Debra
McCarver,
I grew up in Pullman, WA, attended Walla Walla University and graduated in 1995 with a BA in business. I also attended Northwest Nazarene University and received an MBA in 2003.
I currently teach for the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at WSU and teach students how to come up with a business idea, explore it, and prepare a business plan for presentation in front of judges at the WSU Business Plan Competition. My areas of research interest are Entrepreneurship Education and Entrepreneurship in third world countries.
Before Cougar Quest begins, be thinking of different business ideas you may have. One of the easiest ways to come up with an idea is to solve a problem you or someone else has, or think of something you wish were available that isn’t.
I enjoy working out, playing basketball, baking, friends and overseas travel. I love business and startup companies and can’t wait to see what we come up with.
My favorite summer memory is going to the lake with a bunch of friends in high school and attempting water skiing. I just remember my first attempt to get up on the skis. I fell forward and got a free tow around the lake, drinking about half of it until I turned my head to the side and heard them yelling, “Let go of the rope” Wow. I never really did get the hang of waterskiing but it was a good time!
My professional life goal is to teach students to think Entrepreneurial and to see them launch successful companies because of our time together.
One of my personal passions is a company I helped start in Cambodia called Khmer Krafts. We are a fair trade organization that teaches impoverished village girls how to sew. We then hire the graduates and sell the products they make to companies and the public. Check us out at www.khmerkrafts.com.
Just fun stuff about me, I’m married to a brilliant engineer who I love to spend time with. We have two dogs, D’Artagnon and Zoe that are both Pomeranians. They like to race around the house, bark at anything that moves and are generally very happy to eat any scraps they can get of human food. (D’Artagnon will not eat olives however). We also have a daughter who was born in December and is the little light of our lives.
We have traveled extensively enjoying: Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, England, France, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Zambia and most recently Cambodia. I most want to go to China and New Zealand next. I loved something about most of these places but I have to say we really enjoyed Costa Rica for the beautiful beaches, volcanoes, mountains, butterflies and monkeys and Ireland for the gorgeous green countryside and friendly people.
I look forward to having you share some time with me in July and teaching you to “Be your own boss!”
