During Ohio Business Week, today's leaders prepare tomorrow's leaders for success in the American free enterprise system.
Ohio Business Week is an exciting, weeklong summer program that brings together business education, real world entrepreneurial experience and fun.
High school students from around the state of Ohio converge on a college campus to establish and operate a start-up company.
Dedicated to preparing Ohio's high school students for success in the American free enterprise system while promoting leadership, integrity and entrepreneurship.
To be the recognized leader in providing quality learning experiences that promote the link between personal freedom and economic opportunity.
In 1986, former professional baseball player and Dayton business leader Ronald Nischwitz volunteered at Washington Business Week.
In Washington, he experienced firsthand how students had the time of their lives as they formed their own companies, assumed leadership roles, learned about teamwork, faced real challenges and set goals for their future.
Recognizing the need for an analogous business education program in Ohio, he returned home invigorated and immediately approached several Ohio businesses to start a business week program that best met Ohio students' needs and was tailored for the Ohio economy.
His efforts resulted in success. In 1988, the Ohio Business Week Foundation was founded as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The very next year, the first Ohio Business Week (OBW) program was held on the campus of Ashland University attracting 97 students from 30 counties. The program was met with open arms from business people, educators, parents and students alike.
Since then, the program has grown tremendously and now boasts nearly 6,000 graduates. The program has also been hosted on the campuses of Denison University, Kenyon College, and The Univerisity of Findlay and is now based on the campuses of Ohio Dominican University and Youngstown State University.
