Office: WSTC E127 | Phone: (308) 865-8199 | Email: bennettsa2@unk.edu
Sara Bennett has a passion for serving students and the community. She teaches within the Management Department and promotes entrepreneurship by working with students as they pursue dreams of their own business ventures. Her expertise serving small businesses across rural Nebraska from pre-venture through start-up, growth, and expansion phases is shared in the courses she teaches as real-world examples. Previous experience includes the Entrepreneurship Center Director for Central Community College and a consultant and valuation analyst with UNK’S Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) where she helped small businesses get started and assisted high-growth startups to seek funding through the Small Business Innovation Research program. She gives presentations to civic and community groups on entrepreneurship and starting and growing a business. Sara earned the Small Business and Excellence Award for Nebraska from the Small Business Administration (SBA), the State Star Award for Nebraska from the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC), is recognized as a Top 35 under 35 by the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, and Forty under 40 by the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA). Public service includes Kearney Area Children’s Museum board of directors and GISH Academy of Business & Communication advisory board member.
M.B.A., University of Nebraska at Kearney
B.S., Business Administration / Marketing & Accounting, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Small business development and growth
Innovation in high-growth startups
Valuation and exit planning for small businesses
I believe in incorporating real life examples into the curriculum as stories and case studies to apply the theories and concepts we are learning in class. When possible, I include opportunities to work with active businesses. I value discussion as well, to allow students to provide their own experiences and perspectives on small business and entrepreneurship best practices.
How do you help students pursue their business dreams and start their own ventures?
I work with students in a multitude of ways. Students can work with me through one-on-one coaching to develop their business idea as part of an independent study, Honors Option, or as a side project separate from their schoolwork. I can help connect students with the vast array of resources in the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Nebraska. Through my connections with entrepreneurs, I can help students meet and learn from existing businesses.
