Back to School, Back to BEP


Starting Your Own Business class underway

Thanks to the generous support of The Courtier Foundation, Starting Your Own Business is underway again this year! Students spend a semester learning what it takes to put together an effective business plan. Teachers provide the foundation, and business people enrich the curriculum as guest speakers on various topics. If you're an entrepreneur or you work with entrepreneurs and small businesses, consider sharing your experiences with the students; to learn more about the topics available for later this semester, contact Sonja at (608) 257-3838 or info@bepmadison.org. 

Mini-Business World gearing up

It only takes two days to create, run and assess company performance ... when you're involved with Mini-Business World. This year's fast-paced simulation takes place November 17-18 at The Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall. Students compete in teams with business advisors at the table to lend experience and facilitate the students' discussions. Consider investing two days of your time as an advisor for an experience you won't forget -- and will want to repeat. If you can't take two days, join the students for lunch on Nov. 18 to talk about the importance of business fundamentals in life and in the workplace. Another great way to encourage their involvement is to provide the prizes for which they compete. At eight points throughout the simulation, the highest performing teams win. If you'd like to volunteer or if you have 8 corporate items you'd like to give away, contact Michael at (608) 334-5527 or via info@bepmadison.org.

First Annual Job & Career Fair at West High School

If your business employs high school students or individuals with a high school diploma, West High School would like you to consider attending its first-ever job fair. The job fair will be on Thursday, October 8, from 9:00 AM until 2:30 PM. West High will provide tables and chairs, a steady stream of 50 to 75 high school students per hour, a break room, volunteers to provide breaks and to assist with set up and take down, and food made by the culinary arts students. The exhibit cost is $35. For more information, contact Jonathan at (608) 516-9512 or jidavis@madison.k12.wi.us. 

Officers elected and new Coordinator hired

At the August Annual Meeting, Matthew Simon (M&I Bank) was elected as Secretary of the Board while Melanie Schmidt (Timpano Consulting), Barb Waters (Placon Corp.) and Sean Auger (Smith & Gesteland) were re-elected as President, President-Elect and Treasurer, respectively. The Board further recognized the vast contributions of Past President Don Madelung (Herzing University) as he transitions off the Board as well as Randy Hackbarth (Smith & Gesteland), Blaine Renfert (Foley & Lardner), Troy Mitchell (Johnson Bank) and Tom Shipley (Greenwoods State Bank). As the Board moves into this new year, it continues work on strategic initiatives related to 1) structural alignment and collaborative positioning, 2) financial viability and 3) stakeholder accountability. For more information on these initiatives, contact Melanie Schmidt at (608) 251-0808.

After completing its restructuring to align curriculum responsibilities with the schools and resource responsibilities with the Partnership, the Board has now contracted with Sonja Patterson (Patterson Organizational Services) to provide support services in coordinating administrative and volunteer activities. Sonja can be reached though (608) 257-3838 and info@bepmadison.org.



The Business & Education Partnership delivers resources and programs to help students in Madison develop an understanding of business fundamentals. As a nonprofit organization, it seeks to engage 8th through 12th graders in Madison with interactive, person-to-person exchanges. The Partnership offers businesses multiple opportunities to share their experiences with teachers and students in order to enrich curriculum and expand perspectives on how business concepts apply in workplace settings and in life. Learn more online at http://www.bepmadison.org.