#MadeInMuscatine is the theme for the 4th Annual Muscatine Entrepreneurship Exposition
(E-Day) which expands to two days this year featuring local and regional entrepreneurs
as keynote speakers. The event is set
for May 5 and 6, 2015.
Douglas Buster, President of Fabricators Plus, will
kick off the 4th Annual Muscatine Entrepreneurship Exposition on Tuesday May 5th in
the Founder’s Forum – a student, invitation-only event to be
held at the Muscatine History and Industry Center.
Fabricators
Plus is a single source, full service provider of custom metal fabricated
products and a contract manufacturer serving customers in Iowa and the Midwest
for over 10 years.
Daniel Nietzel, Founder/Inventor/President of Fighting
Chance Solutions is also scheduled to tell students his company’s startup
story.
Fighting
Chance Solutions (FCS) was formed when educator Nietzel conceived an idea to
help protect students and teachers in an active shooter or violent intruder
scenario in a school by securing the door closer arm found on most classroom
doors. Often in schools, classrooms only lock from the outside, forcing a
teacher into the line of fire to secure the room. Nietzel and his co-founders
created The Sleeve and began
marketing it to schools and companies throughout the world in June 2014.
Both
Fabricators Plus and Fighting Chance Solutions are Muscatine companies.
Nate
Kaeding, former University of Iowa & National Football League star and
Serial Entrepreneur is the scheduled capstone speaker for the event on
Wednesday, May 6th. Kaeding
will share his insights on how leadership, the creative mindset and a ‘can-do’
attitude are key ingredients to entrepreneurial success. He is a Founding
Partner in Shorts Burger & Shine Restaurant, Tailgate (brick & mortar retail store), and Pullman
Bar & Diner.
In addition to keynote addresses, student
e-speed networking activities and conversations with entrepreneurs, the event
features on Wednesday, May 6th the Startup Challenge
Reception & Starup Challenge Exhibits to be held in Strahan
Hall at Muscatine Community College.
Following his keynote address, Kaeding will
help announce the winner of the 4th Annual Startup Challenge Business
Pitch Competition to end the 2-day Entrepreneurship Exposition.