Index of University Press Releases

Feb. 29, 2008

Launch '08 Entrepreneurship Conference draws 300 to DWU
Sarah Dittmer • The Daily Republic

When inventing and creating, it’s not what people know that matters.

It’s what people do that leads them to become successful entrepreneurs, a global evangelist for creative learning said Thursday during an entrepreneurship conference at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell.

“You’ve got to do it. … The doing is a critical process. That’s why people make prototypes,” said Ed Sobey Ph.D., one of the conference’s keynote speakers. “Prototypes are not the end result of a creative process. They are the creative process.”

Sobey, who lives in the Seattle area, spoke to nearly 300 students, educators and entrepreneurs attending the third annual “Launch ’08: South Dakota Entrepreneurship Conference” at the Sherman Center. The one-day event was geared toward growing entrepreneurship and economic development in South Dakota.

This year’s conference featured two tracks: the educator track is geared toward those who are interested in integrating innovative and creative thinking within their disciplines, while the student track focuses on inspiring and supporting entrepreneurial students.

“We hoped that they could see that it’s not as hard to integrate innovation and creativity … and foster more entrepreneurial thinking,” said Rhonda Pole, an associate director and director of internships at the DWU Kelley Center for Entrepreneurship.

In its three years, the conference has regularly increased its attendance.

“We are focusing on entrepreneurship, education and bringing together educators and students to think about integrating innovation and creativity in the classroom,” said Barb Heller, with the South Dakota State University Entrepreneurship Program in Brookings.

“The state, in general, is paying more attention to entrepreneurship. …”

Jon Tait and Jared Noem, seniors at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, said conferences like Thursday’s reaffirms the thoughts their college professors have told them. It also gives them a chance to meet entrepreneur leaders like Kathleen R. Allen, who they have read about and heard about in their college classes.

“It’s nice to have it reinforced by people from the bigger places outside the state,” said Tait.

Allen, also one of the conference’s keynote speakers, is a professor at the University of Southern California. Additionally, she has penned numerous books on the subject of entrepreneurship and small businesses.

“If I ever start my own business, I need to remember to be creative and not to do everything by the book, and to explore my own ideas,” Noem said.

“And probably don’t be afraid to fail,” added Tait.

Launch ’08 was presented by the DWU Kelley Center for Entrepreneurship, the Enterprise Institute, South Dakota State University Entrepreneurship Program, EQUIP, South Dakota EPSCoR, South Dakota Small Business Development Center and the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development.