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Posted by: Matt Wilson |
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For the second year in a row, Bryant’s chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) takes home top honors.
Bryant’s chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) continues to excel. For the second year in a row, the CEO was named the Best Student Chapter in the country. It is the first time that a chapter earned top honors two years in a row.
In addition, Lauren Amarante ’11 (Meriden, CT) won the Student Leader of the Year award and John Botte ’11 (Smithtown, NY) was honored for designing the best CEO chapter Web site.
Bryant’s chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) celebrates being named Best Student Chapter in the country.
Despite being one of the smaller schools at the convention, Bryant boasted one of the largest contingents, with 63 students taking part in the national conference in Chicago last weekend.
Best in the country
It has been a meteoric rise for Bryant’s CEO chapter, which started with only eight members in 2005. The organization now has more than 150 members and is one of the most active organizations on campus.
“Winning this award is indescribable,” says Tyler Fishback ’09 (North Providence, RI), the CEO president. “We have a strong group of passionate and energetic leaders who are constantly willing to learn new things.”
(L-R) Matt Lotfey ’11 (Falmouth, ME), Joe Pellitier ’09 (Newburyport, MA), Sergio Marin ’11 (East Hartford, CT), Tyler Murphy ’11 (Centerville, MA), Miguel Dominguez ’11 (Providence, RI), Dan Xavier ’10 (East Providence, RI), Tyler Fishback ’09 (North Providence, RI), John Botte ’11 (Smithtown, NY), Emily Murphy ’11 (Quincy, MA), Haley Trenholm ’11 (Gill, MA), and Lauren Amarante ’11 (Meriden, CT).
Last month, CEO continued its involvement in Pumpkin Fest to raise money for Camp Sunshine, a retreat in Maine for kids with life-threatening illnesses. In eight hours, students carved or painted 350 pumpkins and raised more than $1,300.
CEO also partners with Bryant’s Global Entrepreneurship Program and “Business 101” classes to hold an elevator pitch competition each semester.
One of the organization’s newest ventures is the student-run nonprofit organization CEO Consulting. The group is currently working with a local entrepreneur who is planning a rollout of a product he hopes will reach $50 million in sales. The packaging will include Bryant’s CEO logo. And, last summer, Bryant’s CEO led a trip to China for 10 students during the Beijing Olympics.
“I’m unbelievably proud of what we have accomplished as a team, and I am excited that our hard work and dedication has been recognized at the national level,” says Fishback.
The Lauren Amarante factor
Amarante is the second Bryant student in the last three years to be recognized with the top individual award. Matt Wilson ’08 earned the award in 2006 and is currently a partner in Hip Visions, a marketing firm in Fishkill, NY, that he cofounded.
The award was fitting recognition for Amarante’s hard work on behalf of Bryant and the CEO over the last few months. One of her most noteworthy accomplishments was organizing an event that featured Benjamin Zander, the acclaimed conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and a renowned motivational speaker. Most impressive was the fact that Zander waived a five-figure fee and spoke at Bryant for free because of what he described as the “Lauren Amarante factor,” the determination to follow a dream and never give up.
(Photo on the left) Lauren Amarante ’11 (Meriden, CT) displays a sign she made for Bryant’s CEO Day
“This shows that anything is possible when a group of individuals get together and decide to create something great,” says Amarante, who joined CEO last year. “With a determined and confident mindset, being named best in the country becomes attainable.”
As a member of one of the largest groups on campus, Amarante has witnessed firsthand the potential of people when they are empowered, inspired, and motivated. Earlier this semester, she was part of CEO Day – an event to raise awareness of academic programs in entrepreneurship that are now before Bryant’s Curriculum Committee.
“Each and every CEO member deserves great praise for contributing their unbelievable skills, determination, and passion to the soon-to-be, world-class entrepreneurial program at Bryant,” says Amarante, who has already written a business plan for a speaker’s agency she hopes to open one day.
Continuing the momentum
Cary Collins, associate professor of finance and Trustee Professor of Entrepreneurship, is director of Bryant’s Global Entrepreneurship Program, which spearheads the creation of entrepreneurship curriculum. He credits the students for being active learners.
Tyler Fishback ’09 (North Providence, RI), Dan Xavier ’10 (East Providence, RI), and Matt Wilson ‘08.
“Student-run organizations like CEO provide the extracurricular tone for an entrepreneurial campus,” says Collins. “Without the high energy of the student-led performances, our in-class offering wouldn’t have the same ring.”
Adds Wilson, a former CEO president, “CEO’s recent dynasty is only the tip of the iceberg. I challenge everyone to continue the cultural movement towards entrepreneurship and empowering every young person across the globe.”
