Dear Consortium Co-Chairs,
With aspirations to teach entrepreneurship and related courses at the university level, I wish to attend the USASBE Doctoral Consortium in order to collaborate with other emerging and stablished scholars of entrepreneurship. My research area of interest is entrepreneurship education. I am a former small business owner and I attribute my previous business success to what I learned as an entrepreneurship teacher before I opened my store. Starting in a single 1100 square foot space, my retail business expanded several times to an 8000 s/f store in Virginia Beach and similar size store in Richmond, Virginia. After closing my store to raise my son, I returned to school.
My experience teaching business ownership capstone courses at universities to undergraduates and also to nascent entrepreneurs through government sponsored workshops has solidified my belief that small business entrepreneurs benefit from training.
Currently, my research focuses on this issue: where do nascent entrepreneurs get the information they need to operate a successful business? The government provides opportunity for training and
mentorship yet few entrepreneurs participate. My personal experience teaching entrepreneurs has shown the value of training for nascent entrepreneurs. I’ve spent the past year serving on a
subcommittee in Virginia Beach to develop a survey for small businesses in the city. Starting with qualitative study, I interviewed local business owners to help the city design a (quantitative) survey. Preliminary results from 348 participants are leading my research further with another qualitative study to examine the gap revealed between entrepreneurs’ desire for training and the lack of participation in existing programs. The details for this mixed method study is attached to my application. The results of this research will be used to help the city to devise a plan to better serve small business development and growth. I am working on the literature review for this paper now.
I am interested in future research projects that center on teaching entrepreneurship to middle or high school students to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs and also to urban individuals to help expand their opportunities as a means to reduce poverty.
As an organizer for 1 Million Cups, Virginia Beach, I was selected to attend the recent Organizer Summit in Kansas City in early October where organizers from around the country shared ideas on program improvement. Our community was founded last May and in the few weeks since the conference, our chapter has already benefited from the information and has clarified the plans for growth.
I would be thrilled to read related materials and discuss small business entrepreneurship issues with other scholars at the USABE Doctoral Consortium.
Thank you for your consideration,
Karen Eagle Dissertation Fellow
Darden College of Education Old Dominion University
Karen Eagle
After teaching high school marketing and fashion courses in Virginia Beach, Karen opened her
own retail store which started as a small operation and grew to be a nationally recognized
specialty store. Carrying quality women’s apparel in both Virginia Beach and Richmond, she
organized large scale events and later designed and developed a private label line of wedding
gowns for national distribution. Closing her store after 17 years to raise her son, she earned
her M.S. in 2010 at Old Dominion University and taught entrepreneurship and fashion
marketing classes for 2 years as an instructor at ODU and then as the Fashion Program
Coordinator at The Art Institute in Virginia Beach. While in these positions, she taught
entrepreneurship workshops for the SBDC and wrote curriculum for Small Business workshops
at Tidewater Community College.
Karen Eagle holds a M.S in Business and Industry Training from ODU and a B.S in Marketing
Education from James Madison University. With a passion for helping entrepreneurs succeed,
she is currently serving as an organizer for the newly established 1 Million Cups community in
Virginia Beach and working on her PhD at ODU researching methods to assist small business
success.
Her current research interest centers on entrepreneurs’ use of public resources available to
assist small businesses. Other areas of research interest include identifying the next generation
of entrepreneurs and fostering urban/third world entrepreneurship as a means to reduce
poverty.
KAREN EAGLE
940 Morado Court, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23456 | 757-418-2424 | [email protected] ACADEMIC DEGREES
Doctor of Philosophy, Education Expected Spring/Summer 2016 Occupational/Technical Studies: Human Resources - Training
Old Dominion University,Norfolk, VA
M.S. Business and Industry Training 2010 Fashion Emphasis
Old Dominion University,Norfolk, VA Summa cum laude
B.S. Marketing Education 1983 Fashion Merchandising Concentration
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA Cum laude
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Old Dominion University
Dissertation Fellow 01/2015-Present
Human Subjects Review Committee Administrator, Education Department Managed research packages, granted reviewer access, requested investigator research documents, and worked as liaison to the IRB chair Assistant, ATMAE accreditation
Gathered necessary information for Industrial Technology program accreditation, wrote self-study proposal, created and administered student and alumnae surveys, created advisory committee and held focus group meetings with stakeholders.
Graduate Teaching Assistant 2014
Taught STEM 110T – Technology and Your World
Art Institute of Virginia Beach 10/2012-12/2013
Fashion Program Coordinator
Academic leadership role with administrative and teaching responsibilities. Accountable for student persistence and assessment process as well as faculty and observation and development. Built quarterly course schedules, advised and registered students, tracked at-risk students. Taught fashion courses and collaborated with other Program Coordinators. Worked with branch campus curriculum committee and campus staff, led in-service activities, attended open houses and campus events. Created and maintained accreditation reports, conducted training sessions with Admissions representatives, and participated in all orientations and graduations. Networked with industry leaders and built business partnerships.
Old Dominion University
Instructor 07/2010-05/2012
Taught Buying, Visual Merchandising, Fashion Accessories, Fashion Show Production, Senior Project – Retail Merchandising, and Topics: Fashion Tours NY. Advised students, helped students find internships, graded papers, constructed exams, assisted with High School recruitment and presentations to incoming freshmen. Developed professional partnership with Nordstrom, NEXCOM, MacArthur Mall, and Decorum furniture to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students.
Old Dominion University
Graduate Teaching Assistant 01/2010-05/2010
Taught SEPS 220 - The Fashion Industry
Assisted in developing curriculum and teaching SEPS 496 -Fashion Design and Construction. Assisted evaluation of senior projects for SEPS 480 – Senior
Project: Merchandise Retailing. Advised students, assisted in student recruitment. Karen Eagle, Inc., Virginia Beach and Richmond, VA
Owner, Designer, Buyer 1990 – 2007 Directed sales, marketing, and customer service for two locations of a multi-
million dollar retail store; designed advertising campaigns involving print, radio, TV, and electronic media; produced critically acclaimed fashion shows. Designed and manufactured dresses and gowns for local and national markets, helped develop national private label bridal collection with Mon Cherie Bridals. Bought women’s apparel, accessories, lingerie, shoes, and men’s formalwear. Responsible for sourcing, market planning, merchandising and visual display. Managed over 40 people, held weekly sales and product meetings; responsible for motivation and retention. Developed efficient procedures and systems for sales and customer service, pioneering new POP software. Designed and maintained a dynamic fashion retail website.
Virginia Beach Public Schools, Virginia Beach VA
Fashion Merchandising and Marketing Education Teacher 1984 – 1990 Taught Advertising, Sales, Buying, Entrepreneurship, Retail Math, Fashion
History, Textiles, Product Development, Clothing and Society, Human Relations, and Communication Skills. Supervised student Cooperative program, served as DECA Advisor. Assisted in curriculum development, produced student fashion shows, and established a Fashion Marketing Scholarship. School Class Advisor for Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Class of 1989.
Barbizon Modeling Agency
Academic Sales 1983 - 1984 Advised students for class enrollment in modeling and self-
ACADEMIC ASSIGNMENTS Old Dominion University
Teaching Assistant 2014
STEM110T- Technology and Your World
Art Institute of Virginia Beach 10/2012-12/2013
Fashion Program Coordinator
Courses taught:
FRM 101 – Intro to Retailing
FRM 243 – Business Ownership
FRM 345 – Product Development and Manufacturing
FRM 353 - Merchandise Management and Inventory Control
FRM 499 - Internship
FRM 490 – Senior Portfolio
Old Dominion University 2010 - 2011
Instructor
Courses taught:
SEPS 208 – Buying
SEPS 423 – Visual Merchandising
SEPS 425 – Fashion Accessories
SEPS 411 – Fashion Show Production
SEPS 480 – Senior Project – Retail Merchandising
SEPS 495 – Topics: Fashion Tours NY
Old Dominion University 2010
Teaching Assistant
SEPS 220 the Fashion Industry
PUBLICATIONS
“Brownie, Anyone? A Kodak Moment in Time”, The History Corner, publication pending 2015 TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning
“Technological Literacy in History and Social Sciences Standards of Learning”, December 2014 analyzed data with a team of researchers for report
“Primary Factors in Generation Y’s Cotton Clothing Purchase Decisions” Fall 2010 Iota Lambda Sigma Journal for Workforce Education, Volume 2, Issue 1
“Marketing Your Business on Facebook and Twitter” August, 2009 The Vintage Magazine, Southwest Georgia August
PRESENTATIONS AND MEDIA
“Access and Use of Small Business Resources in Virginia Beach”, research January 14, 2015 presentation to assist survey development for small businesses, City
"Teamwork in the Classroom: Stimulating Collaboration, Innovation August 1, 2014 and Creativity", a workshop for marketing teachers, Virginia Association
of Marketing Educators, Virginia Beach, VA.
“Inventory Management, Marketing and Merchandising”, April 23, 30 & May 7, 2014 Hampton Roads Retail Academy, developed and presented a workshop
for local retail entrepreneurs, Hampton Roads Small Business
Development Center, Virginia Beach, VA
“Purpose, Passion, and Persistence: Follow Your Path”, a motivational March 19, 2014 speech for business leaders, National Association of Women Business
Owners, Norfolk, VA
“2014 Trend and Color Forecast”, visual presentation for retailers, November 14, 2013 Old Dominion Fashion Exhibitors, Virginia Beach, VA
“Marketing and Merchandising”, Hampton Roads Retail Academy, July 10 & 17, 2013 developed and presented a workshop for local retail entrepreneurs,
Hampton Roads SBDC, Portsmouth, VA
“Marketing and Merchandising”, Hampton Roads Retail Academy, March 20 & 27, 2013 developed and presented a workshop to local retail entrepreneurs for
the Hampton Roads SBDC, Portsmouth, VA
“Retailing Olympics: Go for the Gold!”, a motivational business September 13, 2012 presentation to retailers, Old Dominion Fashion Exhibitors,
Virginia Beach, VA
“Purpose, Passion, and Persistence: Follow Your Path”, a motivational November 2, 2012 speech for business leaders, The Virginia Dare Business and
Professional Women's Club, Duck, NC
“Cotton, Naturally”, an educational program specifically for high school August 5, 2010 and college students of textiles, fashion merchandising, and related fields,
Virginia Association of Marketing Educators, Richmond, VA
“Cotton, Naturally”, an educational program specifically for high school August 2, 2010 and college students of textiles, fashion merchandising, and related
fields, Virginia Family and Consumer Science, Virginia Beach, VA
The Vintage Magazine- website 2009-2010
Developed and maintained new website for the Vintage Magazine, Southwest Georgia
The Karen Eagle Bridal Showcase, Virginia Beach and Richmond 1996-2007 Fashion Show and Trade show, coordinated over 100 vendors; planned
and presented 90 minute fashion show for 1200 attendees, coordinated marketing and promotion, produced radio and TV advertisements.
2B Bride 2003
Collaborated with manufacturer’s design team to create new private-label bridal
gown collection; presented to retailers at the National Bridal Market in Las Vegas, NV kareneagle.com
Worked with web designer to create leading-edge company website; 1998 - 2007 maintained product images, descriptions, pricing, Metadata, and fashion blog
Local television appearances 1992 - 2007
Frequent guest as fashion expert on WVEC and WTKR TV news in Virginia Beach and WWBT in Richmond
Women’s Wear Daily, Brides Magazine, Vows Magazine (national), Virginian 1991 - 2007 Pilot, Portfolio Magazine, Tidewater Women, VOW Magazine (local)
Contributed to fashion and business articles; interviewed regularly as an expert in the fashion industry
Guest Speaker 1991 - 2011
Invited to speak to businesses, college and high school classes on a variety of business and fashion-related subjects
“Plan Your Wedding” Infomercial 1999
Produced half-hour video program to educate brides on wedding attire
selection
HONORS AND AWARDS
Bridal Retailer of the Year, DIVA (The Design Impact Vision Atlanta) Award, 2005
AmericasMart, Atlanta
Outstanding Professional Woman, Business Community of Hampton Roads 2001 Best Formal Wear Shop, Gold Award, Best of Hampton Roads, “Best of the Beach” 1995 – 2007 (Consumer votes, awarded yearly)
Disney’s Bridal Network, 24 stores chosen nationally (from over 3000) 1997 RESEARCH
BARRIERS TO SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION IN 2015 VIRGINIA BEACH: A MIXED-METHODS INVESTIGATION
Expanded on previous research; conducted more interviews to develop and beta-test a survey for the city of Virginia Beach to discover obstacles to small business growth
ACCESS AND USE OF SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES IN VIRGINIA BEACH 2014 Phenomenological study exploring business startup resources used by
Virginia Beach entrepreneurs, Old Dominion University.
PRIMARY FACTORS IN GENERATION Y’S COTTON CLOTHING PURCHASE DECISIONS 2010 Conducted research on Gen Y’s understanding of cotton as a comfortable,
durable, and versatile fiber for Cotton, Inc., Old Dominion University
Research Assistant 2010
Worked with Sharon R. Davis to write curriculum, make presentations
and complete research for Cotton, Inc. grant, Old Dominion University CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
Entrepreneurship Courses 2015
Currently assisting the development of courses for startup retail business owners, (combination of face-to-face instruction and online delivery)
for the Retail Alliance, Norfolk VA
Merchandising and Pricing 2014
Developed entrepreneurship workshop curriculum for Consumer Behavior Series, Tidewater Community College
Shopping Behavior and Store Design 2014
Developed entrepreneurship workshop curriculum for Consumer Behavior Series, Tidewater Community College
Inventory Management, Marketing and Merchandising 2013-2014 Developed curriculum for entrepreneurship workshops for the Hampton Roads
Retail Academy, Small Business Development Center
“Five on 7th” SEPS 495 – Topics: Fashion Tours NY 2011
Developed new topics course for Old Dominion University
Fashion Design and Construction 2010
Assisted development of curriculum and instruction of SEPS 496 – Fashion Design and Construction
Fashion Show Production 2009
Developed new curriculum for Old Dominion University
Creating High Impact, Low Budget Visual Merchandising 2009 Computer-based training created with Articulate for retailers in
the fashion industry
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES
US Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurs 2015
New member of USASBE
1 Million Cups 2015
Serving as an Organizer for entrepreneur presentations in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach Small Business Subcommittee 2014-2015 Mayor’s committee to identify barriers to small business development in Virginia
Beach and recommend practical solutions to grow the economic base
Hampton Roads American Marketing Association, Retail Alliance 2012-2015
Attended meetings and events
Stylelicious, Pilot Media Event April 20, 2013
Organized three shows for fashion/food event, VA Beach
SNRG—Strategic National Retail Group (for 2Be Bride) 2002-2007 Founding member of national retail group, developed private-label product
and distribution policies for retail stores
“The Cool Book” 2002-2006
Prom advertising co-op association between prom retailers and manufacturers; produced a 64 page direct mail piece
7th On Sixth, New York Fashion Week, The Coterie, Designers and Agents, 1990-2007 FAME, Accessorie Circuit, New York Bridal Market, AmericasMart (Atlanta),
Chicago Bridal Market, Vegas Market, Barcelona Bridal Week
Attended fashion markets and purchased apparel and accessories for retail store, attended seminars and fashion shows
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Operation Smile 2012-2014
Organized events and participated in fundraisers
JCOC—Judeo-Christian Outreach Center 2008-2010
Prepared and served meals
Chairman, Student Missions Auction, Spring Branch Community Church 2007-2008 Coordinated auction to raise money for student trips to the
church-supported orphanage in Nicaragua, raised over $25,000.
The Karen Eagle Bridal Showcase 2000-2007 Donated revenue from ticket sales for fashion show to American Cancer Society
for Breast Cancer and Susan G. Komen, included breast cancer survivors as models and gained media attention for the cause.
Hope Gala, “Fashion Fights Breast Cancer” 2001
Created, developed and executed black-tie charity event for American Cancer Society; coordinated advertising and promotion, entertainment and event planning, live and silent auctions involving local and New York vendors; raised $80,000
Corporate Sponsorship, Karen Eagle, Inc. 1990-2007
Contributed to local charities; donated auction items and resources to local schools, hospitals, and charitable organizations
RELATED SKILLS Technology:
o Proficient in
▫ Adobe Dreamweaver, Flash, SoundBooth, Fireworks, and PhotoShop ▫ PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Articulate and Captivate
o Website design and development, and maintenance Business Development
o Entrepreneurial Coach o Motivational speaker o Sales training
o Store floor-plan design and build-out planning Fashion Design and Manufacturing
o Clothing design and construction o Tailoring, men’s and women’s garments o Pattern drafting and grading
Media
o Event and Fashion Show Production ▫ Show Organization
▫ Master of Ceremonies o Photo Shoot Stylist for photography o Fashion and business writer LANGUAGES
