- Wednesday, February 20, 2019
- 7:00 AM–9:00 AM
- Prince Conference Center
- $20
Join with area business leaders to learn about commercial entrepreneurship.
Recording
Hear the recorded panel session (143 MB .mp3) from our event.
Details
You're invited to join area business leaders and Calvin alumni on Wednesday, February 20 at 7 a.m. for the Calvin Executive Breakfast Series.
The featured topic for our winter session will be commercial entrepreneurship. Joining us will be Carol Roeda ’70, Carol Roeda Studios; Kyle Van Strien ’07, Long Road Distillers; and Paul Vander Kuyl ’89, Next Door Photos, three local business owners in a panel discussion moderated by business professor Peter Snyder. You'll have the chance to network with other business people, ask questions, and learn more about how others have found success in their business ventures.
A breakfast buffet and hot and cold beverages will be provided.
February 20, 2019, Prince Conference Center
7:00–7:30 a.m. Registration and networking over coffee
7:30–8:30 a.m. Panel discussion and breakfast
8:30–9:00 a.m. Networking
Kyle VanStrien - panelist
Co-Owner, Co-Founder, Long Road Distillers, Grand Rapids, MI
Kyle VanStrien is the co-owner and co-founder of Grand Rapids' first distillery, Long Road Distillers. Kyle is a graduate of both Calvin College (2007) and Grand Valley State University (2012) with degrees in Business, International Development and Public Administration. In November of 2014, Kyle and business partner Jon O'Connor began planning Long Road Distillers with the goal of crafting world-class spirits from local ingredients in the city they call home. Since opening their doors in May 2015, Long Road Distillers has been recognized as "The Best Specialty Craft Spirits Distillery in the U.S." (USA Today) and received numerous "Best in Show" and "Best in Class" awards from International Spirits competitions (San Francisco, New York, Berlin, etc.).
Kyle serves as the Chair of the Grand Rapids Planning Commission and as a mentor for the Cook Leadership Academy at Grand Valley State University. He lives on the West Side, not far from Long Road, with his wife, Jennifer, and two children, Addilynn (5) and Austin (3).
Carol Roeda - panelist
Owner, Roeda Studio, Grand Rapids, MI
Carol Roeda graduated from Calvin College in 1970 as a speech major, and is owner of the family business, Roeda Studio. After a professional stint in education, Carol left the field to become a maker of things; starting with macramé and functional pottery (among other projects), one thing always led to another and the studio now boasts a robust collection of paintings, metal and magnetic art, and more. Although Carol never formally considered herself an entrepreneur, Roeda Studio now has two stores, a website, wholesales to 2000 accounts, and designs products made in the USA and responsibly made overseas.
Paul Vander Kuyl - panelist
Co-Founder & CEO, Next Door Photos
Paul Vander Kuyl is the Co-Founder and CEO of Next Door Photos (NDP). NDP is a growing group of locally-owned professional real estate photography businesses with over 30 locations in North America. Launched in early 2016, part of NDP's manifesto is that entrepreneurs can change the world for the better and is on track to empower 500 new businesses in the next 8 yrs.
Paul graduated from Calvin in 1989 with a Mechanical Engineering degree. His passions include developing people, teams, and systems in the areas of product development, manufacturing, engineering, and business development and a desire to grow purpose-driven cultures and objectives.
Prof. Peter Snyder - facilitator
Dr. Peter Snyder has been at Calvin since 2008 and teaches courses on strategic management, entrepreneurship, and management. He earned a PhD in Management Science from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee after having worked at the corporate headquarters of Sears, Roebuck and Co., first as an industrial engineer and later as a national operations manager and as a project manager.
He enjoys teaching management at Calvin and working with students as they grow in their understanding of business and how their faith can inform it. Professor Snyder actively pursues research in the areas of strategic management and innovation. His research has focused primarily on the intersection of corporate governance, decision making and innovation.
The Calvin Executive Breakfast Series will feature timely, topical dialogue around current issues with alum of Calvin College and members of the regional business community.
Questions?
alumni@calvin.edu | (616) 526-6142
Registration
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