Askinosie To Speak At Forum On Entrepreneurship At Grace College
WINONA LAKE — The Grace College School of Business and the Gordon Institute of Enterprise Development, in partnership with the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, will present the 8th Annual Executive Forum, “Impacting the World through Entrepreneurship,” from 8 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30.
The Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center, 610 Wooster Road, Winona Lake, will serve as the host site for the event.
According to a recent news release from Grace College, Shawn Askinosie, founder and CEO of Askinosie Chocolate, will give the keynote presentation.
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Shawn Askinosie, founder/CEO of Askinosie Chocolate, is the keynote speaker of the eighth-annual Executive Forum at Grace College.
Askinosie will share his unlikely journey from lawyer to chocolatier and entrepreneur.
Askinosie’s process took him to the Amazon to study cocoa farmers’ techniques. His findings led him to create an ethical business model where beans are sourced and imported independently. Cocoa farmers are treated as business partners.
“I can confidently say the greatest opportunity and greatest challenge has been weaving social responsibility into everything we do,“ said Askinosie.
To Askinosie, social responsibility is more than a buzzword. It is part of Askinosie Chocolate’s mission.
“Askinosie Chocolate was born committed to fairness, sustainability, minimal environmental impact and community enhancement,” Askinosie said.
The forum will also feature a panel moderated by Rich Haddad, president and CEO of K21 Health Foundation. Panelists include Steve Longbrake, director of business culture at Silveus Insurance; Drew Scholl, president and chief administrative officer at Wildman Business Group; Marlene Betances, president and CEO of Enpak; Kassi Rowland, assistant director of administration at Tom Farms; and Kelsea Dagetano, owner of Kelsea Designs, according to the news release.
“This is an event we look forward to every year,” said Dr. Jeff Fawcett, dean of the School of Business at Grace College.
“Everyone in attendance; college students, professors or community businessmen/women will leave with something to improve, implement or ponder,” Fawcett said.
The event is sponsored by RSM, Silveus Insurance Group and Wildman Business Group. The day will begin with check-in and a continental breakfast.
Tickets are required for this event. To register, go to www.grace.edu/exforum.
Tickets are $30 before Sept. 30, or $35 after Sept. 30.
For more information about group discounts, contact Tammy Meier at (574) 372-5100, ext. 6094 or [email protected]