WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Nov. 18, 2015 — The business cold call took on a new meaning for a class of business students as they enjoyed a chance to hear from Lisa and Barry Allen of Wheeling. Lisa is CEO of Ziegenfelder’s Frozen Treats and her husband Barry is vice president of sales and marketing.
“To have Lisa and Barry share their path to success with our students is very impressive. They were great! The students loved them as well as the ice pops they brought with them,” said John Bonassi, instructor of the entrepreneurship class that includes 17 students from various disciplines.
From left, John Bonassi, Barry and Lisa Allen, Dashawn Lemons, Jessica Sheets, Caitlin Brosnahan, Dana Still, Kasey Beckett, Luca Seisler, Mario Yacoviello, Melissa Haught, David Lafferty, Ashley Stewart, Chance Haugh, Ian Baker, Nicole Henry and Eileen Thompson.
The Ziegenfelder name is synonymous with twin pops, the colorful frozen treats that kids (and adults!) just love. According to its website (budgetsaver.com), for over a century the Wheeling company has focused on customer service and homemade products that began with candy, expanded into ice cream and evolved into one of the largest producers of frozen twin pops in the United States.
Lisa took over the Ziegenfelder Company from her father Charles Lando in 2004. Since then the business has shown steady growth every year. It is headquartered on 18th Street in East Wheeling but has about 300 employees working in three plants in Wheeling, Denver and Chino, Calif.
“It’s important for students to see that women have a place in small business and entrepreneurship. This class has 10 women in it and it’s true that the number of female entrepreneur minors and majors at WLU is growing,” said Bonassi, who has taught as an adjunct at WLU for six years. Bonassi also is a WLU alumnus and serves on the West Liberty University Foundation Board of Directors.
“I was truly taken back by the amount of success that the Ziegenfelder Budget Saver Company had from selling frozen pops. Their product is well known all over the country. This company really showed me that even the smallest things can make a huge impact when growing a business,” said Nicole Henry, a senior journalism major. Henry is from Pittsburgh and has worked for the Trumpet, WLU’s school newspaper for two years. She plans to work in fashion journalism in her future.
“This course is designed to provide students across every educational discipline with a classroom environment in order to understand and grasp the entrepreneurship spirit. The course concentrates on identifying, starting and growing a new business. The lectures by visiting entrepreneurs provides real world experiences that coincides with and supports our curriculum,” Bonassi added.
Five different business owners have led class lectures, including the Allens. The others are Rod Welker owner of Mooey’s Frozen Yogurt, Alex Paris of Alex Paris Contracting Company, Brian Joseph, president of Touchstone Research Laboratory and Marisa Dopkiss, Mary Kay Cosmetics sales representative. Welker, Paris and Joseph also are WLU alumni.
“Students gain a lot of insight from this class and from these speakers,” Bonassi said. “They all did a bang-up job. It just so wonderful they way they share and inspire the students. The alumni still remember and appreciate West Liberty and that’s good to see also. I am grateful for these professionals participating in my class.”
Class topics include: entrepreneurial mystique and myths, entry strategies, including branding and timing and defining your target. Students also learn how to conduct market research and how to create winning business, financial and marketing plans.
The Gary E. West College of Business at West Liberty University (WCOB) offers accredited programs in accounting, finance, information systems, management and marketing, along with an emphasis on entrepreneurship through the WLU Center for Entrepreneurship. Students earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and can specialize in their area of interest. For more information, please call 304-336-8053.
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