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| CRBJ Home > April 2007 | ||||||
University-student-downtown collaboration a winnerBy Jill Carlson
In June 2006, the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO) opened the Spirit of Whitewater shop in the Discover Whitewater building at 171 Main Street. The shop sells Warhawk team apparel with a targeted customer base of parents of UW-Whitewater students, alumni, tourists and the local community. The Spirit of Whitewater is a bridge between the campus and downtown and serves as a way to bring more people downtown to shop locally owned stores and restaurants. The process of launching the Spirit of Whitewater shop started in early 2006. Jimmy Peltier, Irvin L. Young professor of entrepreneurship and professor of marketing, is the student adviser for CEO. "Downtown Whitewater Inc. was interested in having a relationship with UWW, one that connected downtown Whitewater with the campus," Peltier said. "Based on this interest, CEO was brought in and the discussion began regarding how the project could get started, with the initial interest being on getting UWW apparel in the shop." Derek Henze, 24, is the internal adviser and the current president of CEO. Henze spent four years in the military serving in Iraq and will graduate with undergraduate degrees in management, marketing, finance and entrepreneurship in 2010. Henze forecasts that he'll graduate with his master's degree in 2012 but is undecided in which field he'll earn the advanced degree. His plan is to be an entrepreneur with a focus on nonprofits after graduation. "The Spirit of Whitewater gives us experience that we can use in the real world and helps us to deal with the politics that can occur in business," said Henze. Peltier sings Henze's praises. "Derek Henze was really the driving force behind our initial success. We now have a team of students in place who are involved in running the operations and planning for its future growth." Ten student volunteers from CEO staff the shop. Members of CEO gain valuable experience in management, marketing, accounting, human resources and sales by working in the shop. "CEO students are being exposed to a wide range of entrepreneurial-based skills. There are really no organizations on campus that expose students to the entrepreneurship skill set that we do. We have programs this semester that focus on such things as the entrepreneurial spirit, how to network, what it takes to start a new business, how to secure capital, finances, how to market a new business, finding customers and key customer service issues," Peltier said. CEO has a contract with the UWW campus-based University Bookstore. CEO members choose the shop's stock from the bookstore, a way to develop their buying skills. Henze said that the shop had about $100 in sales in the first month of operation. Six months later, December sales were $2,000 and he projects the shop will have annual sales of $30,000 for 2007. All profits go back to CEO to help the organization grow and a portion is also put back into the business. There are more than 40 members of CEO, which Henze said makes it the third-largest student organization on campus even though it's only been in existence for three semesters. Eleven CEO board members with responsibilities ranging from vice presidents of finance, programming, membership, strategic planning, community involvement, technology and president of competition comprise the board, along with the president and president-elect, secretary and president-elect of competition. Board positions are open for election each semester and a general democratic election is held for CEO members to choose the new board. Henze will be turning the president's duties over to current president-elect Loretta Hanke in the fall semester. "Everyone should get a chance at leadership," Henze said. CEO looks beyond the Spirit of Whitewater shop to see how it can promote downtown Whitewater. In the fall, CEO is establishing a shuttle bus that will run from campus to downtown for students. Henze also explained that they are putting together plans to invite other student organizations to sell their fundraising items at the shop. Currently, the Jewish Student Organization is selling T-shirts there. The Student Foundation sells scarves at the Spirit of Whitewater shop to raise money to fund grants for students. CEO is also planning to reach out to local booster clubs and student organizations in elementary, middle and high schools to help with their fundraising activities by offering to sell their products. The Discover Whitewater building is also home to the Whitewater Chamber of Commerce, which is closed on weekends. Because the Spirit of Whitewater shop is open weekends, CEO student volunteers provide customers with information on Whitewater and area attractions during the hours that the Chamber of Commerce is closed. "The shop has helped bring people through the door," Allison Lodge, executive director of Downtown Whitewater Inc., said. "The Spirit of Whitewater is a clear example of what CEO is all about - students learning how to start and operate a new business. This is not something that can be learned in a classroom," Peltier said. Jill Carlson is a Madison freelance writer. jilly@chorus.net madison.com ©2009 Capital Newspapers. All rights reserved. |
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