Entrepreneurship has become a big focus at Emporia State University, and the latest evidence of that approach was formally unveiled to the public Thursday with the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Bobbi and Steve Sauder Center for Entrepreneurial Development.
Emporia State announced a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship back in March, and Dean of the School of Business Ed Bashaw says the new Sauder Center will help budding entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground. He says entrepreneurs see opportunities and they pursue them — much like Steve Sauder has done with ValuLine, ValuNet FIBER and Emporia’s Radio Stations.
For his part, Steve Sauder says he and his wife, Bobbi, were glad for the opportunity to be involved.
Located on Cremer Hall’s second floor, the Sauder Center will help students develop their entrepreneurial ideas or start their own businesses and will help students regardless of their major. It’s intentionally placed between the Kansas Small Business Development Center, which offers help to small business owners including business plans, funding information and business structure information; and Studio E, a student-led advertising collective that offers assistance with advertising, marketing and online presence.