HUTCHINSON, Kan. — StartUp Hutch will host its next Entrepreneurship Connections event Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Sandhills Brewing, 111 W. Second Ave.
The event brings together aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs from across Reno County for networking, peer learning and conversation.
September’s featured speaker will be Jim Gruver, a longtime construction and real estate development professional with more than 40 years of experience.
Gruver’s career has included new home construction, rehabilitation projects, real estate development and leadership of development organizations through changing economic conditions, including the 2008 housing market crash.
He will discuss lessons learned during his career, including building and developing projects, leading organizations and navigating challenges in the housing industry.
“Jim has spent more than four decades working in an industry where you have to know how to solve problems, adapt and keep moving forward,” StartUp Hutch Executive Director Graham Klemme said. “That experience gives him a lot to share with entrepreneurs, whether they work in construction and the trades or are simply trying to build a business that can last.”
Gruver will also lead StartUp Hutch’s new Housing Entrepreneurship Program this fall. The program is designed to help local contractors and skilled trades professionals strengthen their businesses while increasing Reno County’s capacity for new construction and housing renovations.
Entrepreneurship Connections is free to attend. Those who register in advance will receive a free drink ticket.
The event is open to people considering a new business, current business owners and others interested in connecting with entrepreneurs in the region.
For more information or to register, visit startuphutch.com. Klemme can also be reached at graham@startuphutch.com or 620-665-3319.