Pub Talk features Voodoo Doughnut founder

Building a vibrant entrepreneurial community

Oct. 16, 2019 LA GRANDE, Ore. – Voodoo Doughnuts co-founder Tres Shannon will be the featured speaker  for the Fall Pub Talk at 6 p.m. on Oct. 24 at Side A Brewing & Firehouse Museum. Known for pink boxes and doughnuts that push the limits of edible art, Shannon will discuss his journey as an entrepreneur.

The Entrepreneurship Club (eClub) at Eastern Oregon University hosts regular Pub Talks with entrepreneurs and business owners throughout the academic year.

“One thing that is pivotal in the entrepreneurial community is for entrepreneurs to have heroes. People who have been there and done that and can show they started out just like you,” said Wilson Zehr, faculty advisor of the Entrepreneurship Club.

Voodoo Doughnuts started out in Old Town Portland with Richard “Tres” Shannon and Kenneth “Cat Daddy” Pogson. They have built a nationally recognized brand from one original shop in Portland.  They now have eight stores with two of the newest located at Universal Studios in Orlando and Hollywood.

Zehr met Shannon during a photoshoot in Portland after coaching football with a real estate broker who worked with Voodoo Doughnuts. He said relationship-building and networking like this is another big part of what Pub Talks are meant to do.

“The intent is not only to inspire young entrepreneurs, but also to help foster an entrepreneurial community, while creating opportunities to build relationships and establish networks,” Zehr said.

Pub Talks started in Portland with the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network. Zehr described how local entrepreneurs got  together in an informal environment with peers to discuss their businesses, the challenges they were facing, and share tips on how to help each other. He said this model has helped launch the startup scene in a number of cities.

All of the pub talks are recorded at livestream.com/eou/entrepreneurclub.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Food and drinks are available. This event is free and open to the public. For more information contact Wilson Zehr or wzehr@eou.edu.

Written by PR Intern Briana Rosenkranz