September 2013

Madison Business Network Holds Fall Kickoff Breakfast

The Madison Business Network (MBN) held a Fall kickoff breakfast on Friday, Aug. 30, in the Highlands Room of the Festival. Eighty individuals representing a wide array of services, departments, and colleges attended the event. The focus of the MBN is on JMU staff, faculty, and alumni.

Dr. Mary Gowan, dean, College of Business, started the meeting with a few welcoming remarks. She talked about the importance of entrepreneurship, noting, “JMU is a leading university for entrepreneurship education at an undergraduate institution in the nation.”

Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Rick Larson next led the group in a brainstorming session. The attendees divided up according to their area of interest, choosing one of the following topics: business plan competition, concept roundtables, faculty staff forum, and idea brainstorming. Ideas and questions from the session will be summarized and evaluated for future workshops and action plans.

The Madison Business Network was created in January 2013 as the result of increasing interest in new company formation, innovation, and peer-to-peer connections throughout James Madison University and its alumni base.

The nationwide network connects individuals who have innovative ideas, technologies, and strategies with people who can be of assistance. The network targets JMU faculty, staff, alums, and professionals in the region.

The goal of the network is to encourage and promote innovation, business development, job creation, entrepreneurship, and career mentoring.