Entrepreneurship Opportunities Extend Beyond the Business Department

Cedarville University's Berry Chair of Entrepreneurship, Dr. Kary Oberbrunner, is providing countless opportunities for students to grow as entrepreneurs. But students are not the only ones on campus taking advantage of these opportunities. Oberbrunner is offering entrepreneurship sessions, called E-sessions, for faculty, staff and students at Cedarville, helping many to start their own businesses and ventures. 

E-sessions are 30-minute meetings with Oberbrunner to discuss, inquire or get feedback on different business and marketing ideas. This can range from people wanting to start, grow or pivot their businesses to those who just want to brush up on their marketing skills and get advice on a business venture. 

Oberbrunner began these E-sessions while serving as an adjunct professor in the spring semester of 2023. His goal is to serve Cedarville and provide business coaching to faculty, staff and students.  

“It allows me to serve outside the business school and create impact,” said Oberbrunner. “Entrepreneurship is a mindset, not a minor.”  

Kim Ahlgrim, director of The Cove, Cedarville’s academic enrichment center, is one of the staff members who had an E-session with Oberbrunner. For years she had been considering starting a business, but only recently did she begin pursuing her dream. The E-session gave her clarity and practical plans to put her dream into action.  

“In places where I was hesitant, he inspired and encouraged me to step boldly forward,” said Ahlgrim. 

Oberbrunner has now completed E-sessions with over a dozen staff and faculty members and over 50 students from a variety of majors. He noted his favorite part of these sessions is seeing the aftereffects when people put what they’ve learned into practice. 

“I love to see people starting to believe and taking their God-given idea seriously,” said Oberbrunner. 

With the growing interest in E-sessions, Oberbrunner is starting a four-week course called “CUE School.” This entrepreneurial workshop, hosted by Cedarville University Entrepreneurship, will give faculty, staff and students the chance to develop skills as well as their business plans. It begins October 13 and will be livestreamed for public viewing. 

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 5,082 undergraduate, graduate, and dual enrolled high school students in more than 175 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, such as the entrepreneurship minor, high graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and the #4 national ranking by the Wall Street Journal for student engagement. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.