• Entrepreneurial Leadership Series Luncheons
• Entrepreneur of the Year Awards
• Executive in Residence
• About the Center
• Student Programs
• Student Run Ventures
• EduCases
• Entrepreneurial Alums
• Resources
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Upcoming Events

Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship

The Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship is an entrepreneurship education resource that provides classes, coaching and assistance to entrepreneurs. It builds relationships among and between CSB/SJU students, faculty, alumnae/i, and community members to create and strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit.

As The Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship at CSB/SJU celebrates our 10th anniversary, we are proud to mark a decade of impressive success and launch a fundraising drive to fully endow the Center. If you are interested in more information about the Center and/or our fundraising efforts, please contact Center Director, Pat Maxwell, at pmaxwell@csbsju.edu

Nominations are open for the 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards!
If you would like to nomination someone for one of our three awards, please click the link below.

Nominate Here!

2014 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards was a huge success!

CSB Entrepreneur of the Year:
Kate Huebsch '84, President/Owner, High Point Creative

SJU Entrepreneur of the Year:
Dan Bastian '90, Owner, Angie's Kettle Corn

CSB/SJU Social Entrepreneur of the Year:
Greg Lais, SJU '78, Founder and Executive Director, Wilderness Inquiry

Click here to watch the videos for our 2014 winners!  

Saint John's University, and the College of Saint Benedict welcomes Pat Maxwell as the second director of the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship!

From the CSB/SJU Press Release-

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University are pleased to announce that Pat Maxwell has been appointed director of the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship at CSB/SJU. Maxwell will succeed recently retired founding director Terri Barreiro, who served from 2004-14.

Maxwell has more than 40 years of experience as an entrepreneur, executive and turnaround management specialist in both the business and non-profit sectors. He is a 1966 graduate of Saint John's University with a degree in philosophy, and holds a juris doctor degree from Northwestern University School of Law.

Maxwell has held management positions including board chairman, director, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, vice president and general counsel. He has served as executive director of two membership associations and one charitable organization. Maxwell has started, bought or led 20 businesses and non-profits. The areas he has worked in include manufacturing, insurance, personnel placement, education, business services, food, medical, legal, membership and charitable services. These organizations are located throughout the United States, Europe and the Pacific Rim.

"In addition to his impressive record and experience as an entrepreneur, Pat is both the product of, and an advocate for, the liberal arts. He has the ideal pedigree to direct an entrepreneurship center at a liberal arts college," said Michael Hemesath, president of Saint John's University.

Maxwell has served on the Saint John's National Alumni Board and the Saint John's Board of Regents. He currently serves on the Board of Overseers of the Saint John's School of Theology•Seminary.

Maxwell has also been very active with the McNeely Center. He is currently on the McNeely Center Advisory Committee, and for the past two years he has served as the executive-in-residence for the McNeely Center, mentoring and assisting students.

"Under Pat's leadership, I am confident that the McNeely Center will continue to focus on our students and their interests," said Mary Dana Hinton, president of the College of Saint Benedict, "and work to provide programming for alumnae and alumni."

Founded in 2004 by St. Paul, Minnesota, business and civic leader the late Donald McNeely, the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship is an education resource that provides classes, coaching and assistance to entrepreneurs. It builds relationships among and between CSB/SJU students, faculty, alumnae/i and community members to create and strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit. Its mission is to create social value and economic opportunity by actively building alliances between students as future entrepreneurs, faculty and experienced entrepreneurs in service to communities, organizations and individuals.

Welcome Pat!

 Hear what our Entrepreneur Scholar Alums have to say:

The McNeely Center would like to welcome the following students to the 2014-2016 Entrepreneur Scholars Program. Congratulations!

• Sam Brynestad
• Katie Miller
• Megan Towle
• Joe Hegedus
• Amelia Schmelzer
• Nick Liemandt
• Allison Steen
• Joby Nolan
• Yue Pheng Lee
• Brian Schepperle
• Jerly Alcala
• Shawn Yoakum

Executive in Residence

The Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship will host its third Executive-in-Residence. The goal of the program is to build on the success of our current alumni mentoring program and deepen the opportunity for student connection through more frequent and informal access to seasoned and accomplished leaders dedicated to sharing their experience and expertise. 

Meet our 2014-2015 Executive in Residence, Teresa Mazzitelli!

Teresa is a '72 graduate of the College of Saint Benedict earning a degree in Theatre Arts & Communications.  She landed the title role in Peter Pan while at St. Ben's, and found the experience of soaring to unchartered heights to be quite helpful later in life as a business owner/entrepreneur. After college she worked in the performing arts acting, directing and designing. As a member of a children's theatre troupe, she developed the 'tough skin'' necessary for her soon-to-be new role as an entrepreneur (she toured as a singing & dancing turtle)!

 After working for a Twin Cities recruiting firm, Teresa made the leap to start her own venture, an executive search firm. Founded in 1988, The Mazzitelli Group is a retained executive search firm serving client companies, organizations and institutions in senior level talent acquisition. Teresa has been recognized as a trusted adviser to CEO's, business owners, corporate boards and search committees. Teresa values the Benedictine tradition of service to others, and believes that personal strength is a prerequisite for helping others. She serves as the Vice-Chair of the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship serving the College of Saint Benedict, Saint John's University.

Social Entrepreneurs and future nonprofit leaders assisted by the Center

The mission of the Donald McNeely Center includes reaching those with entrepreneurial visions to address social and community issues. The Center provides individual advice and coaching to students and community leaders. Read more about this work.

Donald McNeely, Inspirational Founder, 1914-2009

Donald McNeely, aged 94, passed away March 9th, 2009. He was the inspirational founder of the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship and a frequent advisor for staff and students. He will be greatly missed.