竞技宝app下载 University is pleased to announce Patrick McElgunn is the new director of NU创意中心 在米德兰市中心.
“As a business development specialist, 企业家, 餐馆老板, and coach with over 20 years in combined experience, Patrick is ideal for this strategic role,博士说。. Kristin Stehouwer, academic vice president and provost at 竞技宝app下载 University. McElgunn, will lead 企业家ial programming on campus and at the downtown location to complement what students learn in their classes. “We are thrilled that Patrick will coach and mentor 竞技宝app下载 students to take their 企业家ial dreams from ideas to reality.”
McElgunn co-founded Grove Tea Lounge, a popular spot for coffee and tea drinkers. McElgunn and his co-founders formed Grove because they saw a need for a community space to celebrate quality tea, an excellent cup of coffee, and some nutritious (and occasionally indulgent) eats.
As managing partner of Grove Tea Lounge, McElgunn has trained and mentored nearly 70 team members — both individually and in group settings. 在这个角色中, McElgunn constantly evaluated and reworked the organization’s curriculum program to best meet the evolving needs of Grove’s new hires, 当前的工作人员, 和客户.
“I’ve been able to step away from the day-to-day operations of Grove so the timing is perfect to pursue my passion of helping budding 企业家s,麦克尔冈说.
As a former business consultant for the Small Business Development Center, McElgunn helped 300 企业家s plan, 开始, run and grow their businesses. He directly helped 开始 50 businesses, in addition to securing over $3.6 million in investments; increasing annual sales by $4 million; and creating 140 jobs.
As a certified health coach with MI Health Coach Inc., McElgunn has had ample experience in executing training programs, being comfortable pivoting and flexing a game plan on the fly, as well as adapting training sessions to shore up the weaknesses of individuals/teams while reinforcing their strengths.
“Patrick is an innovator with a proven track record of successfully identifying new business opportunities, creating strategic plans, and implementing them to maximize results,Stehouwer说. “We look forward to seeing him advance 企业家ship; foster creativity 和创新; further enhance experiential learning opportunities for our students; and mentor students and community members through business competitions, 企业孵化, 和创新.”
McElgunn earned his bachelor’s degree in management from Hope College in 2010, and his master’s degree in 企业家ship from Saginaw Valley State University in 2015.
His professional accolades include being named the 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Midland Business Alliance; Young Entrepreneur of the Year by Midland Young Professionals; and Business Counselor of the Year by the Michigan Small Business Development Center.
McElgunn was named last week as a 2023 recipient of the RUBY Award, an honor recognizing our area’s brightest professionals under the age of 40 who have made their mark in the Great Lakes Bay Region.
