Launch students helping plan national conference
Lakeland University’s student-run business initiative is playing a role in planning a national conference on student-run businesses.
Three representatives from Launch: Lakeland Student-Run Businesses are part of the planning team for the annual Student-Run Business Association (SRBA) national conference.
The conference unites student-run business organizations and other aspiring educational organizations from across the country to work, learn and grow together. The conference allows students to hear ideas from peers, other leaders and support organizations while making connections that help businesses succeed now and create long-term relationships.
Launch is represented on the conference planning team by Kym Leibham, Lakeland staff person and Launch managing director; John Putnam, Launch CEO and a Lakeland junior from Plymouth, Wis.; and Aiden Hagar, online sales & analytics specialist for Launch’s Musko's Campus Shop and a Lakeland sophomore from Sheboygan Wis. Those three and three other Lakeland students will attend the conference.
The conference programming is designed for members of established student-run businesses and individuals just getting started. Joining Lakeland at the conference will be students from several highly regarded schools including Harvard University, Cornell University, Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, Loyola University, Princeton University, Georgetown University and Northwestern University.
Launch is seeking $6,000 in funding to help send its delegation to the conference. Anyone can donate by clicking this link, click the Make a Donation button and select Launch: Lakeland Student-Run Businesses in the drop-down menu under “Please direct my gift to:”
“This is an amazing opportunity for us to be part of the planning team for a national conference,” Putnam said. “It shows how far we have come as an organization in our first three years that we would be invited to serve in this role. It is another example of the unique opportunities available to students through Launch.”
Launch transforms Lakeland students into the next generation of innovative leaders by providing experiential and entrepreneurial learning opportunities that prepare students for diverse careers in a multi-faceted world.
Launch currently operates three businesses:
Additionally, Launch Nonprofit Support pays the wages for Lakeland students to work at regional nonprofit organizations at little to no cost to the nonprofit.
Launch’s culture is focused on six different learning approaches: ownership, growth opportunities, schedule flexibility, collaboration, feedback and communication as these are key skills employers look for when hiring Lakeland students/graduates.
The SRBA is a nonprofit association formed to provide resources for student-run business organizations to create the most effective and innovative hands-on learning opportunities for their student entrepreneurs. Founded in 2019, SRBA represents 2,000+ students in student-run businesses across a growing number of university-affiliated organizations around the country.
