Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour

The Hamilton County Alliance delivered on its promise to foster the entrepreneurial spirit in local students by bringing the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour (EET) to Carmel, Indiana, on September 4, 2008. Around two hundred local high school students got to hear from young entrepreneurs about how to set goals, pursue their dreams, and deliver on their promises.

The event kicked off with Gerry Dick, owner of Inside Indiana Business, and Duane Hazelbaker, representative of event sponsor AT&T Indiana, talking about the importance of entrepreneurship to creating opportunity in the region. Then, the event continued with EET co-founder Michael Simmons talking about what he learned through successes and failures as a young entrepreneur, and Arel Moodie, president of Arel Moodie International, leading a workshop on goal setting.  Josh Kowitt, former owner of Collegeboxes, the nation’s largest collegiate shipping and storage company, gave the second keynote address about the importance of always delivering on your promises—in business and in life.

Then the event wrapped up with a panel of four entrepreneurs, including local entrepreneurs, Angie Hicks who owns Angie’s List and Scott Abbott who inspires young adults as an innovator, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author of Pocket Porchlights. Elizabeth Grace Saunders, CEO of Real Life E, facilitated the Q&A session where students asked questions about everything from how to raise money to what sacrifices the entrepreneurs had to make.

Throughout the event, the students also had the opportunity to visit with exhibitors, including DeVry University, Butler University, Purdue University, Ivy Tech, College Network, TrackPack Coolers, Ritz Charles, Indianan INTERNnet, and BitWise Fellows. The exhibitors had the opportunity to connect with many high school students who might be interested in their products or services.

All in all, the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour more than delivered on its promise in creating an inspiring event for future Hamilton County entrepreneurs.