What happens when you bring many of the foremost business leaders in Western Pennsylvania together with the business leaders of tomorrow?

You get the first annual "Entrepreneurs Day", a networking event presented by the Entrepreneurial Studies Program at Duquesne University (ESP).  "Entrepreneurs Day", which emanated from the Rivers Club in Downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday April 21, 2007, saw dozens of Duquesne University ESP students network with local entrepreneurs and business leaders, many of whom looking to hire or provide summer internships to entrepreneurially-minded students. In addition to this prime networking opportunity, "The American Entrepreneur" radio program was on-hand to capture all of the action. 

Among the business leaders on hand to recruit the region's brightest entrepreneurially-minded students are many names familiar to regular TAE listeners, as well as anybody familiar with the region's business scene.  Representatives from TAE sponsors such as Enterprise Bank (Chuck Leyh and Janeene Foster),  Partners Through People (Sam Lucci, Maribeth Lucci, Dave Zang, Jonalyn Paulick), Gefsky and Lehman (Mike Fox), and Bill Few Associates (Mike Kauffelt) met and discussed business opportunities with the Duquesne University Entrepreneurial Studies majors.  In addition, frequent TAE guests such as Don Jones (Draper Triangle Venture Capital), Dan Coll (Rapid Fulfillment), Aldo Zini (Aethon), James Droney (Mt. Lebanon Office Equipment), and Duquesne University Customer Service Professor Dr. Audrey Guskey spent some time with the students as well.

"With increased discontent in the notion of working for a big company, entrepreneurial education has really become the way to go over the past few years," said Don Jones, head of Draper Triangle Venture Capital and one of the most highly-regarded entrepreneurs in Western Pennsylvania.  "Students in these programs, including all of the bright young minds here today, really fill me with hope for the region."

"This morning, I have met some of the most interesting young people that I have come across in a long time," said Bill Few Associates CEO Mike Kauffelt.  "It is very encouraging to me, as well as other business owners and mangers, to see this level of talent that is out there in the marketplace."

The Duquesne University Entrepreneurial Studies Majors were just as encouraged by the networking opportunities present at Saturday's event.

"I could have never imagined just how many opportunities would be presented to me," said Junior Entrepreneurial Studies Major Brittany Strobel. "This was a wonderful experience, and I would do it again in a heartbeat."

"Being able to talk with so many business owners at once is very eye-opening to students like us as to how many opportunities are out there for us," said Senior Entrepreneurial Studies Major Steve Mougis.

 If you missed out on this year's event, there are plenty of chances to get caught up.

You can download the podcast of the event thanks to TAE's partnership with Talkshoe.com. 

You can view a comprehensive photo gallery of "Entrepreneurs Day" here.

If you're in a position to hire or provide summer internships to a Duquesne University Entrepreneurial Studies Major, or if you're interested in obtaining a copy of the 2007 ESP resume book, you can contact ESP Marketing Director Angela Szesciorka at (412) 249-8662 or via e-mail at angelas@taeradio.com.

You can find out more information about the Duquesne University Entrepreneurial Studies Program here.