2009 Entrepreneurs Forum at NC State

On February 26, 2009, I was invited to speak at the 2009 Entrepreneurs Forum at NC State University. Being a former textile student at NC State it was/is an absolute pleasure to give back and help out anyway I can. I really enjoyed meeting and speaking with the students and faculty. I was very flattered and honored to be asked to sit next to such seasoned business men. The event was structured as a forum where we shared about our experiences and then took questions from the moderator and the audience. Panelist included Charles Stewart, owner of dyeing company Tumbling Colors, Stephen Fraser, partner of Spoonflower, Inc.and Tom Dixon, owner of Executive Cutting Edge & East Coast Wear. I would like to thank Erin Powell Smith, Tim Clapp, Nancy L. Cassill, all the faculty members and officers of the NC State Entrepreneurship Club for the opportunity to be a part of this amazing event. I would also like to thank Sarah Ewald for mentioning RainyDay Bridalwear in this lovely article in the Technician (NC State Newspaper). Click on link below to read the full article.

In the College of Textiles, James Spratley, senior in textile and apparel management, is president of the Textile Entrepreneurs Club. The TEC is geared towards students who are interested in entrepreneurship as well as textiles, and was started in fall 2007 by Madison Owen, senior in textile and apparel management.
   
“As a part of the National Entrepreneurship Week, the Textile Entrepreneurship Club hosted the Textile Entrepreneurship Forum to bring together local textile entrepreneurs, students and faculty members,” Spratley said.

The event was structured as a forum where the entrepreneurs shared about their experiences and then took questions from the moderator and the audience. Panelists included Charles Stewart, owner of dyeing company Tumbling Colors, and Christina Wight of Rainyday Bridalwear. Stewart and Wight are alumni of the College of Textiles. 
   
According to Spratley, the event was a great success with over 70 students in attendance. 

-Sarah Ewald, staff writer of the Technician