2011 Keynote Event
An Entrepreneur Experience
Learn from our expert panelists at the 4th annual Oshkosh/Fond du Lac Entrepreneur's Connection on Tuesday, November 15th, 2011 at the University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac.
Each panelists wrote a business plan, started a business, entered the trenches and found success. Hear their stories. Ask them what worked for them. Ask them what mistakes they made. You will leave informed and ready for your next steps.
Meet our panelists
Rhonda Horvath, owner of RagSpun
RagSpun Studio LLC is the creation of Rhonda L. Horvath and the culmination of more than 15 years experience in quilting, sewing and crafting. The unique idea of RagSpun was born 8 years ago while she was working to enhance a quilt for her church. RagSpuns are dimensional textured appliqués used to embellish items such as quilts, clothing, gift bags, or ornaments. Slowly she began selling RagSpuns online, including globally. Working from her basement, she successfully grew her RagSpun business having more than 40% growth in 2010. To accommodate this growth, Rhonda decided to expand into a larger formal retail and production location. RagSpun Studio, LLC will be a trendy inspirational establishment offering unique exclusive supplies for creating home décor and gifts accompanied by informative educational sessions. The retail location will open November 19th. The research she did on her business plan for RagSpun Studio LLC in 2011 will guide her along the path of business ownership. Rhonda credits the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation for helping her complete her business plan. Rhonda is a married mother of 4 (ages 7 to 15).
Jessica Serwe, D.C., owner of Ideal Chiropractic
Dr. Jessica Serwe is a 2005 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa where she received her Doctorate in Chiropractic. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Marian College in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 2002. Dr. Serwe purchased Ideal Chiropractic in September 2008, and went on to win the Northeast Wisconsin Business Plan Competition in March 2009. She currently has a growing family practice treating newborns to seniors. In addition to her dedication to her family practice, Dr. Serwe serves as vice president of Habitat for Humanity of Fond du Lac County, and vice president of BNI Referral Alliance Fond du Lac. Dr. Serwe contributes much of her success to goal writing and keeping a positive attitude. She believes in writing her goals down and looking at them daily. She has a great passion for helping others, which is what being a chiropractor is all about, and also believes a key to success is networking as much as possible and giving back to the community.
Chanda Anderson, owner of Caramel Crisp & Cafe
Chanda's decision to be a small business owner hinged on her own happiness. She wanted to feel fulfilled and her mother asked her to take over the business - Caramel Crisp. Caramel Crisp has been a fixture in downtown Oshkosh since 1933. After doing extensive research, Chanda decided that re-opening her mother's Caramel Crisp business with its caramel corn and old-fashioned candy and adding ice cream, gourmet cookies, sandwiches and deli salads would make it a substantial business. Chanda still uses the original Caramel Crisp recipe, but has added many other varieties of flavored popcorn. Products are also available to purchase online. When she re-opened the store, Chanda updated the decor by featuring area artists and added tables outside the store so patrons have a place to enjoy their lunch or a treat. Caramel Crisp & Cafe is a destination spot.
Sandy Martin, owner of Green 3
Founded in 2006, Green 3 is the brainchild of Sandy Martin, a Michigan farm girl turned apparel industry maven. Growing up on a farm, Sandy witnessed the health repercussions of conventional farming and pesticides. So with the help of her husband Jim, Sandy founded an apparel company based on honesty, environmental awareness and high-quality products. Green 3 is headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and is dedicated to creating apparel jobs both in Oshkosh and throughout the U.S. Green 3 also works with Aspiro, a Green Bay-based non-profit that specializes in teaching job skills to cognitively disabled adults, giving them an opportunity for independent living. Green 3 uses organic or recycled cotton in its products. The cotton is spun and knit into fabric, as well as screened and dyed with water-based inks in the USA. This process is completely green and uses no PVC, plastisols, heavy-metal inks or chlorinated bleaches.
Heather Robbins Linstrom began her career in Radio at 15. She was host of her own commercial radio show in Elgin Illinois, and after two years on the air, she received the National Golden Mike Award (Lucille Ball and Bob Hope are past recipients). Heather was flown to Seattle to receive her award and there she spoke to 250 guests, including President Ronald Reagan.
When she met her husband, a teacher of culinary arts and restaurant management, she fell in love with not only him, but his food....(the way to a man's heart is through his stomach...it works on women too)! Together they built their gourmet catering business as well as a restaurant and a family.
Among the 5,000 weddings, fund raisers, and private events they have catered is one for the President of the United States and the White House Press Corp. The couple recently opened Seasons Food and Spirits in Peebles. David and and Heather have three children, ages 12-17...(ah the teenage years!) but she never strayed from her passion of radio performance. She has been co-host of the Morning show on TCX and Sunny 97.7 for nearly 11 years. Who says you can't have your cake and radio too!
