The PEN Symposium was created by the Entrepreneurship Program of the College of Commerce at DePaul to assist entrepreneurial firms in the Chicagoland area in their growth process. Each year an outstanding entrepreneurial business is chosen by DePaul’s faculty. The company’s principals present their business plan at PEN and gain feedback from a panel of selected business experts and an audience of professionals.

Among the outstanding entrepreneurial businesses featured was TRI Inc., Train Reinforce Inspire from Elmhurst. TRI Inc., founded by Kevin Gross (MBA, DePaul 1994), owns the exclusive National Field Sales Distribution Rights to the Successories trademar ked product line. Riding the booming market for employee recognition products and services, TRI Inc. is pushing to surpass $2 million is sales for its third anniversary and has offices in Chicago, Denver, Nashville, and Miami.

Following the presentation by Kevin Gross, the four panel members were allotted time to ask questions, present constructive criticism, or a combination of both. The panel members included Mr. G. A. Finch, Mr. William E. Hay, Mr. David E. Hirschfield, and Mr. Byron (Ron) Nahser. Each of these gentlemen is accomplished businessman and was instrumental in the success of the PEN Symposium.

The other feedback mechanism involved the audience members. Comprised primarily of Chicago area business people the 65 plus attendees provided astonishing insight, ideas, and inspiration to Kevin Gross and TRI, Inc. A majority of the audience was abl e to speak or ask questions during the half hour open discussion session.

The PEN Symposiums has clearly been a success. Kevin Gross, DePaul Alumni, stated how impressed he was about the quantity and quality of information and ideas presented by the panel and audience. Equally notable is the fact that many audience members and a member of the panel are also DePaul Alumni.

Kevin Gross and TRI, Inc. were by no means the only beneficiaries of PEN. A number of audience members approached Entrepreneurship Program staff members and stated that they not only gained information from the meeting, but that both Kevin’s success s tory and the enthusiasm showed by everyone involved motivated and inspired them to redouble their business efforts.