InNOLEnews Vol 3

InNOLEnews JIM MORAN COLLEGE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER VOL. 3

WE DEDICATE THIS EDITION OF OUR NEWSLETTER TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WE THANK YOU!

InNOLEnews Issue 3 April 2020

Cover Image The Jim Moran Building in Downtown Tallahassee showcasing the event space as Dr. Jeff Whalen virtually hosts a guest lecturer to his class.

SPOTLIGHTS Letter from the Dean

Dr. Susan Fiorito

02

Student Spotlight

Tristan Skidmore

03

Student Spotlight

Matthew Spiro

04

Student Spotlight

Reannan Riedy

05

Alumni Spotlight

Lisa Springsteel

06

Faculty Spotlight

Gail Steed

07

News Article

InNOLEvation® Challenge

11

RETAIL CORNER NRF Student Program

13

Annual Retail Summit

14

Fall Scholarship Dinner

15

YMA-FSF Scholarship & NYC Gala

16

Farewell Letter from Advisors

17

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

18

EVENTS The Past Happenings The Future Happenings

INNOLENEWS

23 Back Cover

Downtown Location 111 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32301

Campus Location 644 West Call Street Tallahassee, Florida 32306

jimmorancollege.fsu.edu | info@jmc.fsu.edu | Phone: (850) 644-7158

AN INNOVATIVE MAGAZINE FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL LEARNING

MAY 2020, ISSUE 3

INNOLENEWS

A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN Dear Students, Alumni and Friends, Congratulations to all our graduating seniors! Graduation marks the end of a long journey and yet, it is the beginning of an exciting new chapter. We are very proud of all that you have achieved, especially during these difficult and uncertain times. To get to this point, you were tested, and with compassion and tenacity, you continued to achieve this incredible milestone. Our wish for all of you is to find your passion, contribute to something bigger than yourself, be kind and take care of yourselves and others. We know you will come out of this crisis stronger and better prepared to face the future.

This, our third issue of InNOLEnews, is dedicated to all our community/worldwide partners that have been so integral to our success. We are truly “All in this together.” We count on our community/world-wide partners for internships, shadowing opportunities, jobs for our graduates, scholarships, competition judges, guest speakers, field trips, mentors, contributors who make our activities possible and the list goes on. The Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship (JMC) has grown quickly through the hard and dedicated work of committed faculty, staff, students, our FSU administration, our generous and caring philanthropist, Mrs. Jan Moran, and the Jim Moran Foundation, along with our community/worldwide partners. As with any entrepreneurial venture, we depend on teamwork to succeed, and we have a tremendous team working together for the success of YOU, our students. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for our students. We applaud you and want you to know we are here for you in these difficult times.

In this issue, as in our previous issues, we have shone the spotlight on some of our student leaders who have not only contributed in the classroom, but also contributed to the growth and well-being of the JMC. We know that all of YOU, our entrepreneurship students in every major, more than anyone else, have had experience in overcoming obstacles, figuring out creative solutions to trying problems and creating new and innovative ideas, that move society to achieve a better world for us all. We want to encourage all our students to be leaders, join the JMC Student Board, clubs and organizations, participate in competitions, pitch nights, homecoming activities, apply to be part of our incubator program, and volunteer to be part of our yearbook and newsletter committee. We have so much to offer and want you to be part of it.

Also, in each of our newsletter issues, we spotlight a faculty member, and this issue we are proud to feature Mrs. Gail Steed, who is retiring at the end of the spring 2020 semester. Mrs. Steed has been with FSU for 8 years, guiding our merchandising and product development students through the intricacies of apparel production, manufacturing and development. Mrs. Steed is near and dear to our hearts, and will always remain there. She also promises to come back and visit with us often.

Thank you Gail for your dedication and thoughtful and caring ways.

This issue also focuses on our retail program that has been around for nearly 75 years, beginning as a Clothing and Textiles major in the College of Human Sciences. Our retail partners stepped up over the years to make the Retail Merchandising and Product Development (RMPD) program one of the best in the country. Now that the retail program is part of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, we treasure their past and strive to continue to help it grow. Thank you retail partners. We cherish our fruitful relationship with you.

Please do keep in touch with us through our social media, over email, or better yet, come back to visit us! We want you to let us know what you are doing, help us to mentor new groups of students and brag on all your accomplishments. And if you are interested in pursuing a graduate degree, we can help you achieve your dreams. You will always be in our hearts as we continue to strive to prepare the next generation of entrepreneurial-minded students.

With warmest regards,

SUSAN S. FIORITO, PH.D. Dean, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship

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COMMERCIAL STUDENT

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

SPOTLIGHT

WITH

TRISTAN

SKIDMORE

Moving the needle is a phrase that I have recently been incorporating within my own life to advance my career and personal self-growth to be the best I could be, for that I thank the Jim Moran College!

What are your plans after graduation?

Following graduation, I have decided to work in the Yachting business as a first mate on a super-yacht. The reason for this is to follow a childhood dream of mine. The ocean has always been such a huge part of who I am today and has given me many opportunities to advance my work experience from becoming a yacht broker to acquiring my captains license at such a young age! The current plan is to only work on a ship for two years before using my salary to launch my newest startup.

What is your favorite memory from your time at Florida State?

FSU has given me endless memories so to pinpoint one memory I feel is just not doing justice, but the best memory and experience that I have had through my 3 years at Florida State was going to Bali, Indonesia with the Jim Moran College in the study abroad program!

Being able to travel to the other side of the world and live directly with the local people was an experience that I will never forget until the day I die. Words cannot explain the growth I had throughout that month working with Bruce Manciagli.

What is the most valuable thing you learned while in the Jim Moran College?

The most valuable lesson I have learned in the Jim Moran College has to be that the ability to be a “self-starter” that all entrepreneurs should be. John Breed has taken me under his wing and is a huge proponent for “moving the needle” in all aspects of life and entrepreneurship.

Moving the needle is a phrase that I have recently been incorporating within my own life to advance my career and personal self-growth to be the best I could be, for that I thank the Jim Moran College!

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What advice would you give to incoming students?

Some advice that I would give students that are entering the program would be to truly listen to all the professors and guest speakers within your time because they have such valuable knowledge that they are willing to share with you for FREE! I can honestly say my junior year I did not appreciate it the way I should have, but I was thankful to be asked back to become a TA for the program and that was when I realized how invaluable the information our college is willing to share!

What surprised you most about this major?

The freedom to blossom into an extraordinary businessman/woman with so many resources is one thing that has surprised me! The structure of the program is set up in best interest of the students! The Commercial Entrepreneurship Program has a special spot in my heart because through my junior year I put forth my best effort to succeed and then to be recognized for it by being invited back as the program’s TA my senior year was a surprise but also a honor!

Who within the JMC has impacted you the most?

The Jim Moran College is filled with so many role models, but for me I was able to quickly relate to John Breed. John is a one of a kind fast paced, wicked smart, caring professor who just wants to positively impact every student he can! One of the reasons he has impacted me the most is because he has taken a the initiative to truly invest time in learning who I am as a businessman and figure out who he can put me in touch with to help me develop into the best possible version of myself. He is also the reason why I am fortunate to be a “Startup Analyst” within the Experiences class that we teach. I could go on and on for hours about how he has become my biggest professional mentors but I will end it all with, thank you John Breed and the Jim Moran College Faculty and staff for allowing me to develop into the man I am today over the last two years.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

SOCIAL

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

STUDENT

SPOTLIGHT WITH

MICHAEL

SPIRO

What are your plans after graduation?

I have accepted a full-time offer from EY (formerly Ernst&Young) to work in their Tallahassee, FL office as a Government Consultant. I will be providing performance improvement consulting services to the state agencies of Florida, such as Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Department of Children and Families, etc. I look forward to starting my career in Tallahassee and being able to practice Social Intrapreneurship at the state government level.

What is your favorite memory from your time at Florida State?

My favorite memory from my time at FSU has been being President of The FSU Consulting Group for the last 2 years. This student organization functions as a real consulting firm and works with local companies and non-profits. The Group is comprised of the top students in the College of Business. During my time as President I have acquired and managed 14 clients, interviewed and hired 36 students, and created a framework and process for how we should work with our clients and add value to their companies. The most rewarding part of this position has been making an impact on the local economy, as well as giving students an excellent learning and professional development experience.

"Having good people in your professional and personal life can make all the difference, because you never know what life is going to throw at you."

What is the most valuable thing you learned while in the Jim Moran College?

The most valuable thing I learned in the Jim Moran College is that real-world experience and a strong network are two of the most important things to help you in your career and life in general. Real-world experience, whether from a business, relationship, job, or something else is incredibly important to build the skill-set you need to succeed in your professional and personal life. The more experience you have, the more you can bring to the table and the more comfortable you will be trying something new. A strong network is also very important because the people you surround yourself with can help build you up, connect you with job opportunities, or have your back during tough times. Having good people in your professional and personal life can make all the difference, because you never know what life is going to throw at you.

What advice would you give to incoming students?

The advice I would give to incoming students is to take advantage of all the great opportunities FSU and Tallahassee has to offer. I think every student should get involved in a student organization on campus they are interested in, and also try to find a job/internship in the area that pertains to their major so they can learn more and build their resume during College.

What surprised you most about this major?

What surprised me most about this major was the amazing and experienced faculty that teach the courses. Prior to the Jim Moran College, almost every course I took was taught by an academic who had no industry or real-world experience. All of that changed once I started taking my Social Entrepreneurship classes, I discovered that all my professors had started their own impressive businesses, made mistakes, and had great stories and valuable lessons to share from these experiences.

Who within the JMC has impacted you the most?

The person that impacted me most in the Jim Moran College would have to be Dr. Mark McNees. As a Social Entrepreneurship student I have had the pleasure of taking Dr. McNees's classes almost every semester. Over the last two years I have gotten to know Dr. McNees quite well, and I can say that he is an incredibly smart, passionate, kind, and fun social entrepreneur who loves to make the world a better place as well as teach his students how they can make the world a better place too. Dr. McNees has been one of the best teachers I've had in my 18+ years of attending school, and his dedication to his students and their well-being is truly unmatched. Thank you very much for all you do Dr. McNees, it has been a pleasure being your student!

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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RETAIL

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

STUDENT

SPOTLIGHT

WITH

REANNAN

RIEDY

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I hope to return in the Fall to earn my Masters in Textile and Apparel Entrepreneurship! I’m excited to continue working in the Textiles Testing Lab and stay at the university that I love for one more year.

What is your favorite memory from your time at Florida State?

My favorite memory of my time here at FSU was probably my first home game back in 2016. I’m a member of the Marching Chiefs, so getting to see all of the gameday traditions as well as how many alumni and fans poured into the stadium gave me so much excitement for my years to come.

What is the most valuable thing you learned while in the Jim Moran College?

I learned how important creativity is. I had never thought business to be about creativity, but the Jim Moran College pushes for innovation and motivates its students to do the same. I feel like I’ve learned so many practical and relevant skills in my classes while also constantly being reminded how I can use these skills to imagine new solutions, products, and concepts.

What advice would you give to incoming students?

I would advise incoming students to seek out opportunities to learn new things and get involved with what is going on within the College! For a small college, there are so many things happening - magazines, research, and so many other chances to grow and learn.

What surprised you most about this major?

I was surprised to learn how tightly knit this major is. I had expected college to be cold and uninviting and for professors to have way too many students to even notice me. In reality, I feel like all of the faculty and staff know me and are invested in helping me to grow and find my path within the industry. The family-like atmosphere was unexpected but so appreciated!

Who within the JMC has impacted you the most?

The person who has impacted me the most within this College has definitely been Dr. McQuerry. I began working in the FSU Textiles Lab in the Fall of my sophomore year and ever since then, Dr. McQuerry has given me so many opportunities to expand my horizons and hone my skills as a researcher. Her dedication to this program and to the lab changed my time here at FSU and made it so much better.

I learned how important creativity is. I had never thought business to be about creativity, but the Jim Moran College pushes for innovation and motivates its students to do the same.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

ALUMNI

SPOTLIGHT

FOUNDER AND

AND

CEO

AUTHOR

OF

OF

WITH

LISA

LAUNCH

BECOMING

SPRINGSTEEL

YOUR A

COLLECTION,

FASHION

DUPRÉ LLC

DESIGNER

Please describe your current role and how your time at FSU has prepared you for that role.

What does a typical day look like in your position and how do you use your textile and apparel knowledge on a daily basis?

I am the author of the book, Becoming a Fashion Designer (Wiley) and the founder and CEO of Launch Your Collection. We help fashion entrepreneurs to develop, launch, and scale their apparel brands through our purposeful, all-inclusive launch packages that follow our signature 5-step launch process. I graduated from FSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in fashion merchandising. The wellbalanced curriculum encompassed not only fashion merchandising principles, but also business strategy, design, product development, planning, allocating, buying, distribution, floor merchandising and sales strategy. I still remember to this day the joy I had in learning all about the history of costume, which was also one of the classes offered in the program.

Having had the opportunity to learn about all of these different aspects of the business, provided me with a strong foundation of learning that I pass on to my clients in my current role.

My days typically center around client work, and my in-house creative team and I work with our clients to define their branding, selling and costing strategy, to provide them with a professional, polished, and cohesive brand and website design, to place their apparel brand with a U.S. based apparel manufacturer, so that we can work together with the factory to manage their sample development and production processes, and to help them scale their apparel brand with various growth services, such as fashion week show placement, Instagram growth marketing, and wholesale development. Using my textile knowledge, I also personally source their fabric and trim for each of the styles in their apparel collection.

NEVER FORGET THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING CURIOUS AND THE POWER OF CONTINUED LEARNING What is one piece of advice you would give to current Retail Entrepreneurship students in the program today?

If I could give one piece of advice to current Retail Entrepreneurship students, I would recommend that even once you graduate from the program and start your career, to never forget the importance of staying curious and the power of continued learning. I personally feel it is so important to keep on top of the latest technologies, breaking news, and happenings in the retail sector of the fashion industry, so turning to trade publications like Women’s Wear Daily or joining a professional organization are key in allowing you to do just that.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT WITH THE ONE AND ONLY, MRS. GAIL STEED

Building the best school of entrepreneurship in the country is no small task.

To assist us in accomplishing this goal, we have maintained our commitment to sourcing and hiring only the most exceptional entrepreneurial educators.

The students in the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship have one-on-one access to these world-class faculty members at all times, and we genuinely believe this is one of our greatest strengths.

The Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship is the first of its kind. What has impacted or surprised you the most about teaching at such a unique college?

The biggest impact has been the smaller student enrollment in our courses, which allows a more personal teaching/learning environment. Students tend to engage more during lecture. They feel more comfortable expressing their opinion or asking questions, for further clarity of key callouts.

What is your background/what series of events led you to teach at the Jim Moran College?

I worked for over twenty-five years in retail corporate level of several major department stores. When the financial crisis hit in late 2000 I decided to leave the business. A few years later, an opportunity presented that brought me to teach at FSU. This has allowed me to take my expertise in product development, product analysis and costing and develop into key learning courses for the program.

You are retiring at the end of the Spring semester. What has been your favorite part of working for the Jim Moran College?

I was thrilled when our major became a part of the JMS, due in part to again be working with Dr. Fiorito, to see this major move forward as it better relates to the industry our students will be joining.

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What kind of experiences would you encourage to those who are aspiring to be entrepreneurs?

Before you start out on your own, get hands on experience and exposure to the real world. You will then be better equipped to evaluate your goals and aspirations as well as challenges.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

THE JIM MORAN COLLEGE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP OFFERS THREE MASTERS PROGRAMS!

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

JIM

MORAN

COLLEGE

OF

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Master of Science in Retail Entrepreneurship

TEXTILES & APPAREL ENTREPRENEURSHIP Learn innovative approaches to textile testing and analysis, manufacturing, distribution, and product design and development while exploring new technologies and gaining a better understanding of the advancements in the current textile and apparel industry.

Develop and strengthen research and technical skills needed for new product development and management, working one on one with renowned faculty members in the textile and apparel field. Complete the MS in Retail Entrepreneurship with a major in Textiles and Apparel Entrepreneurship (MS-TAE) degree in one year, with an option to travel abroad to add valued international experience.

Master of Science in Entrepreneurship

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP The product development entrepreneurship major, in the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship program (MSE), will prepare individuals who seek to work in any company, private or public, advancing their knowledge and skills in product design and development. The face-to-face classes offered in the product development major will provide students with hands-on experience in innovation and commercialization, further developing abilities to implement the MSE program's coursework into today’s highly competitive and lucrative field of entrepreneurship and product development. The optional international exposure will also give the MSE students the added value they need to be competitive on the global stage.

Master of Science in Entrepreneurship

HOSPITALITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP The online hospitality entrepreneurship major in the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (MSE) program will focus on entrepreneurial endeavors in hospitality – opening, building, or innovating new hospitality enterprises. The program will rely heavily on the acquisition and application of skills in real-world scenarios. The degree will provide advanced online education to allow graduates to pursue careers in a variety of corporate, government and/or academic professions.

APPLY

BY

JULY

1

Learn more at jimmorancollege.fsu.edu/grad

THE JIM MORAN COLLEGE IS AN AMAZING PROGRAM FULL OF TEACHERS WHO WILL GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS. I AM BEYOND HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS COLLEGE. RILEY BENSON SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP, CLASS OF 2021

C M J R U O Y R ORDE OK TODAY! O B R A E Y 2020 JMC Yearbooks are on sale now! Order yours today and don't miss your chance to own this special keepsake!

Last day to order yearbooks will be May 28, 2020!

jmc.fsu.edu/yearbook

info@jmc.fsu.edu

At the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship (JMC), we are proud of all our accomplishments but we are proudest of our alumni and students who are the best example of what we do every day at JMC. Last year JMC was recognized as one of the top-ranking entrepreneurship programs by the Princeton Review. Each year Entrepreneur magazine partners with the Princeton Review to rank the top undergraduate schools for entrepreneurs.

The Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship ranked #31 out of 50.

This year we will be providing that information to Princeton Review again for consideration. We want to continue to improve our rankings so that we can continue to showcase who we are and what we do, and in order to do that we could use your help.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

If you graduated from the Entrepreneurship program, the JMC or the RMPD program (now Retail Entrepreneurship) and you started, own or have owned a business, please take a few minutes to complete the survey found on our website at jimmorancollege.fsu.edu/getinvolved.

If you have questions about the survey please contact Sandy Soto at ssoto@jmc.fsu.edu. We would love to hear from you. In the meantime, be a part of helping JMC take the next step up in The Princeton Review.

Thank you, Dean Fiorito and the JMC Faculty and Staff

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2020 INNOLEVATION® CHALLENGE The annual InNOLEvation® Challenge is a Business Model Competition with a focus on identifying problems and potential solutions, building effective teams and precisely defining the assumptions of a new venture, testing those assumptions in the field, and then pivoting (changing) based on the lessons learned.

"Thanks to the faculty and resources provided to me at the Jim Moran College I was able to bring my business from concept to market in only 7 months. I'd encourage every aspiring entrepreneur at FSU to participate in the InNOLEvation Challenge and get involved with the College in every way possible."

MICHAEL BENARDE

Co-Founder & President of NightCap and the 2020 IC Overall Winner

Students learn to build a business model by attending workshops provided by FSU’s Entrepreneurs in Residence, throughout the competition. The InNOLEvation® Challenge has a business model focus in which the idea for the business is customer-tested to enhance the odds of success.

The team with an impressive goal to prevent drink spiking won the Mark K. Scott Infinity Funds First Place of $10,000. The students’ business, NightCap (pictured below), uses a scrunchie that has a pocket that contains a drink cover with a hole for a straw. The company aims to lower the rate of drink spiking.

Another student business participant and winner of the Most Viable award, Virtual Lens, was selected to represent FSU in the 5th annual ACC InVenture Competition. The competition invites 14 of the ACC’s best student-entrepreneurial teams to compete in a Shark Tank-style competition. The competition invites 14 of the ACC’s best studententrepreneurial teams to compete in a Shark Tank-style competition.

The 2020 InNOLEvation® Challenge included eight teams of studententrepreneurs. The competition included all of the work students have done on their business models since the start of the 2019 fall semester.

Other Awards: Jim Moran Challenge Social Venture Award: Aura Biotechnologies Spirit of Entrepreneurship: Sungrown Bakery Most Viable: Virtual Lens Most Scalable: Athlogic Most Innovative: AirWise Finalist: Sway Aid Finalist: JAMR Modular Music Workstation

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RETAIL CORNER NEWS AND HEADLINES BROUGHT TO YOU

BY THE FSU RETAIL INNOVATION CENTER

National Retail Federation Student Program in New York City

Each year the Retail Center sponsors Retail Entrepreneurship students by giving them the opportunity to attend the NRF Foundation's Student Program in New York City. Students had the chance to network with recruiters, gain access to the latest technologies, and learn valuable lessons from some of the world's most experienced retail executives! The student program was packed with different tours, breakout sessions, and a career fair which helped shape the students' professional development.

Trehvel Reed was one of the nine students who attended the big show in New York City and commented: “Throughout the weekend, I found myself in awe of the possibilities we face being retail students entering the workforce. The student program recognizes us students as the future of retail and made it very clear that they are here to support us in any way needed.”

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THE ANNUAL SPRING

RETAIL SUMMIT Every spring semester, in January, The Retail Center sponsors The Retail Summit. The Summit encompasses an informative speaker who educates the students on career opportunities and the ever-changing trends in their chosen retail fields and includes a “speed networking” session. This year we were honored to have a former Seminole as our keynote speaker, Lauren Dalton, Senior Program Manager at Zulily. She shared her career journey as well as tips on entering and standing out in this evolutionary industry. Following Lauren’s presentation, students had the opportunity to exchange ideas about internships and future employment with executives representing a broad range of retail businesses.

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The Scholarship Dinner is a networking event

26TH ANNUAL

attended by students, faculty and retailers normally held each fall semester. Due to an

SEPTEMBER

abundance of caution, the Retail Innovation

SCHOLARSHIP

Dinner and the Retail Summit on Wednesday,

DINNER

Center will host the 26th Annual Scholarship January 27, 2021. We look forward to combining these events for Spring Semester 2021. Details to follow!

EMAIL ANN LANGSTON FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS EVENT AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! alangston@fsu.edu

YMA-FSF SCHOLARSHIP & THE NYC GALA

By Nadia Love Applying to the YMA FSF case study competition was one of the best decisions I have made in my college career. I was able to flex many skills I learned in my classes including current trends, market knowledge, merchandising, and Adobe Creative Suite (thank you, Dr. Ridgway Clayton). When I found out I won, I couldn’t believe it and less than a month later I was in NYC with all the other winners for the awards gala. We were able to network with many industry professionals, attend a talent acquisition event, hear speeches from success stories like Brandon Maxwell, as well as enjoying the most delicious dinner I have ever had. I made contacts and friends with many current and future industry leaders as well as receiving a scholarship that will help fund my graduate degree through this competition. I recommend it to any student looking to become a part of the retail industry.

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Farewell letter to the JMC Retail Class of 2020 The retail academic advisors in the Jim Moran College would like to wish the graduating class of 2020 a farewell!

JMC’S RETAIL ENTREPRENEURS: FROM FORECASTING TRENDS TO BECOMING TRENDSETTERS

2020 is a defining year at the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, where we congratulate and graduate our last cohort of Retail Merchandising and Product Development students and our first cohort of Retail Entrepreneurs.

These students have undergone several transitions in their curricular and academic milestones since Fall 2018.

Retail Merchandising and Product Development initially began at the College of Human Sciences, and it evolved into Retail Entrepreneurship when the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship grandfathered the major.

Understanding that the new curriculum would allow them to learn and develop successful skills in operations management as well as product development and merchandising software, these students were determined to embody what it means to be retail entrepreneurs. Between Retail Merchandising and Product Development, they had to decide on and pursue a track that aligned with their desired skills and career endeavors.

During their time at the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, these students have worked towards various goals: identifying their concentrations; connecting with their professors; doing internships related to their career interests; getting involved with different campus organizations; and consistently meeting with their advisors to ensure they are on track with graduation. Retail Entrepreneurship was characterized by these students’ hard work, flexibility, and openness for learning opportunities. They have embraced the entrepreneurial mindset and adopted a resolute character, contributing their time and talents to the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship. These students are not your average fashion influencers. Across the country, they are the first-of-their-kind to excel in the corporate sector and retail/textile industry.

We hope that these students will continue to make strides in their careers and be involved with the College. They have gained knowledge and life experience, in which we also hope that they share with our new cohort of Retail Entrepreneurs who went through an application process and were accepted into the major for the first time this Spring. We are looking forward to seeing how they take on the world as the FSU’s Trendsetters.

Cheers, The Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship Retail Advisors INNOLENEWS

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MAY 2020

JIMMORANCOLLEGE.FSU.EDU

PAST EVENTS

THE PAST HAPPENINGS JAN 22

RETAIL SUMMIT The Retail Center hosts the annual Spring Retail Summit on January 22, 2020. Another terrific opportunity for students to learn more about the variety of internships and careers that retail companies have to offer. We are looking forward to seeing you this spring!

MAR 06

INNOLEVATION® CHALLENGE A Business Model Competition with a focus on identifying problems and potential solutions, building effective teams and precisely defining the assumptions of a new venture, testing those assumptions in the field, and then pivoting (changing) based on the lessons learned.

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"Don't limit yourself.

Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve."

— Mary Kay Ash, Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

MAY 2020

JIMMORANCOLLEGE.FSU.EDU

THE FUTURE HAPPENINGS All future events are tentative.

NOV 14

JMC ALUMNI WEEKEND Each year, the JMC throws a tailgate for Alumni. This Fall semester, during Florida State University's Homecoming Weekend, Alumni came back to Tallahassee to hang with your alma mater! The Jim Moran College hosted a tailgate before heading down to Doak Campbell Stadium where the Noles took on Syracuse. This is an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with both the College and each other, while enjoying free food and drinks, as well as a chance to win free tickets to the game each year.

NOV 18

7 UNDER 30 The 2019 7 Under 30 Speaker Series featured seven successful FSU alumni entrepreneurs who started businesses before the age of 30. Speakers talk about their experiences in starting and growing a business, and participate in a Q&A session.

JAN 27

SCHOLARSHIP DINNER On September 18th, the FSU Retail Innovation Center hosted the Annual Scholarship Dinner commemorating 25 years of bringing students, industry partners, and faculty together for an evening of celebration and networking. In 1994, faculty member Jim McLaughlin, known to most as “Mr. Mac,” observed the retailers arriving in town with nothing to do the evening before the Career Fair, so he came up with the idea of the Scholarship Dinner and the tradition has continued for 25 years! With over 200 in attendance, keynote speaker, Sean McGrath, Burlington’s Senior Vice President of Ladies Sportwear, gave the student’s sage advice he has acquired through an impressive retail career since his graduation from FSU 25 years ago. One of the many highlights of the evening was being able to award 40 deserving students over $50,000 in scholarship money. We are very appreciative to all the companies who helped sponsor tables and donate scholarships to this wonderful event.

TBD

JMC CHALLENGE The JMC Challenge is the first event of the school year! Each year, the Jim Moran College welcomes a new class into each entrepreneurship program.

The cohort representatives organize this event and it usually takes place the 1st or 2nd week of the Fall semester. This event will have Olympic-style games and allow all JMC juniors, seniors, faculty, and staff an opportunity to get to know each other, come together, compete, and have fun!

TBD

ENTREPRENEURSHIP SPRING EXPO This annual event takes place on Landis Green and is an opportunity for juniors within the commercial and social entrepreneurship majors to sell, showcase, and pitch the businesses they have formed over the year.

EVENTS