Wallen headlines entrepreneur conference

Dr. Tim Todd, dean of the College of Business and Public Affairs, welcomed three successful business managers to the college's first Entrepreneurial Conference. The speakers were, from left: Jennifer Wallen, Jeremy Molsberger, Terry Reeves and Dr. Todd.

The other two speakers were Jeremy Molsberger, senior vice president of Wealth Management for Logan, Lavelle and Hunt Insurance and Wealth Management LLC in Louisville, and Terry Reeves, the new Concierge for EntrePaducah.

After graduation Wallen worked in sales for Gaylord's Opryland Hotel in Nashville. After jobs with Holiday Inn and Howard Estates in sales, she moved to Arizona in 2000 and she and husband Jeff developed a real estate company, Hot Realty, which played a large role in the developing of the special community of Anthem.

She and a few partners started a successful hot spot, Off the Hook Sushi and Martini Bar. She then used the notoriety of being on "The Apprentice" show in 2005 to start a division of Hot Reality, Elite Estates. Elite Estates featured the marketing of multi-million dollar homes.

The next project was Swap Your House, a program to provide home-sellers and buyers with a solid solution to selling their home in a down market.

She and her family returned to her native Tennessee in February and helped launch a nutritional supplement known as Zrii.

During her college career she played on the first women's varsity golf team and was active with her sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi. She later served for a year as national representative for the sorority.

She was selected Miss Murray State and went on to win Miss Mountain Laurel in her freshman year.

She pointed out the importance of setting goals, networking, and finding a niche that fits one's skills and personality. Like the other two speakers, she stressed the importance of working in your field on campus and with internships.

Molsberger, who earned an MBA at Murray State, specializes in improving the profitability and enhancing the market image of small to mid-sized companies.

He has been the director of branch development for the national securities firm, Scottrade. Under his direction, the number of branches grew from 71 to more than 240 nationwide.

Prior to his present position in Louisville, he was co-owner and president of MP Food Services LLC, which is the parent company for Pig City BBQ restaurants.

He listed several tips to be a successful business manger. These included being able to handle criticism, know yourself and your values, network, treat customers so they have a good experience, be sincere and learn to delegate and follow up.

Reeves, best known for his work as corporate communications and marketing director of the Paducah-based Dippin' Dots ice cream company, became Concierge in January of this year.

Prior to joining Dippin' Dots, he had more than 10 years in radio and television news.

He was news director of WPSD-TV for 10 years.

Reeves explained that EntrePaducah is a combined effort of the Paducah and McCracken County governments, the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Paducah Development Council to promote and support entrepreneurial endeavors in the region.

Some of the goals are to unite resources, guide interested business people to resources, recruit and retain entrepreneurs to the area, and educate business students and potential business owners.

The conference was directed by Professor Steve Dublin, head of the Entrepreneurial program in the College of Business and Public Affairs.