Bryan C. Boots, PhD serves as Associate Teaching Professor with the Henry W. Bloch School of Management and as a Managing Director with the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, both of which are part of the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). During his time with UMKC, he has designed and delivered numerous courses and programs in entrepreneurship, and has mentored more than 100 aspiring entrepreneurs from across campus and from the Kansas City community. Boots has started ventures of his own, has served as PI or Co-PI on grant-funded research projects, and in 2024 served as a Fulbright Scholar in Chile. He earned his PhD in Systems Engineering from Colorado State University and MBA in Entrepreneurship and Finance from University of Missouri-Kansas City. Dr. Boots's research utilizes network analysis methods to gain insights into what drives behavior in complex systems.
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Lane Graves Perry, III, PhD earned his doctorate at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. He currently serves as a faculty member in the College of Business at Western Carolina University, has 20 years of higher education experience (administrative and in the classroom), and is focused on teaching and applying innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship in all contexts. He works to connect with students, partners, and colleagues to leverage resources to solve problems collaboratively. He is keenly focused on work and service that is dedicated to improving the lot of others and tapping into their deepest wells of energy, passion, and knowledge. His ultimate goal is to guide students to develop the tools to discover their personal answer to the question, "What do you care enough about, to do something about in this world?"
He is a USASBE Rural Entrepreneurship Fellow, served as an Erskine Fellow to the University of Canterbury in New Zealand (2022), received dozens of awards for his work with community engagement, service-learning, and civic development, and has published extensively in the fields of entrepreneurship, leadership, pedagogy, global education, community engagement, and public health. Dr. Perry has served in numerous board roles ranging from local to nationally recognized non-profits.
Lane lives in the mountains of western North Carolina with his family, which includes his spouse, Dr. April Perry, his two daughters, Prescott and Pennon, and a small zoo that his home has become (including: 2 dwarf frogs - Pickles & Pepper, 1 holland lop bunny - Popsie, and 1 golden retriever - Pace). For him, his contributions to this book are dedicated to his beloved family: his mom, dad, and sisters, whose teachings have shaped his life, to his wife and daughters, who are the very heart of his purpose, and his students - past, present, and future - who allow him to fulfill his purpose every day.
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Benjamin J. Williams, JD is Associate Teaching Professor for the Department of Entrepreneurship and Management in the Henry W. Bloch School of Management and Managing Director of Venture Creation Programs for the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at University of Missouri-Kansas City.
An award-winning educator, entrepreneur, and mentor, Ben Williams has helped develop entrepreneurs and ventures that have economic as well as social impact. His focus is on program building, sustainable business models, and human-centered design. His specialty in building impactful programs and sustainable business models stretches beyond campus. Williams is the founder of multiple companies and has consulted for a host of exciting startups.
Ben holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Drury University, an MBA from UMKC, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Law.
