WT Enterprise Center to Celebrate Entrepreneurship with Workshops, Student Contest

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Local businesspeople can learn from experts in artificial intelligence, branding, marketing and more during the WT Enterprise Center’s Global Entrepreneurship Week activities.

The events, set for Nov. 17 to 21, will include “workshops, panels and community gatherings meant to inspire, educate and connect entrepreneurs across the Texas Panhandle,” said Gina Woodward, executive director.

All events will take place at the WT Enterprise Center, 2300 N. Western St. in Amarillo. WTEC is a department of West Texas A&M University’s Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business.

“Global Entrepreneurship Week is a chance to celebrate the entrepreneurs and small business owners that have helped build exceptional communities,” Woodward said. “We’re especially excited that this year’s celebration offers an opportunity to invest in tomorrow’s entrepreneurs who are now students in the Engler College of Business.”

As part of the lead-up to the week, WT business students in an entrepreneurship class led by Dr. Jimmy Kim, assistant professor of management, have been developing business pitches that they will present in preliminary rounds Nov. 17 and 19.

Presentations will be judged by WT alumni with extensive experience in building new businesses: J. Pat Richmond, retired regional director at Glazer’s; Paul Simpson, director of business retention and expansion for Amarillo Economic Development Corp.; and Kelsey Ward, commercial lender and banking officer at FirstBank Southwest. Michael Kitten, Canyon Economic Development Corp. executive director, also will judge one round.

The top three teams will give pitch presentations to the public Nov. 21 at the Global Entrepreneurship Week finale event. Top presenters will receive wireless headphones, wireless earbuds and Bluetooth speakers, respectively.

“Entrepreneurship thrives when education meets community,” Kim said. “Global Entrepreneurship Week gives our students the chance to share their ideas, learn from others, and build lasting connections beyond their classroom.”

Students also will pitch their business plans on the Engler College of Business’s Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

Public workshops are scheduled daily throughout the week:

6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17: “AI for the Everyday Entrepreneur” — This workshop, led by Parker Settle of Synapse AI Solutions, will explore how entrepreneurs can create custom artificial intelligence agents tailored to their business needs.

8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 18: “Your Brand Online: From Strategy to Website Launch” — Aaron Soto, owner of Sueño & Co., will guide entrepreneurs through the essentials of building a customized, brand-focused website, providing tips on design, branding, and search engine optimization.

6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 18: “Supper Club: Personal Branding — Memorable for the Right Reasons” — Mary Coyne and Julianne Guy of MCMC will focus on the power of personal branding, sharing insights from their careers in communications, marketing and public relations to help attendees define and amplify their professional identity.

9 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 19: “Today’s Company Culture” — In partnership with the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, this panel discussion will feature business leaders sharing insights and strategies for cultivating positive workplace cultures that support retention and long-term success.

8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 20: “Coffee with the Chamber” — This event, in partnership with the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, will feature local entrepreneurs discussing their journeys, challenges, and strategies for success.

5:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 21: “Harvesting Success” — Following the student pitch presentation, attendees can enjoy a celebration featuring local vendors and a lineup of food trucks in a farmers’-market–style atmosphere to close out the week’s celebrations.

For more information and to RSVP for events, visit eventbrite.com/cc/global-entrepreneurship-week-amarillo-4690893 or call 806-651-8500. All events are free.

Partnering with and retaining community businesses to improve the quality of life in the Panhandle and beyond is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign has raised more than $175 million and will continue through 2025.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. A Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The University also is home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

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