The Wedge to Host Entrepreneurship Week Speaker Series

Our Daily Show Interview! The Wedge: Gearing Up For Entrepreneurship Week

ALTON - The Wedge Innovation Center has several exciting events planned for Entrepreneurship Week.

The Congressionally-recognized week celebrates the work of entrepreneurs and aims to help business owners learn and connect with resources. At The Wedge, there will be featured speakers and events from Tuesday, Feb. 17 through Friday, Feb. 20, 2026.

“Entrepreneurship Week launched in 2006. It’s a Congressionally-recognized thing that really is by design to boost the entrepreneurial ecosystem, which is exactly what The Wedge is. We’re a mini one,” explained Stephanie Schrage, The Wedge’s Community Manager. “Small business owners face a lot of challenges as it is, but businesses in all phases can use some help and assistance and networking.”

The nine speaker events will include people who have “done it themselves” and those who specialize in business, marketing and economics. All of the events are free to attend, except for two, which cost $10. Tickets are limited to 45 people, so community members are encouraged to register as soon as possible.

On Tuesday, Feb. 17, Entrepreneurship Week will kick off with “From Mission to Meaning: An Entrepreneur’s Journey” at 1 p.m. This event features Brig. Gen. (Ret.) John Michel, founder of Soulcial Kitchen, who will share information about his mission-driven venture and experience as an entrepreneur.

This will be followed by “Financial Accounting Foundations for Small Business Owners” presented by SIUE Small Business Development Center at 3 p.m. The workshop will break down tools and strategies to help entrepreneurs invest in their business.

Schrage is especially excited for “The van Gogh Entrepreneur: Building a Billion-Dollar Legacy from Nothing” by Joan Fernandez. Fernandez wrote the recently-published book “Saving Vincent,” about Vincent van Gogh’s sister-in-law, Jo, who helped preserve and sell Vincent’s paintings after his death. Fernandez will talk about what she learned as she researched the book and her own experience in marketing. This event costs $10 and will be held at 5 p.m. on Feb. 17.

On Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, the morning starts at 11:30 a.m. with “Are You Really Onto Something? Dr. Hayek on Using the Business Model Canvas to Prove It.” Dr. Mario Hayek, the dean of SIUE’s School of Business, will share information about the Business Model Canvas and his experiences as a “serial entrepreneur.”

At 3 p.m., the SIU System Office of Community Engagement will present “Community Conversations on Health, Opportunity, and Design.” This guided discussion will cover information about the Alton Medical District and its projected growth in the community.

At 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, Schrage is excited to welcome Scott Raether, a career development consultant who will present “From Profile to Pipeline: Actionable LinkedIn Strategies for Entrepreneurs.” This workshop will give entrepreneurs action steps to maximize their LinkedIn profiles and marketing.

Lt. Col. Jeremiah Castillo and Col. (Ret.) Joseph Monaco will present “Human + AI: Accelerating the Entrepreneur’s Edge” at 3 p.m. on Feb. 19. This presentation will take business owners through practical AI tools and strategies.

On Friday, Feb. 20, the final $10 event kicks off at 11:30 a.m. with Diane Dick’s presentation “Leadership Development Series: Values — Foundation Before Function.” This experience encourages entrepreneurs to determine their personal values and mission as they take the next steps in their careers.

The week concludes with a 3 p.m. presentation by Vik Lakhwara, who will present “Before You Pitch: What VCs Really Hear and How to Know You’re Ready.” Schrage noted that most people only have “one shot” to pitch their ideas to venture capitalists, so Lakhwara will go over how to do this successfully.

Entrepreneurship Week at The Wedge aims to facilitate connections through networking and educational opportunities. Schrage emphasized that every event is open to the public and most are free. You can see the full list of events here and register for those you wish to attend.

“We welcome people to come in and take advantage of this,” Schrage added. “Network in between. That's kind of the point, too. Let’s get this community bustling with business and things that people can collaborate on and work together.”

For more information about The Wedge Innovation Center, visit the official website.

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