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University co-hosts global entrepreneurship center conference

Nov. 1, 2018

More than 600 entrepreneurship conference leaders from across the world attended the 2018 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Center Conference, co-hosted by DePaul University’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Center and the Illinois Institute of Technology. The three-day conference explored a variety of entrepreneurship education topics through a packed schedule of workshops, panels and facilitated round-table discussions.

Bruce Leech, executive director for the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center, welcomes GCEC attendees during the conference's kick-off reception on Oct. 19. (DePaul University/Kathy Hillegonds)

Coleman Entrepreneurship Center Advisory Board member Jom Wocklander, strategic account manager of Lack Country Press, talks with attendees at the GCEC Conferenc welcome reception on DePaul's Loop Campus. (DePaul University/Kathy Hillegonds)

Genevieve Theirs (left), founder of SitterCity.com and Women in Entrepreneurship Institute committee member; DePaul President A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D.; and IIT President Alan W. Cramb prepare to address the opening session of the conference. (DePaul University/Kathy Hillegonds)

Driehaus College of Business Dean Misty Johanson and Bruce Leech, executive director of the Coleman Center, attend the GCEC Conference kick-off reception. (DePaul University/Kathy Hillegonds)

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel welcomed attendees to the GCEC Conference and discussed the city's extensive entrepreneur ecosystem. (DePaul University/Kathy Hillegonds)

Dr. Esteban talks with attendees at the conferece. (DePaul University/Kahty Hillegonds)

Genevieve Theirs delievered a keynote address during the event. (DePaul University/Kathy Hillegonds)

More than 600 entrepreneurship leaders from across the world attended the 2018 Global Consortium of Entrepreneruship Center Conference. (DePaul University/Kathy Hillegonds)

Michael W. Hennessy (left), president and CEO of the Coleman Foundation; Hard Welsch, founder of DePaul's entrepreneurship program; and Bruce Leech, executive director of the Coleman Center, mingle at the conference. (DePaul University/Kathy Hillegonds)

DePaul management professor Lisa Gundry (left); Megan Carver, associate director of the Kohler Center for Entrepreneurship at Marquette University; and Livia Bercot, program manager in the Coleman Center, spoke at the GCEC conference. (DePaul University/Kathy Hillegonds)

Coleman Center Assistant Director Abigail Ingram, along with a group of faculty, staff, alumni and WEI board members, led the panel discussion, "Women in Entrepreneurship: The Entrepreneur's Role at the Center and Launching New Initiatives," during the Global Entrepreneurship Center Conference. (DePaul University/Kathy Hillegonds)

Lamont Black, an assistant professor finance at DePaul, led the breakout session, "Blockchain and Entrepreneurship." (DePaul University/Kathy Hillegonds)

GCEC panelists DePaul alumnus Carolyn Leonard (left), CEO and co-founder of DyMynd and DyMynd Angels; Dima Elissa, adjunct faculty member, and CEO and founder of VisMed3D, and co-founder of Symptomatic.io; Valerie King-Baily, CEO and founder of OnShore Technology Group; Abigail Ingram, leader of WEI and assistant director of the Coleman Center; and JinJa Birkenbeuel, CEO of Birk Creative. (DePaul University/Kathy Hillegonds)