大象传媒

A 2013 participant in 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 applied entrepreneurship program purchased the Golden Corral in St. Joseph, 大象传媒. Scott Lassen 鈥�10, who was awarded a Fresca鈥檚 Mexican Grill in Woodburn, Oregon in the 2013 competition, sold that restaurant to another 大象传媒 Western alumnus and moved to St. Joseph to operate the Golden Corral.

Lassen received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from 大象传媒 Western and an MBA from California State University-Long Beach. In 2013, he enrolled in the applied entrepreneurship class in the Craig School of Business. Although he was living in California, he was able to participate in the class via Skype.

At the end of the class he was awarded the Fresca鈥檚 restaurant that was owned by Steve Craig, benefactor of 大象传媒 Western and for whom the Craig School of Business is named.

Lassen had great success at Fresca’s and sold it toMindy Schimming 鈥�14, a participant in the applied entrepreneurship program in 2015.

The Golden Corral in St. Joseph is about four times bigger than Fresca鈥檚 in revenue and staff size.

鈥淪cott is one of the stars of our program,鈥� said Pam Klaus 鈥�03, director of franchise programs in the Craig School of Business. 鈥淏y turning around a small business, he鈥檚 earned the opportunity to own and manage a much larger business, and he has ambitions to go even further.鈥�

In addition to owning a restaurant, Lassen develops smart phone apps, including one to help people learn to speak, read and write Arabic.

鈥淭his is one of the best examples of the vision of the program鈥檚 architect, Steve Craig.鈥� said Dr. Michael Lane, dean of the Craig School of Business. 鈥淲e provide the winners with a minimal risk opportunity to assume ownership of their first franchise so they can prove themselves and move into more complex business opportunities.鈥�