Fairfield University's Dolan School of Business has its very first Entrepreneur-in-Residence, the latest in a series of opportunities the school has created for students to learn about starting their own businesses.

Fairfield resident Jeffrey F. Roseman, president of David Harvey Jewelers, Inc. in Darien and Norwalk, Connecticut and a graduate of Fairfield's MBA Program , will serve as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence this semester. "We're pleased and excited that a professional like Jeff was able to take on this role. He'll provide mentoring to students and work in consultation with the faculty to enhance our Entrepreneurship Program," said Donald E. Gibson, Ph.D., dean of the Dolan School of Business. "He will also work with Fairfield region entrepreneurs to promote the program."

Roseman is happy to hear that a growing number of Fairfield students harbor ambitions to become entrepreneurs. In his new role, he hopes to inspire all students, regardless of their majors, to have an entrepreneurial spirit.  "We'd like to instill in students the fact that their passion for an idea, a service or product is within their grasp and can be developed into a business of their own design," said Roseman, who, in addition to being president, is a jewelry appraiser and the purchasing agent for his family's stores.

A significant part of Roseman's work this semester will involve the "DSB Inaugural Business Plan Competition." Last fall, the Dolan School presented all Fairfield undergraduate students with an exciting opportunity to pursue their own unique ventures through the competition. Prize money totaling $12,000 will be divided among the winners. In addition to mentoring competing student teams - 13 are taking part - Roseman will attend competition events.

The Entrepreneur-in-Residence was made possible by a gift from Laura and Robert Coleman, whose son, Matthew, is a junior at the Dolan School. It builds on a three-year initiative in the Department of Management to develop students' capacity in entrepreneurship, including new courses, a concentration within management, and a new entrepreneurship minor, available to all Fairfield students. The efforts come at a time when entrepreneurial firms make up a significant and growing part of the American economy and are the primary generators of new job creation.

Now in its fourth generation, David Harvey Jewelers has survived the great depression as well as this country's most recent great recession. Roseman will share many of the lessons he learned helping his jewelry business sustain through economic challenges. These will be lessons that students need to hear, since ninety percent of all business enterprises are family businesses, Roseman said. "Statistically, we must acknowledge that most of our University graduates will end up as entrepreneurs sometime during their business career."

Roseman credits his MBA teachers and mentors as the motivation he needed to pursue his next career, as an adjunct professor. He has been teaching the popular "Managing the Family Business" class since Fall, 2006. For more information, visit www.fairfield.edu/dsb .

Image: Undergraduate Anthony Padovano asks advice of Jeffrey F. Roseman, the new Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Dolan School of Business.

Posted On: 03-02-2012 11:03 AM

Volume: 44 Number: 215