Entrepreneur Speaker Series: Unveiling the Entrepreneurial Journey with Pineapple Bliss

Are you ready to be inspired, motivated, and equipped with the tools you need to succeed as an entrepreneur? Look no further than the Entrepreneurship Speaker Series at Missouri Southern State University. This event, presented by SMB Bank, brings together visionaries, innovators, and industry leaders from diverse backgrounds to share their journeys, insights, and expertise with our vibrant community of students, faculty, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, an aspiring startup founder, or simply curious about the world of entrepreneurship, our Speaker Series offers something for everyone. Join us on September 17, 2024 to hear from Meg Escalante, owner of Pineapple Bliss, about her entrepreneurial journey. Megan started her early adult years exploring various fields, unsure of where she fit. She graduated from UMKC with degrees in Biochemistry & Liberal Arts, and a minor in Spanish. She also obtained a cosmetology degree and a tattoo license for permanent makeup, which she still practices part-time. Megan has worked in the restaurant industry since college and always dreamed of becoming a business owner. In 2015, she found the Bliss trailer for sale on Craigslist, and by 2016, Pineapple Bliss was open. Today, Pineapple Bliss boasts both a storefront location and a mobile trailer. Megan's motivation stems from her diagnosis with an autoimmune disease several years ago, which led her to research food and food allergies to improve her health. Additionally, she has a sweet tooth. Her favorite aspect of owning Pineapple Bliss is hearing how they made someone's day by providing a stress-free treat that accommodates dietary restrictions or allergies. The delighted reactions of first-time customers trying Bliss bring her joy. Pineapple Bliss has won several local BEST Dessert awards in the Joplin Area, as well as People’s Choice Arkansas Food Hall of Fame 2023, BEST CHEF Taste of the Town NWA 2022, and Most Creative Bite. Megan was selected to join The Conductor 10x Growth program through the Startup Junkie/University of Arkansas and Cureate Co. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her family, especially her nieces and nephew, participating in karaoke, engaging in art-related activities, weight-lifting, and spending weekends at the lake. She loves coffee and has been involved in animal rescue for over 14 years, cherishing her pets. Currently, Megan is working on a new e-commerce project for pets called XOCOCO with the help of the Titan Network. She is also a travel agent on the side, enjoying travel, logistics, planning, and research, and appreciates the flexibility of working from anywhere