WT Enterprise Center to Celebrate 20 Years of Service to the Panhandle

Copy by David M. Wilson, 806-374-9777, david@wtenterprisecenter.com  

AMARILLO, Texas — The WT Enterprise Center soon will celebrate its 20th anniversary of serving entrepreneurs in the Texas Panhandle.

A celebratory reception to commemorate this milestone and honor the legacy and future of the WTEC will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. July 20 at the center, 2300 N. Western St. in Amarillo. The event is open to the public; attendees can RSVP here.

WTEC is a department of the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business at West Texas A&M University.

WT President Walter V. Wendler; Kyla Frye, WTEC executive director; and Coco Duckworth, WTEC entrepreneur-in-residence and success coach with Encourage Consulting will speak.

Don Taylor and his protégé, David Terry, developed a vision for a business incubator that has become a leader for aspiring and existing businesses in Amarillo and across the Texas Panhandle. Sue Taylor, Don’s wife, said her late husband had always envisioned a one-stop-shop where business owners could go to get help – accounting, taxes, strategy, marketing and more.

In 2001, through a joint partnership between WT and the State of Texas, Taylor’s vision was made a reality when the WT Enterprise Center was established as the first and only business incubator serving the top 26 counties of Texas.

“When the WTEC came to fruition, they created a center where people could come together and develop relationships and community, and build trust, in order to help them build their businesses,” Sue Taylor said. “Don established a place where aspiring business owners could come for help without fear of intimidation and be provided concepts and ideas that were real for them and easily understandable. I see it continuing on today in the programs and expertise offered through the WTEC.”

Dr. Neil Terry, WT executive vice president and provost, provided direction and oversight of the WTEC while serving as the dean of the Engler College of Business from 2006 to 2020.

“Through a combination of engagement channels such as incubation, coaching, network opportunities, and facilitation of financial support, the Enterprise Center is a critical asset for the entrepreneurial and economic development aspirations of the Texas Panhandle,” Terry said.

Over the last 20 years, the center has impacted hundreds of businesses and contributed to the economic development and growth of the Texas Panhandle. Roughly 74 percent of companies assisted by the WTEC are still in business to this day.

Addressing regional needs is a key component of the University’s long-term plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

About the WT Enterprise Center

Since 2001, the WT Enterprise Center has been helping local entrepreneurs build great companies. With access to certified business coaches, industry expert specialists, top-notch facilities, and high-level programs, business owners gain the support system and resources needed to take their business to the next level. As leaders of entrepreneur support in the Texas Panhandle, we help business owners build strong, profitable companies that contribute to a thriving economic community.

To learn more about the WT Enterprise Center, visit wtenterprisecenter.com. To schedule an interview with the executive director, email david@wtenterprisecenter.com.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. With enrollment of more than 10,000, WT offers 60 undergraduate degree programs, 40 master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WTAMU—