Herschend, Barsness speak on business this week

The founders of two area companies will visit local colleges this week to speak on their experiences in business.

Peter Herschend, co-founder of Herchend Family Entertainment Corp., will present "Johnny the Bagger: Innovations in Customer Service" at 7 p.m. Thursday in Clara Thompson Hall on the Drury University campus.

Branson-based Herschend Family Entertainment owns, operates or partners in 23 properties in 10 states, including Silver Dollar City, Celebration City and Dollywood.

The free event is part of Drury's 2008-09 convocation series Entrepreneurship & Innovation, focusing on unique and innovative approaches to business, social and environmental issues, according to a news release.

Rick Barsness, founder and CEO of Springfield-based Incredible Pizza Co., will be the guest speaker at a Leadership Lecture Series at Evangel University on Friday.

The free session, called "An Incredible Journey of Faith and Entrepreneurship," will be held 1-2:30 p.m. in Barnett Recital Hall on the Evangel campus. It is part of the school's business department homecoming activities.

"Rick Barsness will be sharing his story about getting started in the restaurant business after college, his opportunity to buy a pizza store, the miracle idea of mixing games and pizza, his conversion to Christ and the key changes that he made in his life, and the development of the Incredible Pizza concept, which is now being franchised internationally," Evangel assistant business professor Bernie Dana said in a news release.[[In-content Ad]]