “opportunity”.

“Reese was the main instigator” says Armstrong, “He was the drive and energy that put this club together.”Kersteter states “I wanted to give something back to the community”. The UCC Business and Entrepreneurship Club is a revival of a once college credited course.

The newly formed club comes at a time when Unemployment rates are high and money matters are a concern throughout the nation. “The economic recession in America has created a distinct opportunity to bring the community together. The Business and Entrepreneurship Club offer the chance to have new ideas heard and to also receive valuable feedback from potential customers or clients not to mention making valuable contacts from the business world” says Reese.

UCC staff members, local business owners and community leaders are welcome. “There are no club membership fees or dues as of yet. Help is still needed in planning fundraisers to fund any expenses the club may incur. ” Says Kersteter.

No funding will be received from UCC; the club is self-supported, outside of seeking corporate sponsorship.

The timing of this club is appropriate considering the refurbishing of the old Douglas County Co-Op building on Pine Street to create office space and business assistance for new business start-ups. “I have high expectations that the club will gain connections with a small business incubator being  formed by the Tribe of Cow Creek Indians, to help with improving the education of students and new entrepreneurs about new business ideas and practices.” says Armstrong.