Over the last few years Rider University has steadily advanced its entrepreneurial studies program, most notably expanding its’ entrepreneurial activities by launching both its high school business idea competition and its’ Veterans Entrepreneurship Training Program.
These activities have attracted attention from both the broader New Jersey community and Rider’s alumni base. An example of the latter is entrepreneur Charles Ziegler; who noticed Rider’s entrepreneurial activities a few years ago, prompting him to call Ron Cook, Director of Rider’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.
Ziegler, Rider class of 1984, spent most of his career in corporate finance but his family became drawn into entrepreneurship in an unexpected way. It started when he bought a shuffleboard table but couldn’t find the necessary equipment and supplies, such as pucks and wax. He purchased some equipment for his own use, and then sold some items on Ebay.
Soon, he and his wife assessed there was an unmet need for these products that could potentially lead to a good size business. They founded ZieglerWorld.com, which sells sporting goods and gaming supplies. And now ten plus years later his wife spearheads the company with him pitching in.
“My wife handles the day to day operations and I focus on strategy,” said Ziegler. “It’s become a passion for both of us.”
Ziegler’s collaboration with Rider began with a single phone call a few years back. Becoming absorbed by the spirit of entrepreneurship, he called Cook to chat about their family’s passion for growing their business.
“Lots of times, friends or those in corporate jobs can’t talk on an entrepreneurial level, so it’s a really great outlet,” said Ziegler.
That chat with Cook led to direct involvement in Rider’s entrepreneurial initiatives—bringing an added dimension to what was occurring at home with their online sporting goods business. Ziegler’s now served on the Entrepreneurial Advisory Board for over three years, where he has met others who share his passion for entrepreneurship—which has also bolstered ideas for how to grow his business.
But of equal importance he has been able to contribute to programs that give something back to Rider and those in Rider’s outreach. Most satisfying is his work in the Veterans Entrepreneurship Training Program. Last year as the participating veteran moved through the summer program, he served as a mentor to his assigned veteran. He either met or talked over the phone with the veteran once a week to discuss the veteran’s startup idea and how to turn it into a viable business plan.
Through this, Ziegler says, they help the veteran establish a working plan and gauge his or her own mentality to see if entrepreneurship would be a good fit for them. If so, mentors and veterans work together on starting a business, and if not, they’ll help them change course before they have committed too much time and money.
Ziegler’s collaboration with Rider has benefited both parties, he says. He’s able to provide his experience and expertise to up-and-coming entrepreneurs, and in return, he’s able to surround himself with a community of entrepreneurs, such as Cook and other advisory board members, who he taps for their experience.
Executive Director Cook sees the win-win of alumni participation. Once the Rider entrepreneurial advisory board got underway a few years ago of which at least half were entrepreneur alumni, it gave further impetus to their outreach programs.
“A good example of the value of the board’s engagement is our high school competition. We were hosting a competition for NJ college students who had ventures already underway, when the board suggested changing our focus to high schools. We now help these students develop their ideas and encourage their entrepreneurial ambitions, and it has become a major initiative of the center because of the board’s guidance,” Cook noted.
