ENID, OKLAHOMA — Entrepreneurs can stay up to date on social media trends at the Entrepreneurship Seminar Series hosted by Northwestern Oklahoma State University Enid, 2929 E. Randolph, on March 7 and 8.2024.
Local and community entrepreneurs will discuss how social media has helped them grow their business ventures.
(Left to right) Mr. Curtis Tucker, Dr. Jerry Gustafson, Dr. Heather Palmer, and Dr. Wayne McMillin during a planning meeting for the Entrepreneurship Seminar at NWOSU Enid. (Billy Hefton/Enid News & Eagle)
Seminar sessions are free and open to the public, and community participants are welcome to come and go. Students who wish to receive credit from NWOSU may register for the seminar and pay tuition. This counts towards the requirements for upper division credit and a minor in entrepreneurship. Students in Aruba, Woodward, and Ponca City will be able to participate in the Enid program through live broadcasts to other campuses. This course is taught by Jerry Gustafson, also known as “Dr. G.”
it takes courage
This series focused on social media is a continuation of NWOSU's leadership in e-commerce education. Gustafson said the Aruba campus is one of the first in the country to offer e-commerce studies. Enid entrepreneur Curtis Tucker used these courses before launching the online Enid Buzz Community website. He said his courses at Northwestern University had a significant impact on his business decisions. As a former student, he shares his experience building his business online over the years at the annual seminar and is featured as a keynote speaker in 2024.
“It takes a lot of courage to become an entrepreneur. You're alone, and you'll meet other business people who will share their experiences at your seminars,” he says. said Mr. Gustafsson, who has developed the business.
Gustafson said inviting current entrepreneurs to speak to students provides an opportunity to make connections. Some of the speakers are new to the program, while others, like Tony Woodlief, executive vice president of the National Policy Network, have been attending for several years. According to SPN's website, spn.org, SPN's mission is to “help collaborative, entrepreneurial leaders ensure lasting social change, personal freedom, and economic opportunity at the state and local level.” “An America where all people can prosper.”
“We can learn a lot by listening to other people's stories,” Gustafsson said.
Speaker schedule
Northwestern Enid Dean Wayne McMillin and marketing consultant Heather Palmer worked with Gustafson to plan a seminar that delved into social media.
Palmer said social media can be an essential tool for targeting audiences. From Facebook to Instagram to LinkedIn, each has its own niche, she said.
“Go where your customers are,” she added.
Organizers say there are so many platforms that it can be difficult to know where to start. At the seminar, entrepreneurs will share what has worked for them.
The talk will begin on Thursday, March 7th at 12:30 p.m. in Room 218 at Northwestern Enid, with Woodleaf appearing at 12:30 p.m. David and Jennifer Lawrence, Dense Mechanical, 1:30; Stella Jantzen, Park Avenue Thrift Executive Director. 2:30. Brady Sidwell, Sidwell Strategies Financial Brokers, 3:30 p.m. Debbie Maxey, agent with the Northwest Oklahoma Association of Realtors, 4:30 p.m. Mr. Tucker will give the keynote address in the university's commons area starting at 6 p.m.
On Friday, the program resumes at 9 a.m. in Room 218 at Woodleaf. Tucker is 10 years old. Aaron Fukusa, owner of Unique Address & Headlight Restoration, 11 years old. Northwestern Faculty Committee at noon. Emma Frazier, owner of Emma Shining Jewels, 1 p.m. Palmer was second. and Gustafsson in third place.
(Billy Hefton/Enid News & Eagle)
dreams become reality
McMillin said organizers are grateful for the vision of Enid oil producer Lou Ward, who was instrumental in starting the Entrepreneurial Leadership Series several years ago.
As the founder of Ward Petroleum, the Oklahoma wildcatter and entrepreneur supported a variety of community causes and was credited with the entrepreneurship of the 1893 Land Run and the successful business that grew from it. I wanted to emphasize that. The district believed that agencies should work together, and the group that grew out of that desire is now known as Startup Enid, a collaboration between NWOSU, Northern Oklahoma University, Autry Technology Center, and Enid Regional Development Alliance. There is. The Paul Allen Family Foundation and Stride Bank also help sponsor his series of entrepreneurship seminars at NWOSU.
“Lou Ward's dream came true before he passed away,” McMillin said. “His leadership made it happen.”
One of the reasons NWOSU continues to host seminars in its latest Entrepreneurial Seminar Series is to provide students with a connection between the real world and academia, or between theory and practice, Gustafson said. . The March 8th portion of the seminar will feature professors who are also entrepreneurs with businesses in book sales, ranch management, photography, rental real estate, renovation, tax accounting services, and more.
The 2024 seminar will be the first to focus on social media, which Gustafsson said is “too relevant and pervasive for businesses to ignore.”
Gustafson said he invites the public to come out on both days, bring questions and learn with the students about how to harness the power of social media to grow your business.
