FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2021
David M. Wilson, Marketing Manager
WT Enterprise Center
(806) 374-9777
david@wtenterprisecenter.com
WT Enterprise Center Celebrates 20 Years of Service to the Panhandle
Amarillo, Texas: The WT Enterprise Center (WTEC), a department of the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business at West Texas A&M University, is celebrating its 20th anniversary of serving entrepreneurs in the Texas Panhandle. A celebratory reception to commemorate this milestone and honor the legacy and future of the WTEC will be held on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the WT Enterprise Center, located at 2300 N. Western Street in Amarillo. The event is open to the public; attendees can RSVP here.
Dr. Walter V. Wendler (President of West Texas A&M University), Kyla Frye (Executive Director of the WT Enterprise Center), and Coco Duckworth (WTEC Entrepreneur-in-Residence & Success Coach with Encourage Consulting) will be speakers for the event.
Don Taylor and his protégé, David Terry, developed a vision for a business incubator that would become a leader for aspiring and existing businesses in Amarillo and across the Texas panhandle. Sue Taylor, Don’s wife, shared that her late husband had always envisioned a one-stop-shop where business owners could go to get help – accounting, taxes, strategy, marketing, etc.
In 2001, through a joint partnership between West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) and the State of Texas, Don’s vision was made a reality when the WT Enterprise Center was established as the first and only business incubator serving the top 26 counties of Texas. “When [the WTEC] came to fruition, they created a center where people could come together and develop relationships and community, and build trust, in order to help them build their businesses,” said Mrs. Taylor. “[Don] established a place where aspiring business owners could come for help without fear of intimidation and be provided concepts and ideas that were real for them and easily understandable. I see it continuing on today in the programs and expertise offered through [the WTEC].”
Dr. Neil Terry, Executive Vice President and Provost at WTAMU, provided direction and oversight of the WTEC while serving as the dean of the College of Business from 2006 to 2020. “Through a combination of engagement channels such as incubation, coaching, network opportunities, and facilitation of financial support, the Enterprise Center is a critical asset for the entrepreneurial and economic development aspirations of the Texas Panhandle,” said Dr. Terry.
Over the last twenty years, the WT Enterprise Center has impacted hundreds of businesses and contributed to the economic development and growth of the Texas panhandle. Roughly 74 percent of companies assisted by the WTEC are still in business to this day.
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Since 2001, the WT Enterprise Center has been helping local entrepreneurs build great companies. With access to certified business coaches, industry expert specialists, top-notch facilities, and high-level programs, business owners gain the support system and resources needed to take their business to the next level. As leaders of entrepreneur support in the Texas Panhandle, we help business owners build strong, profitable companies that contribute to a thriving economic community.
To learn more about the WT Enterprise Center, visit wtenterprisecenter.com. To schedule an interview with our Executive Director, please email david@wtenterprisecenter.com.
