CIU Today Fall 2017

26 / 36

CIU’s John R. Cook Jr. Business and
Entrepreneurship Center Opening
CIU’s efforts to impact the marketplace is getting a big
boost with the opening of the John R. Cook Jr. Business and
Entrepreneurship Center. The Center was made possible
through a generous donation by CIU Trustee Lynn Cook
in honor of her husband’s innumerable contributions to
his family and business, Cook’s Pest Control of Decatur,
Alabama.
The Center will feature “Launch,” a cutting edge resource
facility that brings together CIU and area businesses and
ministries, taking student vocational training beyond the
classroom. Launch will house an on-campus business
incubator, a video-equipped interview skills training
room, conference rooms for seminars and workshops, and
internship and job placement opportunities. Space is also
available for students to collaborate with local businesses
and ministries on projects that will benefit both the
organizations and the students. To find out more, visit
THANK YOU
Your Gifts. His Mission.
CIU Hosts “Grow Your Business”
CIU has already been assisting entrepreneurs in
the Columbia area even before the Business and
Entrepreneurship Center opens. At the free “Grow
Your Business” event last spring hosted by CIU’s
Business & Organizational Leadership program,
entrepreneurs attended seminars on topics such
as targeting a customer base and how to get a
business website top rankings in a Google search.
Among the
attendees was
Columbia resident
Grace Whitbeck
who makes and
sells what she calls
an eclectic line of
jewelry “with an
unpolished look.”
Her business is
called Alabaster
and she has a
dream to make
enough money in
her business to help
fund ministries that
assist victims caught
in the human
trafficking trade.
“It was great,” Whitbeck said as the event
concluded. “This was really helpful and has given
me a vision for what I need to do for my website and
what I should include on it and where best to use my
time.”
“We’re excited to bring Columbia area businesses
and entrepreneurs to CIU,” said Dr. Scott Adams,
director of CIU’s Business & Organizational
Leadership program. “It’s our hope to assist the
business community in their success, as together we
make the Midlands of South Carolina a center for
strong commerce.”
A special thanks to alumni, friends and parents. Because of your gifts to the CIU
Fund, the 2016-2017 fiscal year goal of $3.2 million was reached!
The CIU Fund supports the annual operating budget making it possible for CIU to
educate students from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message
of Christ.
26
DEVELOPMENT
CIU Today Fall 2017