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Wilkes University's Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Honors Mentors During Oct. 17 Event

Wilkes-Barre, PA (10/30/2019) — Celebrating the role of mentors in nurturing entrepreneurial endeavors, Wilkes University's Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship hosted its fourth annual mentor breakfast honoring three executive mentors. The event occurred on Oct. 17 in the ballroom of the Henry Student Center.

The center offers a mentoring program for new businesses and maintains a network of advisors who offer their services on a limited pro-bono basis. In conjunction with the academic resources of Wilkes University, these business and industry leaders offer years of experience and mentorship to students and prospective start-up businesses. At the breakfast, three individuals from the community were honored for their work in the mentoring program

The executive mentor honorees include:

  • Stephan Shiffman, motivational and sales training leader. He is rated as the number one sales expert in prospecting by Personal Selling Power magazine.
  • Teri Ooms, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development. Ooms is responsible for research, development and operation functions.
  • Vicki Mayk, senior editor, Wilkes University Marketing Communications. Mayk supervises public relations for programs including the Allan P. Kirby Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. She has been a mentor to students in the program since 2015.

Two educators who offer research support to students and the center were also honored.

Summer fellowship research honorees include:

  • Lisa Reynolds, assistant professor of integrative media at Wilkes University. Reynolds has spent nearly 20 years working in the northeast Pennsylvania market, specializing in design for education and development.
  • Grace Xiao, associate professor of marketing at Wilkes University. Xiao is the chair of the marketing, sports management and hospitality leadership department in the Jay Sidhu School of Business and Leadership.

Four Wilkes University students who serve as Kirby Scholars were recognized. They are Ashley Abbey, marketing; Amrit Chandok, engineering; Ethan Schwartz, engineering; and Spencer Yacuboski, engineering.

The students undergo a rigorous selection process involving a review committee of faculty, Allan P. Kirby Center staff, and the executive-in-residence. The scholars provide services to the clients and to the Allan P. Kirby Center. In turn, they receive valuable experience in their field of study and formal recognition of their work.

For more stories about Wilkes University and its students, faculty and staff, please visit News@Wilkes.

About Wilkes University:

Wilkes University is a private, independent, non-sectarian institution of higher education dedicated to academic and intellectual excellence through mentoring in the liberal arts, sciences and professional programs. Founded in 1933, Wilkes is on a mission to create one of the nation's finest doctoral universities, offering all of the programs, activities and opportunities of a large university in the intimate, caring and mentoring environment of a small college, open to all who show promise. The Economist named Wilkes 25th in the nation for the value of its education for graduates. In addition to 46 majors, Wilkes offers 24 master's degree programs and five doctoral/terminal degree programs, including the doctor of philosophy in nursing, doctor of nursing practice, doctor of education, doctor of pharmacy, and master of fine arts in creative writing. Learn more at www.wilkes.edu.

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