BOONE—Young entrepreneurs and Appalachian State University graduates will return to campus March 1 for a Young Entrepreneurs Symposium.

A panel discussion featuring six successful entrepreneurs will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the fourth floor faculty lounge in Raley Hall. The public is invited to attend.

Participants are Jon West, co-founder of 3tailer.com, Whitney Graham, owner of Bejeweled, Jason Berry, general manager of Footsloggers, Tyler Brunson, owner Waste Consultants and United Shipping, Jonathon Seabolt, co-owner of Bolt Investments, and Chad Michael, owner of ArborCare Tree Service.

The symposium is being coordinated by the Center for Entrepreneurship in Appalachian’s Walker College of Business and is being held in conjunction with national Entrepreneurship Week USA which is being observed Feb. 24-March 3.

“This event will showcase just a few of the many young entrepreneurs who come out of Appalachian each year,” said Bryan Toney, director for the Center for Entrepreneurship.

“They will share their secrets to success and talk about opportunities and challenges that face young entrepreneurs. We hope the result will be to inspire even more of our students to pursue entrepreneurial careers.”

The event will be sponsored by the local owners of Family Only Inc., which owns Back Yard Burgers restaurants in Boone and Hickory and the Marble Slab Creamery in Boone.

Scott Prewitt, co-owner of Family Only Inc., has been involved with Appalachian’s entrepreneurship programs for many years, participating in the annual Carole Moore McLeod Entrepreneur Summit and serving as a guest lecturer in business classes.

“We appreciate the training that the Center for Entrepreneurship gives to the bright young minds at Appalachian State,” Prewitt said. “The Young Entrepreneurs Symposium will allow current students who are considering launching their own business ideas upon graduation to hear from previous Appalachian students who have achieved success at an early age. Back Yard Burgers and Marble Slab Creamery have employed many Appalachian business students through the years, and we hope to play a further role in their success through the efforts of the Center for Entrepreneurship.”

“We are excited about Back Yard Burgers’ sponsorship of the Young Entrepreneurs Symposium,” said Toney. “Scott and his partners are perfect examples of how young people can grow very successful businesses.”

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