March 23 marked the third year anniversary of the groundbreaking and naming of the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship (TICFE), a center housed in the Walker College of Business that supports students from all academic disciplines to help them become successful entrepreneurs. Employees and students celebrated with an open house and a cake cutting.
Officials from Appalachian and leaders from Hickory-based Transportation Insight "broke ground" March 23, 2012 during an event that took place in the shell of what is now a bustling, contemporar space in Peacock Hall. More than 100 guests – including board members, students, mentors and community members – attended the 2012 event, which was part of a Celebrate Entrepreneurship event at Appalachian.
The TICFE now boasts four offices, a student lounge, a meeting area and incubator office space supporting students working to launch their businesses.
"We're thankful to Transportation Insight for the support they've given our community through this endeavor," said TICFE managing director Erich Schlenker. "Former center director Dr. Heather Dixon-Fowler was responsible for excellent planning, and Mr. Paul Thompson was a true visionary for entrepreneurship in North Carolina."
Thompson, CEO of Transportation Insight, said that he sees Appalachian becoming North Carolina's "flagship institution" for academic involvement in entrepreneurship. "The spirit is here," he said. "You start with the end in mind, and my vision is for Appalachian to become one of the nation's top 10 entrepreneurial schools."
Schlenker, who was named managing director of the center in January 2014, is doing his best to make Thompson's vision a reality. Last semester, Appalachian entrepreneurial students earned two of the top three spots at Wake Forest University's annual Retail & Health Innovation Challenge, and previously, students placed second at the TCU Values and Ventures competition. Successful student-run and alumni businesses launched with the center's support can be found on the TICFE website.
The center continues to grow in order to support a burgeoning population of student entrepreneurs. The center recently announced the hiring of Jonathan Carpenter as TICFE assistant director.
About Transportation Insight
Transportation Insight is a nationally recognized third party logistics provider that helps manufacturers, retailers and distributors improve profitability and gain competitive advantage by providing LEAN supply chain solutions.
Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship Third Anniversary Cake Cutting
