During block break, January 28-30, the Berry Center and the Theatre Department hosted a workshop, "Business Boot Camp." The workshop was facilitated by Jerome Tatar, a Past Chairman of the Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce and a current member of the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of Knox College, the University of Chicago, and received his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University of Chicago. He is a member of the Federal Trial Bar and is Chairperson qualified in the Cook County Arbitration Program.

The workshop was conceived by Mr. Tatar as a result of working with his three artist children, including Cornellian Laura Tatar '11. He has previously presented "Contract Law for Artists" at University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, Western Illinois University, Knox College, Milliken University and Cornell College. "Business Boot Camp" was held on three mornings, and covered the following topics:

• The Business Plan and Business Structure
• Inside the Business: The Board of Directors
• Outside the Business: Location, Public Relations, and Marketing

Student Perspectives

What I liked most about the event was the ability to speak with someone that had experience in a variety of businesses. I also enjoyed making a fake theater company as a part of a "start-up business venture" project. I felt like I was creating an actual company throughout the whole process...I actually felt like I should actually start the company. -- Andy Harter '13

I thought Jerry did a great job summarizing what it takes to create a business. I like how we were able to work in groups and come up with our own ideas, making the whole experience more real than it actually was. It was nice to be able to apply what Jerry lectured into our business ideas. -- Fia Wulur '13

I worked with very smart and creative people. It's so much fun to just talk with them and share my ideas. It was a very good team-work experience! -- Baiyang Huang '13