Northern Kentucky University unveiled the Center for Family Enterprise and Small Business with Dawn Parks serving as the director of this new initiative. The CFESB was established to function as a premier resource and learning community for family enterprises and small businesses throughout the tri-state, encouraging business innovation and growth.
“We are thrilled to formally announce the Center for Family Enterprise and Small Business in support of entrepreneurial families of all kinds and at all stages of their business’ lifecycle. As a college we are strategically focused on areas of great social and economic impact, including family-driven entrepreneurial activity,” Haile College of Business Dean Hassan HassabElnaby said. “And given the financial impacts of the pandemic on small businesses, the Center for Family Enterprise and Small Business will play an essential role in helping the local economy move from recovery into growth as it will provide sustainable growth strategies for family and small businesses, in some of our most rural communities.”
Parks has been building businesses for 20 plus years and has taught best entrepreneurial practices to founders for the past decade. She previously facilitated Ignite, Purdue Research Foundation’s product ideation course, and co-founded a women’s financial literacy company in 2019.
“Dawn understands the step-by-step pathways and resources that are needed to bring a new concept into existence,” Executive Director of Outreach and Engagement Janet Harrah said. “There is no product or business concept too big or small that an entrepreneur may dream up for her to coach successfully.”
The CFESB will mainly operate out of NKU’s Collaborative for Economic Engagement, located at 112 West Pike St. in Covington, which connects entrepreneurs to mentors, incubator facilities, business support services and all of the resources of NKU. Additionally, the center will also provide services out of NKU’s Haile College of Business two days a week providing students and faculty the ability to use the center for experiential learning opportunities.