Rutgers Entrepreneurial Inaguration Event

      On Thursday, February 5th, the Rutgers Entrepreneurial Society held an Inaugural Event in honor of its official commencement as a distinguished student organization at Rutgers University. Over four hundred guests, representing a tremendous range of disciplines and standings, joined to celebrate this memorable occasion. Generating support for the common purpose of entrepreneurship, the Society succeeded in bringing together students, faculty, administration, accomplished alumni, and local business leaders, among them successful entrepreneurs and directors of various chambers of commerce.

Aiming to make a positive impact on Rutgers University, the Entrepreneurial Society has a vision of collaborating ambitious, driven, and innovative individuals and providing the resources for them to actively make their professional aspirations for the future a reality. Exemplifying this purpose was the Society's choice to begin the Inaugural Event with a Networking Reception, which allowed students to interact with their contemporaries as well as esteemed community members and alumni. Following the Networking Reception was a presentation by President Mikhail Naumov and Vice President of Financial Affairs Benjamin Lapidus explaining the Society's intentions to encourage and inspire the entrepreneurial spirit of University students.

The highlight of the Inaugural Event was keynote speaker Dr. Randal Pinkett, Chairman and CEO of BCT Partners and winner NBC's "The Apprentice" with Donald Trump. Having begun his career as an entrepreneur in his dormitory at Rutgers University selling compact discs to fellow students, Dr. Pinkett gave a motivational and encouraging speech to aspiring student entrepreneurs. In honor of the admiration and inspiration the Society has for Dr. Pinkett, Vice President of Marketing and Promotion Melissa Lee presented the speaker with the first ever Rutgers Entrepreneurial Society Distinguished Entrepreneur Award. After this ceremony, Dr. Pinkett participated in a book signing and photo opportunity, in which the Rutgers University Bookstore helped to coordinate sales of Campus CEO: The Student Entrepreneur's Guide to Launching a Multimillion Dollar Business.

Among the guests at the event was Stephen Carter, representative of the BEST Institute, who addressed questions regarding the Rutgers Business Plan Competition. Associate Dean of the Rutgers Business School, Martin Markowitz, presented the Executive Board of the Rutgers Entrepreneurial Society with an Official Inaugural Plaque, which was put up on display at the Rutgers Business School. To further add value, the students were given an opportunity to network with business leaders from various industries including: travel, real estate, hospitality, technology, and venture capital.

Since its initial Launch Event in November, at which the organization first revealed its ambitious aspirations, the Entrepreneurial Society has proven the value of its motto, "Think Big," by the magnitude and momentum of its development. The success of the Inauguration Event speaks volumes of the potential of this student organization for making great progress and achievements in the future of this University. The Rutgers Entrepreneurial Society has demonstrated that with a vision, hard work, and dedication, students of any age can truly accomplish great things; just as they put together such a fantastic event, motivated students like those of the Entrepreneurial Society can in the present create career- and life-shaping opportunities for their classmates and themselves.

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