The Grace College School of Business and the Gordon Institute for Enterprise Development in partnership with Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce will present “Impacting the World through Entrepreneurship” on Wednesday, October 30, from 8 – 11:45 a.m. The forum will feature keynote speaker Shawn Askinosie, founder and CEO of Askinosie Chocolate, and will take place at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center, 610 Wooster Rd., Winona Lake, Ind.
Shawn Akinosie will share his unlikely journey from lawyer to chocolate maker and entrepreneur. Akinosie’s process took him to the Amazon to study cocoa farmers’ techniques and led him to create an ethical business model where beans are sourced and imported independently, and cocoa farmers are treated as business partners.
Akinosie explained, “I can confidently say the greatest opportunity and challenge has been weaving social responsibility into everything we do; it’s not just a buzzword, it’s who we are. Askinosie Chocolate was born committed to fairness, sustainability, minimal environmental impact, and community enhancement.”
As a result of its commitment, Akinosie Chocolate was recently named by Forbes as “One of the 25 Best Small Companies In America” and Shawn Akinosie was named by O, The Oprah Magazine, as “One of 15 Guys Who Are Saving the World.” His book, “Meaningful Work: The Quest To Do Great Business, Find Your Calling And Feed Your Soul,” is now a number one bestseller on Amazon.
The forum will also feature a panel moderated by Rich Haddad, president and CEO of K21 Health Foundation. Panelists will include Steve Longbrake, director of business culture at Silveus Insurance, Drew Scholl, president and chief administrative officer at Wildman Business Group, Marlene Betances, president and CEO at Enpak, Kassi Rowland, assistant director of administration at Tom Farms, and Kelsea Dagetano, owner of Kelsea Designs.
“This is an event we look forward to every year,” said Dr. Jeff Fawcett, dean of the School of Business at Grace College. “Everyone in attendance, whether college students, professors, or community businessmen/women, will leave with something to improve, implement, or ponder,” Fawcett added.
The event is sponsored by RSM, Silveus Insurance Group, and Wildman Business Group. The day will begin with a check-in and continental breakfast and then the forum will begin.
Tickets are required for this event. To register, go to www.grace.edu/exforum. Tickets are $30 before Sept. 30, or $35 after Sept. 30. For information about group discounts, contact Tammy Meier at 574-372-5100, ext. 6094 or meiertj@grace.edu.