Louis Ricciardi (far left) with the other expert panelists

Talking Business Planning at CES Event

Posted on October 28, 2009 - Permalink
Audiences: Alumni Current Students Faculty and Staff HomePage Parents and Visitors Prospective Students Research Trustees

Students got a close look at what it takes to start a company when the co-owners of the Boston-based designer apparel company, ECC Life and Style, delivered a presentation on business planning last Thursday in the campus center's small ballroom. The event was hosted by the Center for Entrepreneur Studies.

The company's CEO, Shawn Harris, and Chief Designer, Jeff Lahens, talked about how they started their company, and introduced a business plan they recently developed. They then had their plan critiqued by a panel of industry experts. The event's aim was to show students how to put together an effective business plan.

The expert panelists were: Anthony Sapienza, president, Joseph Abboud Manufacturing Corp.; Alan Buff, senior sales & marketing manager, Growth Partners, LLC; and Thomas Wooters, vice president & investment advisor, SEED Venture.

The panel moderator was Louis Ricciardi, '81, chair of the BSC Board of Trustees and member of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. He said discussing the story of the ECC co-owners would help illuminate issues related to starting and owning a business.

"We want to talk about the moment they said 'we want to start our own company' and the challenges they face right now," he said.

The panel discussion seemed to help prospective entrepreneurs.

"These presentations are really helpful to students and really interesting. If I go into business by myself, after I graduate, I will feel better prepared" said student Ben Penno. (Story and photos by Shawn Mullins, Institutional Communications)

For more information on ECC Life and Style click here.