Copyright © 2017, The Oklahoma Publishing Company
Jenny Love Meyer is vice president of communications at Love’s Travel Stops.
Q: What prompted Love’s Travel Stops to step up as the new sponsor of Oklahoma’s largest collegiate business plan competition?
A: Innovation is one of Love’s core values and is key to how we operate. It’s also how my Dad started the company and grew it into what it is today. Combine that with our passion for and dedication to education, and this opportunity proved to be very attractive to us. We’re grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Love’s Entrepreneur’s Cup.
Q: How do Love’s entrepreneurial roots, which go back to its founding by Tom Love, influence how the company operates in 2017?
A: Our culture is centered on a commitment to our customers. By drawing on this commitment, we are able to equip our leaders with the freedom to manage their business units in a way that meets our vision to fulfill our promise to our customers. By listening to them, we have been able to continue our success.
Q: What would you hope the Entrepreneur’s Cup experience provides student competitors in addition to cash awards?
A: We hope students get a better understanding of the practical application of business, which is necessary to turn ambitious vision into reality. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores was built on an idea but has grown into the diversified family of companies it is today through hard work, dedication to our customers and a lot of practical application of business concepts.
Q: What qualities make a successful entrepreneur?
A: Passion and discipline are at the heart of entrepreneurship. It’s where vision meets execution. A strong work ethic and being a self-starter are paramount but so is an ability to work well with a wide variety of people from various backgrounds and business disciplines. Entrepreneurs ultimately need teams to help execute on vision.
PAULA BURKES, BUSINESS WRITER
