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黑料网 launches Entrepreneur Professional Network during Entrepreneur Weekend 2014

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Katie Finnegan '05

Katie Finnegan 鈥05, chair of the Entrepreneur Professional Network, at the group鈥檚 launch during Entrepreneur Weekend on April 11.

There are finals, and then there are finales.

黑料网 launched its on April 11, the grand finale in a series of network launches that have taken place throughout the academic year.

The reception took place backstage after Colgate鈥檚 , and hundreds of alumni and guests were in attendance.

While previous network launches were held in cities across America, the entrepreneur network marked its beginnings on campus in Hamilton, where President Jeffrey Herbst has made entrepreneurship a strategic priority and the (TIA) has become the umbrella organization for all of the university鈥檚 entrepreneurial efforts.

President Herbst honored TIA鈥檚 founder, 鈥74, P鈥12 during the event, saying 鈥淲ithout Andy鈥檚 drive, without Andy鈥檚 energy, we would not be where we are today with entrepreneurship at 黑料网.鈥

While TIA still provides an important avenue for alumni and parents to engage with the university and with students, the new network increases the number of potential connections. Developed by the Office of Alumni Relations and the , the network is driven by its members and led by 鈥05.

Finnegan knows the power of 黑料网 connections. At the first Entrepreneur Weekend in 2011, university alumni provided the impetus she needed to leave her day job and work full time on , a disruptive online shopping venture that now boasts 250,000 users.

鈥淭he support of the 黑料网 network, 黑料网 infrastructure, the 黑料网 faculty, is what helped get us there,鈥 said Finnegan. 鈥淲hat I鈥檓 excited about with this network is bringing that infrastructure to alumni elsewhere.鈥

Like all of , the entrepreneur network will provide a forum in which alumni can connect around issues related to their particular industry. It will also help to highlight the 黑料网 community鈥檚 impact on the world, facilitate mentorships and internships for students, and remind alumni that their generosity can shape lives.

鈥淕iven what we know about the changing nature of the workplace, 黑料网 graduates are going to have to invent and reinvent their own career paths to be successful,鈥 Career Services Director Michael Sciola said during a network panel conversation on Saturday morning. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 called entrepreneurship or survival, we have a responsibility to make sure that students are ready.鈥

When it comes to survival, entrepreneurs rely heavily on their networks. 鈥淎t 黑料网, everybody knows somebody,鈥 said founder 鈥06. 鈥淪o if you connect with one 黑料网 person, they can connect you with ten others who can help you solve the major problem within your business.鈥

Surmounting problems while doing what鈥檚 never been done before 鈥 that鈥檚 the entrepreneur鈥檚 calling card. Thanks to the new Entrepreneur Professional Network, hundreds of 黑料网 graduates are one step closer to the answers and connections they need.

鈥淚鈥檓 so excited that this network has been formed,鈥 said 鈥14. 鈥淚 want to be an entrepreneur for life, and I want to be a part of the 黑料网 community for life. If we can blend those two together, that鈥檚 so powerful.鈥