Networking is a huge part of the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute, and recently a couple of alumni reached out to share their story of how meeting at OEI started a friendship that turned into more!
Angie (Wagner) Williams, OEI 2011
Speech-Language Pathologist at Central Rehabilitation in Des Moines
Angie attended the University of Northern Iowa and graduated in 2013 with a degree in Marketing. She then attended St. Ambrose University for her Masters of Speech-Language Pathology (2019)
Tell us about your journey:
Growing up, I was the daughter of small business owners. Because of this, I believe the entrepreneurial mindset was instilled in me at a very young age. After graduating from UNI with a Marketing degree in 2013, I moved to Chicago to work at a software start-up. I was able to gain a lot of experience in the excitement, and growing pains, of a start-up business but ultimately decided I wanted to grow my skill set in a different field. In 2019, I graduated with my Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology, moved to Des Moines, and have been working in a private practice ever since!
What has the impact of OEI been on your career and life?
OEI provided me the opportunity to meet and learn from like-minded individuals. The connections and network I was able to make truly is a one of a kind experience that allowed me to branch out and further my learning throughout my time at UNI and in my career. The impact that OEI has had on my life continues to unfold in remarkable ways (even 10 years later). I recently became engaged to one of my classmates (shout out to Jake Williams, University of Iowa class of 2012) and remain dear friends with several other classmates.
Do you have any mentors (in Okoboji or elsewhere) who have helped you along the way?
I have been very fortunate to have a number of mentors throughout my life that have helped me in both my personal and professional paths. I’ve realized that the further I get into my career/life, the more important, and more challenging, it can be to find mentors. However, I strongly believe in the importance of intentionally seeking out mentorship for growth and progress in both my personal and professional development.
What are some of your favorite OEI memories?
By and far, my favorite thing about OEI was the people I met throughout my time in the program. From meeting my future husband, to meeting business acquaintances from all around the Iowa Lakes Corridor, I was able to connect with some wonderful people that I remain in contact with to this day.
One of my favorite parts of OEI was having the opportunity to sit down with all different types of entrepreneurs, listen to their stories and learn about their hardships and successes. I specifically remember meeting Monica Nassif and hearing her story about how she created her companies, Mrs. Meyers and Caldrea. Especially as a student, it was very motivating to hear from someone who created a product/brand that I was familiar with and to see that she was a “regular” person who faced many challenges and fortunes along the way.
How would you describe OEI to a student who has never heard of the program?
It’s just the best! OEI provides an opportunity to connect with a tribe of supporters and motivators that expose you to a knowledge base that is not accessible in a regular collegiate setting. The program creates an entrepreneurial environment that allows students to learn how to utilize resources, create a network and simulate real world business experiences. I cannot recommend OEI enough to those students who are interested in pursuing an entrepreneurial path!
Jake Williams, OEI 2011
President of Make-A-Fort, LLC in Des Moines
Jake graduated with Finance & Entrepreneurial Management Certificate from The University of Iowa in 2012.
Tell us about your journey:
After graduation I worked as a commodity trading analyst for Koch Industries in Wichita, KS. During my time at Koch, I cut my teeth on building robust financial models and working with teams across the globe supporting traders and analysts with critical information across 5 offices spanning the US, Europe, and Asia. Before my departure, we grew our freight trading business from infancy to the world leader in time charter and freight swap trading.
Three years later I left Koch, one of the largest privately held companies in the US, to pursue something more entrepreneurial and joined a fresh new start-up called Fireshark Studios. There I managed the day-to-day operations and facilitated the rollout of new software related start-ups. The Company’s primary business was an ‘immersive video game experience’ played on the floor and walls of a 32′ x 19′ room powered by 18 projectors and played with up to 10 players. Ultimately none of the businesses got enough traction to excite myself and investors so we closed the businesses in mid to late 2017.
In 2018 I moved to Des Moines, IA to work for a private equity holding company as they spun up a new vertical in the healthcare, laboratory, and pharmacy testing and certification market. I helped identify acquisition targets, meet with the owners, performed analysis and diligence, provide recommendations to the Board, and assist with integration efforts. The companies within this vertical were considered small to medium cap (less than $2MM in revenue to $50MM). During my 3-year tenure I evaluated nearly 100 companies in the space, performed due diligence on a large percentage and was able to close 18+ companies totaling over $100MM+ in purchase price.
In early 2021 I took the role of President for a start-up DTC ecommerce brand, Make-A-Fort. My first year on the job, we expanded into Canada and Europe, added new SKUs and sales channels, and grew the business nearly 3x. In the coming years we plan to grow the Make-A-Fort brand, organically expand into new products/brands and acquire businesses in the space.
What has the impact of OEI been on your career & life?
OEI has had a major impact on my professional and personal life. It introduced me to an amazing network of leaders, mentors and business owners. Through that network I was even offered employment opportunities immediately following graduation. The largest impact it has had on my life has been personal. I met so many people I still call friends and meet / speak with to this day. And this is of course where I met Angie, my fiance, and most important person in my life. Angie was part of the UNI class and I was part of the Iowa class. We hit it off immediately and continued to stay in touch after we both graduated, meeting up whenever we found ourselves in the same city. We both ended up in Des Moines in 2018, grabbed drinks to catch up and the rest is history.
Do you have any mentors (in Okoboji or elsewhere) who have helped you along the way? How valuable have mentors been to your career?
I have had a few mentors along the way, primarily people I have worked for that I really look up to. This would typically be my superior, the owner of the company or someone in the C-suite, a position I aspired to obtain some day. It has been valuable to watch them on a day-in-day-out basis to see how they handle situations and see what it takes to get to that level and also be successful doing it.
What are some of your favorite OEI memories?
Of course meeting and getting to know Angie on the first day. Another is enjoying the company of all the attendees, staff and hosts in the evenings while having a few drinks and exchanging stories.
How would you describe OEI to a student who has never heard of the program?
A business retreat for like minded college students to come together, build relationships with their peers and meet and learn from business men and women that have lived the entrepreneurial life. You will meet friends for life. I can’t recommend applying enough to students that are in the entrepreneurship program.