Entrepreneurship Week 2025
April 21st - April 25th
Entrepreneurship Week is a collaboration of the Kutztown University College of Business, the Entrepreneurial Leadership Center (ELC), and the KU Small Business Development Center (SBDC). This event includes panels, workshops, and presentations that provides students and the local community with insights, strategies and tools from experts to launch or strengthen their business.
Monday - APRIL 21, 2025
A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) ENTREPRENEURS LUNCHEON PANEL
12 - 1:30 pm, McFarland Student Union, Room 218
RSVP by filling out the form here.
Panelists include:
Amresse Farrow, Logical Leap
Doug Mancini, President of Liquid
Corey Crapella '07, Founder of CORE Coaching & Consulting
Amresse Farrow: Innovator in AI-driven marketing & founder of Logical Leap, revolutionizing how businesses scale with tech-powered strategies.
Amresse Farrow is a marketing and technology leader with 14+ years of experience integrating AI and emerging tech into marketing strategies. From managing marketing for a $4M library system to executing high-impact influencer campaigns, she has a proven track record of driving growth. As a certified AI developer, Amresse designs custom tools to streamline workflows and boost ROI. She founded Logical Leap, a subscription-based marketing agency leveraging AI to deliver scalable and efficient solutions. Through Logical Leap, she is redefining marketing, making it smarter, faster, and more accessible for businesses.
Doug Mancini, President of Liquid, a digital innovator with 25+ years of experience, passionate music enthusiast, and devoted family man.
Doug Mancini, President of Liquid, is a digital industry pioneer with over 25 years of experience. Since 1996, he has led innovations in e-commerce, content management, mobile technology, and generative AI, overseeing the creation of numerous web properties and applications. Beyond his professional achievements, he is an avid music collector and concert-goer, having attended over 200 live performances. Family is his top priority—he has been married for nearly 25 years and is a proud father of four.
Corey Crapella: Harnessing AI to unlock leadership potential and drive meaningful growth—where technology meets human connection.
Corey Crapella integrates artificial intelligence into coaching and consulting to enhance leadership development and organizational growth. As the Founder of CORE Coaching & Consulting, he leverages AI to analyze data, generate actionable insights, create personalized coaching plans, and automate repetitive tasks, allowing leaders to maximize efficiency. AI also provides real-time feedback, refining his coaching strategies while maintaining a strong focus on human connection. By blending technology with authentic engagement, Corey helps leaders and professionals unlock their full potential, ensuring that AI serves as a tool to enhance—not replace—the human element in leadership and career development.
WEDNESDAY - APRIL 23, 2025
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS LUNCHEON PANEL
12pm - 1:30pm, McFarland Student Union, Room 218
RSVP by filling out the form here.
Panelists include:
Sara Ingre, A.I. Legacy, Inc.
Kattina V. Barsik, Esq., LLM, The Law Office of Kattina V. Barsik, Esq., LLM
Yudelkys Rodriguez De Vargas, Attorney At Law at Law Office of Yudelkys Rodriguez De Vargas
Valerie Deneen, Founder at Inner Child Fun Media, LLC & current KU MBA
Sara Inge: Experienced CPA and business advisor, dedicated to simplifying finances and helping businesses thrive.
Sara Inge is a CPA with nearly 30 years of experience specializing in accounting and bookkeeping for individuals and small to medium-sized businesses. After gaining auditing experience at Deloitte & Touche, she founded A.I. Legacy, Inc. in 2006, offering services from basic accounting to CFO-level advisory. Passionate about simplifying financial matters, she helps clients navigate business challenges with confidence. Outside of work, Sara enjoys traveling, spending time with loved ones, and caring for her dog, Fergus.
Kattina V. Barsik, Esq., LLM: Intellectual property attorney specializing in patents, trademarks, and copyrights, protecting innovation with expertise and dedication.
With more than a decade of excellence to her credit in patents, trademarks, copyrights, and intellectual property licensing, Ms. Barsik has earned distinction as an attorney for patents, trademarks, and proprietary material with her own practice, The Law Office of Kattina V. Barsik, Esq., LLM. Since 2010, she has focused her efforts on creating applications for patents, trademarks, or copyrights, filing them, and seeing them through acceptance. She also engages in some litigation work with the Patent and Trademark Appeal Board when necessary. Additionally, she is a valued member of The International Society of Female Professionals and the New Jersey Intellectual Property Law Association.
Yudelkys Rodriguez De Vargas: Immigration attorney, law firm owner, and advocate for justice and empowerment.
Yudelkys Rodriguez De Vargas is a dedicated immigration attorney and the sole female owner of a law firm in Allentown, PA. Originally from the Dominican Republic, she overcame humble beginnings to become a respected legal advocate. She earned her Juris Doctor from Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law, where she led the Latinx Law Students Association and received the 2019 Outstanding Law Student Award from the National Association of Women Lawyers. Licensed in Pennsylvania, she serves on the boards of the Bar Association of Lehigh County (BALC) and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV).
Valerie Deneen: Marketing strategist, content creator, and former software engineer helping brands enhance their presence through powerful storytelling.
Valerie Deneen is a marketing and communications professional with a background in software engineering, content creation, and small business consulting. A Bucknell University graduate, she began her career as a senior software engineer before transitioning into entrepreneurship. She founded Inner Child Fun Media, LLC, a nationally recognized platform for creative activity resources. With over a decade of media experience, Valerie now helps clients develop content marketing strategies to strengthen their brand presence.
Thursday - APRIL 24, 2025
ENTREPRENEURS NETWORKING LUNCHEON
12pm - 2pm, Old Main Georgian Room
RSVP by filling out the form here.
This is a great opportunity for businesses and individuals in the Friends of Pete network to connect with others.
FRIDAY - APRIL 25, 2025
SOCIETAL IMPACT & SUSTAINABILITY LUNCHEON PANEL
12pm - 1:30pm, Old Main, Georgian Room
RSVP by filling out the form here.
Panelists include:
Chris Flynn, Energy Transfer Services LLC
Murtaza Jaffer, EBC Printing & Signs
Jon Escueta, City Cuts Barbershop
Renée Baran, Dean of Education Rodale Institute
Chris Flynn: Renewable energy leader, professor, and entrepreneur driving sustainable solutions in energy development and education.
Chris Flynn is a partner in Energy Transfer Services LLC, a Pennsylvania-based renewable energy firm. Chris is also an adjunct professor of Business Management at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. In addition, he is the co-author of ENGR 312 (Sustainable Energy Entrepreneurship), a course in the Bachelor of Arts in Energy and Sustainability Policy at Penn State University. He is one of the Co-Founders of Sunvestment Energy Group in Washington, DC. Since 2009, Chris has worked on project development and finance across multiple elements of the renewable and sustainable energy industry. He holds an MBA from the Smeal College of Business, Penn State University. Chris lives in Allentown, PA. He is an avid hiker and a proud parent of a career US Army soldier.
Jon Escueta, owner of City Cuts Barbershop, empowers youth through literacy and mentorship—one haircut at a time.
Jon Escueta is the founder and owner of City Cuts Barbershop located in Kutztown, Pa. Beyond providing great haircuts, I am devoted for community engagement and youth development. Recognizing the challenges many young people face with public speaking and self-confidence, I initiated the “Books By Kids” program. This innovative initiative encourages children to read books aloud during their haircuts, offering them $3 as an incentive. The program aims to enhance literacy skills and boost self-assurance in young leaders.
I’m also a very big fan of basketball, which I coached for a number of years from kindergarten through high school and I try to use that avenue as a tool to guide kids to be upstanding citizens of the community.
Murtaza Jaffer, co-owner of EBC Printing & Signs, dedicated to quality printing, community support, and sustainable business solutions.
Murtaza Jaffer is the co-owner of EBC Printing & Signs in Allentown, a company he and his brother Mustafa transformed from a small pack-and-ship business into a successful printing and signage enterprise in 2010. Dedicated to quality and community impact, Murtaza supports local businesses through cost-efficient printing, shipping, and operational services while promoting sustainability with eco-friendly practices. Originally from Tanzania, he moved to the U.S. at a young age and holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Penn State Lehigh Valley.
Renée Baran, Rodale Institute’s Dean of Education, empowers the next generation of regenerative organic farmers through innovative learning and sustainability.
Renée Baran has been Rodale Institute’s Dean of Education since 2023, leading efforts to train the next generation of regenerative organic farmers. With a background in developing and managing educational programs, she brings a strategic mindset, a commitment to student learning, and a passion for the environment. Previously, she worked with university athletic teams on team dynamics and facilitated Lehigh University’s entrepreneurship programs. Now, she focuses on educating the first entrepreneurs—farmers! Renée is pursuing an Ed.D. in Transformational Teaching and Learning at Kutztown University.
KU SBDC WORKSHOPS
Creating Mega Prompts for ChatGPT: Unlocking the Power of AI Conversations
Tuesday, April 22nd, 4:00 pm-5:30 pm McFarland Student Union, Room 116 Mini-Auditorium & Zoom. To register click here.
Headshots for Entrepreneurship Week
Wednesday, April 23rd, 10:00 am-3:00 pm McFarland Student Union, outside the Cub Cafe
Building and Fine-Tuning Custom GPT Models for Your Business
Thursday, April 24th, 5:00 pm-6:00 pm Zoom. To register click here.
