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Entrepreneurial Roundtable

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Entrepreneurial Roundtable is an event held each spring featuring guest speakers who address topics related to business and free enterprise. The Roundtable is sponsored by Graceland’s Enactus through a special endowment contributed by 1923 Graceland graduate Charles H. Sandage.

Graceland last held this event in 2019. The 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled due to the global pandemic.

2019 Featured Speakers

Entrepreneurial Roundtable regularly brings in talented alumni and guest speakers who inspire students and challenge them.

Portrait of Nathan Myer

Nathan Myer

Myer is a Graceland graduate, veteran of Ericsson and Siemens, and veteran and board member of Universal Electric Corporation. Myer has made the jump to BULKY where he begins the journey of launching a company aiming to disrupt the status quo. You will hear his story of development as an entrepreneur and how he begins the task of taking a vision to market. From the idea generation to finance to implementation, Myer will share what it's like on the bleeding edge of a startup.

Entrepreneurial Roundtable
Portrait of lika Fatino

Liana "Lika" Fatino

After graduating from Graceland as a prestigious honors student, Fatino moved to Des Moines where she began her entrepreneur's journey. Fatino is co-founder, with her husband, of Fatino Marketing, which began in Des Moines and has expanded to six different states with offices in Los Angeles and Chicago. Fatino and her husband have returned to Des Moines to take over as management of Scornovaca's Restaurant. "I am very excited to share some of my experience with all students who are excited to start their journeys as entrepreneurs. Graceland and my experience as a student have played a huge role in my future development as a person and as a businesswoman. I am beyond thankful to each person who helped me and led me through all four years, and I will always carry those memories, experiences and life lessons with me."

Entrepreneurial Roundtable
Portrait of Jacqui Spicer

Jacqui Spicer

Spicer attended Graceland University from 2005-07, studying mathematics and computer science. While at Graceland, she was on Solah, an active participant in SIFE (now ENACTUS) and member and coach for the cheerleading squad. She graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with an Electrical Engineering degree and received an MBA from Texas Christian University. She lives in Texas with her husband and one-year-old baby girl. Spicer is currently the director of Regional Distribution Operations for Oncor Electric Delivery, the largest electric utility operator in Texas. She has held various positions at Oncor including roles in engineering, project and program management, grid and field operations, and capital budget planning and management. She is an active participant in new engineer recruiting and women’s STEM outreach.

Entrepreneurial Roundtable
Portrait of Michael Morain

Michael Morain

Morain went to Graceland University and earned a Master's in Journalism from Northwestern University. He is an instructor at Iowa State University and Drake University. He has interviewed such notables as Lily Tomlin, Joshua Bell, Carol Burnett, John Waters, Kathy Griffin, Idina Menzel and the one-and-only Dolly Parton. Morain spent 11 years as a writer for the Des Moines Register and is now the communications manager for the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Morain is a gifted journalist and storyteller who understands the power of narrative. Every entrepreneur has an idea that needs a story. Morain will share what makes for powerful storytelling.

Entrepreneurial Roundtable
Portrait of Ryan Watson

Ryan Watson

Watson was a Senior Vice President and New Jersey Branch Manager for Chubb with more than 30 years at the company. He spent the majority of his 41-year, 10-city professional career in general management positions, which allowed him to be involved in many areas of business,. He sees himself as a problem solver and mediator with the ability to bring people together for a satisfying outcome.

Entrepreneurial Roundtable