Mentorship Program

INSTRUCTORS | WORKSHOPS

The Entrepreneur Mentors Program provides forums for learning directly from the experiences of entrepreneurs, opportunities to visit and work with entrepreneurs, venues for social gatherings, field trips to metropolitan areas of California with site visits to entrepreneurial firms and a comprehensive skills analysis test that will enable the student to better gauge their potential.

Students will be matched one-on-one with a mentor that best suits their area of interest. Enrollment in the program will be limited to 20 students. Any student is eligible to be admitted to the program that has declared Entrepreneurship as an option, minor, or is in pursuit of a certificate or comes with a recommendation from a professor.

Each student completing the program will receive 3 credits (ENTR 190) at the end of the Spring semester. Students can use the credits as either an elective or as a substitute for ENTR 155.

Seminars: The program will be structured around 1 hour seminars each Friday. The seminars are led by individuals, such as Central Valley entrepreneurs, who have elected to participate in the program as a mentor.

Social Gatherings: The social gatherings give students an opportunity to network with all of the mentors participating in the program in a relaxed and fun environment.

Field Trips: Site visits to other regions to visit innovative companies. Meetings with entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and inventors.

Assessment: Each student will have the Johnson O’Conner Aptitude Test administered to provide feedback and insight into the individual’s strengths and weaknesses.

INSTRUCTORS

Jane E. Yow is a Training and Organization Development Consultant specializing in helping organizations improve quality, productivity and innovation through their most important asset – their people. In the past few years, Jane’s focus has been on assisting companies in the implementation of activities and processes which successfully develop and integrate the people side of management.

Cathy Frost is the President of BennettFrost Personnel Services. BennettFrost is a full service staffing company which is locally owned and operated in the Central Valley and has provided exceptional candidates to our valley clients for 14 years. Cathy is involved in many community activities. Serving on the board and executive committee of the Fresno Business Council, Past President and current board member of the Fresno Metropolitan Museum, Board of Governors, California State University, Fresno. Board member of CART (Center for Advanced Research and Technology), which is a school joint venture between Fresno Unified and Clovis Unified School Districts. Other activities have involved United Way, Fresno Women’s Network, Civil Service Commission for the City of Fresno, and Personnel Commissioner for State Center Community College. Cathy is a graduate of California State University, San Jose with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology.

WORKSHOPS

"Jammin’ with Jane" Getting to know you
Each student will complete a DiSC Personal Profile prior to the workshop. This workshop is designed to identify four individual behavior patterns with focus on: (1) Preferred environment; (2) what motivates or demotivates; (3) how this profile handles conflict; (4) strategies for increased effectiveness. The profile identifies how each person applies to entrepreneurial leadership.

"Playing the game" Business Etiquette
Individuals that want to succeed in the workplace need to heed protocol and consistently utilize it not only at work, but in all areas of their life. Etiquette is about presenting yourself with the kind of polish that shows you can be taken seriously. “Talk the talk” Communication & Selling Techniques Gain advantage in the business world by mastering the essential components of power communication skills. Learn how to present yourself with power, confidence and credibility.

"Hit or Miss" Goal Setting
Goal setting is a very powerful technique that can yield strong returns in all areas of your life. In this workshop we are going to explore the how and why of goal setting. At its simplest level, the process of setting goals and targets allows you to choose where you want to go in life.  “Talk the talk” Communication & Selling Techniques Gain advantage in the business world by mastering the essential components of power communication skills. Learn how to present yourself with power, confidence and credibility.

“Talk the talk” Communication & Selling Techniques
Gain advantage in the business world by mastering the essential components of power communication skills. Learn how to present yourself with power, confidence and credibility.>

"Walk the walk" Job searching
Now that you have your degree, how do you land that “dream” job? Learn firsthand what techniques and tools to use to land that all important interview. Find out in this final step how to achieve what you have worked for—a rewarding career.

"Raising the Bar" EQ and Generational Values
How EQ (emotional intelligence) applies to your behavior and affects your job performance. Bridge the gap between generations by helping you look beyond your own perspectives to understand the events, conditions, values and behaviors which make each generation unique.