BVU Junior Earns Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute Honor
Rural events center proposal nets Alyssa Jordan a $500 prize
One of the winners of the 2024 Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute hails from Buena Vista University. Alyssa Jordan, a junior from LeGrand who majors in strategic public relations, presented a project highlighting the potential of a rural events center.
The Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute represents an advanced study of entrepreneurship featuring entrepreneurial simulation, seminars with business and community leaders, and networking and mentoring to enhance understanding of entrepreneurship opportunities across Iowa. OEI brings together dozens of students from six institutions for a week of learning, connecting, socializing and more. Member schools include: Buena Vista University, the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, Iowa Lakes Community College, and Dordt University.
“We had guest speakers who had opened businesses, people who were interested in our work experiences and vision for the future. By the end of the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute, I did not want to leave. The knowledge I gained there is something I’ll take with me forever.”
-BVU junior Alyssa Jordan
BVU’s student contingent consisted of Savannah Brandt, Josiah Welch, Jadyn Welch, and Jordan. BVU Instructor of Entrepreneurship Katherine Cota, who also serves as Director of the Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, joined Gary Sterling, former BVU Instructor of Management, in working with students, businesses, and mentors throughout the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute.
Jordan presented her concept of a rural event center to host weddings, prom celebrations, community events, and more. Her “Barn-dominium” is planned for an area in rural Marshall County. She would call it Outskirts Acres.
“I presented my ideas, the location, what I wanted my site to look like,” says Jordan, a graduate of East Marshall High School. “I won in the Ideas category because that’s the stage my ‘Barn-dominium’ is in right now.”
One of six winners in the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute, Jordan received a $500 prize, which she invested in a Roth IRA.
Her vision, like the OEI, is close to Jordan’s heart.
“The closest event space we have to my hometown is 45 minutes away,” she says. “My community is working to come back. I want my hometown to grow, and something like this might help.”
To gain experience in the event-planning field, Jordan interned at King’s Pointe in Storm Lake. She worked during her entire sophomore year, conducting online marketing efforts, advertising, menu recreation, catering, wedding planning, and more. She even dressed as a snowman to help promote King’s Pointe during Storm Lake’s Miracle on Lake Avenue event in early December.
The experience at the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute was something Jordan found overwhelming at first as she spent the first couple of days getting to know students from BVU and other participating schools. She also had the opportunity to meet several business mentors, entrepreneurs, and leaders in the Iowa Great Lakes, which plays host for the OEI experience each August.
“We had guest speakers who had opened businesses, people who were interested in our work experiences and vision for the future,” she says. “By the end of the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute, I did not want to leave. The knowledge I gained there is something I’ll take with me forever.”
“We are proud of our BVU students’ engagement at OEI,” Cota says. “Alyssa presented very well, and the Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship’s business coach is working with Alyssa on planning her business.”
The Lamberti Center is open to help students and community entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses through one-on-one coaching or workshops. Contact the Center at CotaK@bvu.edu or 712-749-2419.