School of Business Administration
More Than a Place with Space
By Jeanne Zeek '08, '14
Anyone who follows Dayton news media has likely seen or heard numerous references to the age-old question: What will be done with the Dayton Arcade? Finally, we are getting answers, thanks in part to the University of Dayton. Partnering with The Entrepreneurs Center (TEC), UD has been working to develop The Hub at the Arcade, a one-of-a-kind space for collaboration, innovation and growth. Vince Lewis, Director of the University’s L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and President of (newly named) The Hub Powered by PNC at The Arcade, has been involved from the beginning. We recently caught up with Lewis’s assistant, Stephanie Peters, to find out firsthand about the development’s impact on UD and the Entrepreneurship Program in the School of Business Administration (SBA), and in particular, to Stephanie herself.
Stephanie joined the Crotty Center over seven years ago, but the hum of activity surrounding The Hub is unlike anything she’s experienced here so far, and the excitement continues to intensify as the vision gets closer to reality. “The Hub will be more than just a place with space. It will bring together the pillars that support a vibrant startup ecosystem, including education, collaboration, funding, events, and mentorship. This will be a community space for all of Dayton.”
As an extension of UD’s main campus, The Hub will retain and reflect the special character for which the University is known. Stephanie assures us, “The Hub at the Arcade will truly embody the values of Learn, Lead and Serve, inviting the entire UD family and broader Dayton community to be a part of this transformative effort.” She shared that at the highest level, “We foresee even deeper relationships with the community surrounding the University. Students will gain access to the companies and entrepreneurs utilizing space in The Hub, and hopefully will build relationships that can lead to internships and job offers.”
We wondered, though, how the move to new offices downtown will affect Stephanie on a more personal level. “Not to worry,” is the short answer. From parking options to proximity to great restaurants, Stephanie has many reasons to look forward to the move. “Downtown has an exciting vibe, and I look forward to being in the middle of it. Plus the innovation and new businesses surrounding the rebirth of The Arcade make The Hub Powered by PNC a perfect match for the Crotty Center, as well as for the other UD entities that will relocate with us.”
Flyer Enterprises, UD’s student-run business, plans to open a café-style eatery right inside the doors facing Main Street. This will be the 10th division of Flyer Enterprises, which grosses over $1.4 million each year. In addition, Flyer Pitch will hold each phase of competition in The Tank, a theatre-in-the-round under the Rotunda, and when the winner is awarded $50,000 in cash and in-kind support, what better place to consider setting up shop than The Hub?
Stephanie acknowledges that the new location for offices as well as some classes will take some getting used to. “Students will be taking entrepreneurship classes there, and plans are underway to ensure that course schedules won’t present hardships for the almost 200 students majoring or minoring in ENT.” Classes in the engineering and art & design programs will also be offered at The Hub. The Flyer Express, a free downtown-UD shuttle provided by the Dayton RTA, will make commuting easier for not only the students, but faculty and staff, as well.
The Hub will offer offices and co-share spaces for local entrepreneurs and companies, and additional rental spaces is planned for special events. Now that The Arcade is finally being redeveloped, it’s nothing but onward and upward for this iconic Dayton space.