At the beginning of the month (April 2nd), West Virginia Northern Community College (WVNCC) officially opened the doors to its brand-new Business & Entrepreneurship Center at the Wheeling Campus. Located on the second floor of the historic B&O Building, the center represents a significant step forward in experiential learning for students pursuing careers in business.
A Hands-On Approach to Business Education
The Business & Entrepreneurship Center isn’t your typical classroom. It functions as a fully student-run business, where students in the college’s entrepreneurship class operate an apparel business as their capstone project. From screen printing and embroidery to budgeting, marketing, and sales, students manage every aspect of the operation.
“What the hand does, the mind remembers,” said Business Program Director Lyndsie Scott-Guzek, who spearheaded the creation of the center. “They aren’t just learning about business—they are running one.”
Learning Through Real Experience
Students design and sell branded merchandise like t-shirts, sweatshirts, and tumblers, with all products produced in-house. The project also teaches them how to track finances, determine wholesale prices, apply consumer markups, and collaborate with community partners. All profits made from the business go directly back into supporting the center and its students.
Allison Blevens, a Business Administration student who helped develop the center, said the hands-on experience changed her career path.
“It has helped me determine what I want to do,” she said. “I’ve switched my major since taking this class. My family owns a barbecue truck, and now I run the social media and design posts because of what I’ve learned here.”
Support From the College and the Community
The center was made possible through support from the WVNCC Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds for innovative college projects. WVNCC President Dr. Daniel Mosser emphasized how the center embodies the college’s commitment to career-focused education.
“This center exemplifies the hands-on, career-focused education that WVNCC is known for,” Mosser said. “By integrating classroom learning with real-world application, our students gain invaluable skills that will set them apart in the workforce.”
A New Standard for Business Education
Moving forward, the entrepreneurship course will become a requirement for all business administration students at WVNCC. The college hopes the center will not only serve its students but also foster deeper partnerships with local businesses and community members.
“The Business & Entrepreneurship Center is a game-changer,” said Scott-Guzek. “This experience gives our students a competitive edge and prepares them for success in entrepreneurship, small business, and beyond.”
If you’re a local business owner or community member interested in collaborating with WVNCC’s entrepreneurship program, reach out via email at ba275@wvncc.edu.
