The Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour allowed students to be exposed to the business of entrepreneurial ideaology and learn skills needed in starting a business or cultural innovation.

Photograph by Jodi Krautkramer


Keynote speaker Ryan Everson speakes at the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour to students about business success.

The EET was held in Ullsvik Hall March 29.

“The event targeted students from all disciplines with the goal of helping students to think about how to distinguish themselves and get a head-start on their career goals and lives,” Kathy Neumeister, PACCE communications and events coordinator said. “Indeed, all students can leverage the entrepreneurial mind-set in this increasingly global and automated world.”

The tour consisted of three keynote speakers, four local entrepreneurs, an idea action workshop, networking opportunities and a question and answer panel.

The keynote speakers, Robert Nicholson, Michael Simmons and Ryan Everson are entrepreneurs who have started numerous successful businesses. Michael Simmons is the co-founder of the EET, which has been to about 100 colleges in 30 states. Ryan Everson became an entrepreneur at the age of 16 and is the owner of Computer Doctors and REV Business Solutions. Robert Nicholson has been working on his newest project which will provide day-habilitation programming and employment opportunities to MRDD adults for the Nicholson Center, where he is the executive director.

Students were given the opportunity to ask questions regarding their own ideas about starting a business during an answer panel at the end of the tour.

“It was a well attended event and students who were truly interested in entrepreneurship were able to learn a lot from the EET,” Kayla Smith, junior and student worker of PACCE said.

The planning of the EET had 18 members. The planning committee met once a week to discuss details for the event.

“The PACCE office and Foundation office did more of the main stuff like catering, promoting the campus city and campus wide, making brochures, deciding how the event should be run and what workshops to include,” Smith said.

A total of 265 students attended the four-hour event sponsored by the Pioneer Academic Center for Community Engagement, UW-P’s Business and Accounting Department and the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization.

The Wiscontrepreneur Statewide Seed Grant and SUFAC funded the event. If funding is available, PACCE plans to host another EET next year.

“It was a great event that helped to further fuel the entrepreneurial fire in the souls of our students,” Neumeister said.

For more information on the tour, go to their Web site, extremetour.org.