By Mike Greife,
August 18, 2016
WARRENSBURG, MO – Danny O’Neill, Kansas City regional Entrepreneur of the Year and
founder and owner of The Roasterie, the Kansas City home of air-roasted coffees and
coffee cafes, will be the honorary host and keynote speaker for the UCM Big Idea Conference
Aug. 24 at the University of Central Missouri.
O’Neill will share his own story of entrepreneurial achievement while encouraging
students to pursue their own dreams of business success. O’Neill launched the quality
coffee production company in 1993, and he opened the first Roasterie Café in the Brookside
area of Kansas City in 2005. The company has grown to include three cafes and a roasting
factory with event space.
The UCM Big Idea Conference will bring area entrepreneurs to UCM for a day of mentoring
with UCM students. Following O’Neill’s keynote address, more than 90 selected UCM
students will be matched in teams with 32 mentors—regional entrepreneurs, local business
owners and UCM alumni—in a “speed networking” process. The young entrepreneurs will
be given the opportunity to develop their innovative business plans in collaboration
with their mentors, presenting them at the end of the day in competition for first,
second and third place recognition.
The Big Idea Conference is the kickoff of a series of events planned for the UCM Big
Idea Program during the 2016-17 academic year. Beginning fall 2016, The UCM Big Idea
College Entrepreneurs Organization will be a new student organization that will provide
ongoing support for the creation of mentoring relationships between students, business
leaders and UCM alumni. The team will compete in local, regional and national entrepreneurship
competitions, conduct fundraising activities and provide community service.
In addition, The Big Idea CEOs also will assist in coordinating the entrepreneurial
speaker series sponsored by the Blaine Whitworth Memorial Foundation. The series offers
public presentations by seasoned entrepreneurs who share their experiences and “lessons
learned,” increasing interest in entrepreneurship and social enterprise as career
options.
Bringing the academic year of activities to a close in April 2017, the UCM Big Idea
Program will sponsor the UCM Big Idea Pitch Competition, recognizing innovative business
ideas and encouraging young entrepreneurs from the UCM campus and surrounding community.
Invited entrepreneurs and UCM alumni will serve as judges and/or investors, evaluating
presentations and business plans presented by participants. Prizes of $3,000, $1,500
and $500 will be awarded to first, second and third place winners.
“The primary goal of The Big Idea Program is to create a deeper connection between
UCM students and the business community through ‘step-ahead’ mentoring where more
experienced entrepreneurs are supporting the next generation of business innovators,”
said Dan Jensen, assistant professor of management and coordinator of the Entrepreneurship
and Social Enterprise undergraduate program. “With the support of the university,
the Warrensburg Chamber, the Blaine Whitworth Memorial Foundation, the Helzberg Entrepreneurial
Mentoring Program, and many others, we will generate successful start-ups, new jobs,
and a stronger entrepreneurial environment.”
For more information about the UCM Big Idea Conference, as well as other UCM Big Idea
Program events, contact Jensen at jensen@ucmo.edu.
