Published February 05, 2025
Ben Cook – UW Senior Assistant Dean of the College of Business
“The Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) initiative has put us in a position to launch multiple collaborative efforts around entrepreneurship that genuinely make the whole more significant than the sum of the parts and, over time, will help power the future of Wyoming. A prime example is the College of Business launching a Venture Mentoring Service based on the MIT framework alongside the UW Alumni Association launching an Entrepreneurship Alumni Network. The Alumni Network brings together UW alumni who have experience as entrepreneurs with those who may just be getting started with entrepreneurship. The more experienced alum can also choose to become mentors in the UW VMS @ COB program, and those alumni needing mentors can join VMS as a mentee and be paired with a team of three to four mentors that guide 90-minute sessions with no strings attached. Again, this is just one example of the collaborative efforts made possible by the WIP initiative from Gov. Gordon and the state Legislature.”
Jeff Hanesworth – Pivot Structures LLC
“I’m extremely excited and humbled to have the opportunity to help coach and mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs at UW. The value of serving these young business professionals as they shape their mission, vision and definite purpose is something that will hopefully inspire them as their aspirations reciprocally inspire me. Accomplished entrepreneurs understand that their successes are indicative of learning from failures, continuously improving, having a relentless pursuit of a purpose, and building associations with people and organizations that promote the best in themselves. My goal is to help cultivate these behaviors of success and to give to them what has been given to me throughout my own career by the many mentors and inspirational people in my life.”
Kate Mysse – Big Sky Baked & Loaded
“Entrepreneurship is about creating value and building connections within our communities. At Big Sky Baked & Loaded, we’ve seen firsthand how a simple concept can grow into a thriving business that brings people together. The UW alumni network feels like the perfect complement to this entrepreneurial journey — it offers support, insights and endless opportunities for growth. I’m excited to engage with fellow Pokes who’ve ventured into business ownership, sharing our experiences and learning from each other’s successes and challenges. Much like curating the right partnerships for our business, I see the alumni network as a rich ecosystem for fostering inspiration, cultivating mentorship and sparking collaborative opportunities. Together, we can innovate, problem-solve and help each other’s ventures flourish. This network has the potential to be a catalyst for turning our individual passions into collective progress.”
Lloyd Baker – Gold Super Outfitters
“Entrepreneurship is daunting, exhausting, unpredictable and unstable — but, without a doubt, it is one of the most fulfilling and transformative things I’ve ever done.”
Luke Macy – Power Theory
“I’m excited to be part of UW’s Entrepreneurship Alumni Network because it offers a unique opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and innovators. I’m looking forward to gaining insights, exchanging ideas and collaborating with others who share the same passion for creating value and making an impact. The network will be a great resource to help Power Theory grow while also giving back to the UW community that has supported my entrepreneurial journey.”
Orlando Molano – CitixFood
“As an alumnus of UW and now one of the founders and CEO of CitixFood, I’m inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives within our alumni network. It’s exciting to see how innovation and collaboration continue to shape industries. I believe that, by leveraging our shared knowledge and resources, we can create transformative solutions that not only drive business success but also foster positive change in our communities and the world.”
Parag Chitnis – UW Vice President for Research and Economic Development
“UW’s alumni include many successful entrepreneurs and industry leaders. Their mentoring through this exciting network will help UW student success in ideating and implementing new startups and growing them successfully. We are committed to support the Entrepreneurship Alumni Network seeding and nurturing the next generation of successful UW entrepreneurs.”
Scott Beaulier – UW H.A. (Dave) True Family Dean of Business
“We’re grateful for the Entrepreneurship Alumni Network and view it as a critical component to our venture mentorship activities within the College of Business. The diversity of experiences our alumni bring to the table and the breadth of experience make this a great program for our students and allow our alumni to meaningfully engage with the College of Business and university.”
Zoë Worthen – Uplink Robotics LLC
“I am looking forward to networking with fellow entrepreneurs and seeing how we can help each other in our businesses. As I have learned over the years, ‘Iron sharpens iron,’ and it is nice to know that I am not alone in starting my own business, especially in Wyoming. With these connections, I look forward to improving my skills and business. To me, entrepreneurship means using your unique skills to help others around you and create an environment that you enjoy working in.”
