Asbury’s Marketplace Summit to Spotlight Student Innovation
November 7, 2019
Asbury University’s Dayton School of Business, in partnership with Asbury Theological Seminary’s Office of Faith, Work and Economics, will host the annual Marketplace Summit on Nov. 14-15. Register here!
The Asbury Marketplace Summit is a free conference uniting students, pastors, academicians and business leaders, and provides space for students to explore how social entrepreneurship carries out Kingdom-minded initiatives. Students and guests will hear how others have transformed their work into an extraordinary calling and learn how business can be used as mission and profit can be used for Kingdom purposes to make a social impact and contribute to the common good.
Students will attend workshops and seminars featuring business professionals, all while learning the ins and outs of social entrepreneurship and the essential connection between faith and work.
“I think student participation in The Asbury Marketplace Summit is an essential part of their time here in the Dayton School of Business,” said Dr. Mike Yoder, Dayton School of Business assistant professor. “Whether a student is presenting their innovative idea to make a social impact on the community or simply attending events and engaging with ideas and speakers, every student can walk away with enriched relationships, innovative ideas for kingdom impact and deeper knowledge of how they may positively impact their communities.”
The two-day event will kick off with registration and coffee in the McKenna Chapel Foyer on Nov. 14 at 10:30 a.m. before Asbury University President Kevin J. Brown speaks in a Chapel service in the seminary’s Estes Chapel. A Lunch & Learn session will be held with Dr. Brown following Chapel.
Emily Moon Kolega will serve as Friday’s Chapel speaker. Kolega works in the marketing industry and has launched a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social entrepreneurship company that empowers at-risk women in Africa, India and the United States by providing education and meaningful work in the clothing industry.
A Faith at Work Interactive Innovation Session will be held on Friday immediately following Chapel. Students and conference attendees can attend a Lunch & Learn with Kolega at noon in the Z.T. Johnson Cafeteria.
Dayton School of Business students are equipped to create business plans in their courses. Many of those students will present their ideas during The Asbury Marketplace Summit’s student business plan competition, which takes place on Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. Students will compete for cash prizes to help turn their business dreams into reality. Awards total $10,000 in business startup funds and will be distributed between five winners. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at 4 p.m. on Nov. 15.
2019 Asbury Marketplace Summit semi-finalists competing on Nov. 15 include:
Undergraduate Category
- Adornare Collective: Madison Lewis ’21 (AU)
- Asbury University Health & Fitness: Frederick Thacker ‘20 (AU)
- CrossRoad Studio: Tyler Thompson ’20 (AU), Benjamin Black ’20 (AU), Luke Phillips ’20 (AU), Jonah Shepherd ’20 (AU)
- Fortro: Roshane O’Brian ’21 (AU)
- One Cup Roastery: Luke Phillips ’20 (AU)
- OPUS: Andrew Coomes ’21 (AU)
Graduate Category
- Haiti Artisan Co-Op: Parker Touchton ’20 (AU)
- Jenifer Jones Poems: Jenifer Jones (ATS)
- Parallax Hearing Company: Thomas Hampton (ATS)
- Penalva After School Program: Nick Porritt (ATS), Keegan Penalva ‘16, Micah Penalva ‘19
View a complete schedule for The Asbury Marketplace Summit at asburymarketplace.org/kentucky.