University offers edge to potential entrepreneurs
Beth Sweeney ‘01

A chance to enhance, learn and discover the keys to small business success was the focus of the Entrepreneur’s Edge forum, held on Nov. 15 in the Connelly Center. This "entre-forum" provided guests with a chance to meet and hear a panel of marketing, consulting, engineering and publishing pacesetters featured in Dr. James Chan’s The Spare Room Tycoon, a "how-to-be" book about self-made careers.

The event began with a dinner reception in the President’s Lounge, followed by a book signing with Chan and a two-hour panel program, offering achievement criteria based on his model for success, S.P.A.R.E. The speakers highlighted different components of the S.P.A.R.E. acronym, self-knowledge, passion, action, realization and evolution.

"You really need to know who you are for yourself, what are your strengths and what are your skills," said Chan. "I proved to myself that whatever I did, for my company and for myself, could lead me somewhere."

Chan introduced the panel with an explanation of his book and the first step of his process, self-knowledge. He also stressed the importance of comprehending what it means to be an entrepreneur.

"Tonight is about entrepreneurship, which is a slightly misunderstood concept," said Chan. "We want to tell you how we succeeded at doing what we love to do."

Included on the panel were Denise Devine and John Deneen, both University alumni, and Dr. Helen Solomons, as an adjunct member of the University’s Human Resource and Development faculty. Also featured were Robert Booker, publisher of the Black Suburban Journal and Dr. Stan Gross, president of the Stan Gross Associates marketing firm.

Devine earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1977 from the University and currently serves as C.E.O. of Nutripharm, Inc., and its subsidiary, Devine Foods, Inc. The companies, inspired by Devine’s concern over her children’s consumption of fruit juice and refined sugars, look to create healthy, natural foods and pharmaceutical products.

"I stand here as a testament to the fact that entrepreneurship can happen any time, any place and when you least expect it," said Devine. "When you have passion about something you’re committed to, you start making things happen."

Recently honored with the "Best 50 Businesswomen in Pennsylvania Award," Devine is also a recipient of the St. Thomas of Villanova Medal Alumni Award. Her "Devine Confections" soft-serve ice cream will soon be available in University cafeterias.

Law school alum John Deneen graduated in 1994, and almost immediately founded Sn.com, an e-business firm located in Rosemont, Pa. Deneen was recently recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal, in its 2000 Book of Lists, which featured Sn.com as the second largest web site development firm in the area.

Helen Solomons, in addition to serving as President and C.E.O. of TDS International, is also co-creator of Synetas Profiler. She is responsible for managing and retaining the remote workforce, which Synetas looks to assess. Also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Solomons worked closely with College Outreach to bring Chan and the panelists to the University.

"I think it worked well to set a foundation for future business relationships," said Brenda Grove, director of College Outreach and Onsite Programs. "A primary purpose was to let the local business community know that we want to do business with them."

Grove also wanted the forum to provide a learning opportunity for students. A good mix of engineering, arts and law school students attended the event, which drew a crowd of almost 100 guests. The forum provided learning, as well as networking opportunities. One student may even become a guest columnist for the Black Suburban Journal. Grove feels the forum was good for all students, particularly those who are looking at going into small business. The College Outreach program also hopes to promote events like the Entrepreneur’s Edge in the future, with other alumni acting as liaisons for students.

"The career path these individuals took, of working for major corporations and not for themselves, is not unusual," said Grove. "We need to present students with (Chan’s) model. It could guide anyone in their career and help them thrive."