Penn State LionLaunch program expands into northern Schuylkill via DSI
Sentinel Staff Reports
SHENANDOAH – Through a partnership between Penn State Schuylkill and Downtown Shenandoah, Inc., the university is bringing its Lion Launch entrepreneurship and business development programming to our area.
This Thursday will be the first of a set of four “Let’s Do Lunch With The Experts” speaker events, which “help busy professionals advance their entrepreneurial know-how and gain critical business skills.”
“This effort builds upon an already fruitful partnership between our two organizations,” Penn State Schuylkill Chancellor Patrick Jones said. “Our goal in bringing LionLaunch to Shenandoah is to support economic development in the northern region of the county by encouraging the innovation ecosystem.”
“We know that small businesses account for 80% of Pennsylvania’s industry,” said Karen Kenderdine, president of Downtown Shenandoah Inc. “As such, programs like LionLaunch can have a profound effect on the economic development of the areas it serves — including northern Schuylkill County.”
The four events will all be held at Francesco’s, 10 North Main Street, from 11:30am to 1pm.
The first, the “Ready, Set, Go Business Smart Workshop,” will be held on August 29, in which Shannon DiGiglio from the Small Business Administration “will share tips for finding funding and creating a successful venture.”
“Attendees will learn why the “Five Cs of Credit” are important, why a credit score matters and the importance of a business plan,” the university said in a media release.
Then, on September 18 will be “Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Business Network,” in which Patty Shoener, of Penn State Schuylkill, will demonstrate how to use LinkedIn for networking, career growth, and business development.
On October 17, Lisa Robinson, business instructor at PSU Schuylkill, “will show attendees how to make a big impact with a small marketing budget” through the “Low-Budget Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses and Nonprofits” workshop.
Finally, on November 22, Aimee Eckley, interactive media director at the Pottsville Republican-Herald “will explain how to use data to generate more leads, increase conversions, and improve the customer experience” in a workshop entitled “Avatar Workshop: Using Data to Identify and Understand Your Ideal Customer.”
At each session, lunch will be provided, and pricing varies. Registration is required, and full details are available at the LionLaunch website, http://schuylkill.psu.edu/lionlaunch.
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