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Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

We are a dedicated institute for student entrepreneurs across campus and beyond. We aim to maximize your success by fostering your entrepreneurial mindset, promote inter-disciplinary collaboration and provide support for the creation and development of your new ventures. Jumpstart your ideas and get involved today!

Tune in for excitement!

Passion. Potential. Pitches. Don't miss any of the 2025 New Venture Challenge excitement.

Tune in Friday, April 11 at 1 p.m. for great ideas and fierce competition. Then, join the judges, mentors, spectators and teams as they see who is going home with thousands of dollars in venture financing. The awards broadcast begins at 6:30 p.m. and one team will walk away as the overall best venture. 

Start your entrepreneurial journey

Central Michigan University’s College of Business Administration is the home of the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship and the first Department of Entrepreneurship in the state of Michigan. We are a student-centric hub where experiential, curricular, and external entrepreneurial opportunities intersect.

Our mission is to maximize student success by fostering a campus-wide entrepreneurial mindset that promotes inter-disciplinary collaboration and the creation of new ventures.

We aim to create innovative programming, boost cross-campus and ecosystem collaboration and provide a comprehensive mentoring program.

Our institute provides extracurricular opportunities and is open to all undergraduate and graduate CMU students.

Student opportunities

  • Meet experienced alumni, faculty, entrepreneurs, investors, and other business and political leaders.
  • Learn practical skills, innovative thinking, and connect with mentors and entrepreneurial resources.
  • Attend skill-building workshops and compete in pitch competitions and Hackathons.
  • Take part in special scholarship programs and travel experiences.
  • Pitch your venture at our signature New Venture Challenge event and compete for up to $20,000 in cash awards.

      Find your path

      Are you interested in becoming an entrepreneur?

      Every journey is unique. Explore the opportunities that interest you.

      Montross named interim associate vice president, financial services and reporting

      by User Not Found
      Central Michigan University Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services Mary Moran Hill announced the appointment of Julie Montross as interim associate vice president, financial services and reporting. 

      In January, Hill announced the formation of a committee to support the search for CMU’s next associate vice president, financial services and reporting, and controller — the position Hill held prior to her appointment as vice president in December.

      While the search is underway, Montross will serve as the administrator for matters related to the university’s financial, accounting, contracts and purchasing, and risk management activities. This includes but is not limited to development, implementation and oversight of policies and processes in areas such as accounting, tax compliance, payroll, accounts receivable, investments, banking relationships, stores and warehouse, environmental health and safety, and more.

      “Julie’s breadth of knowledge and experience positions her well to step into this role and continue the stable leadership necessary for these compliance intensive departments,” Hill said. “I’m also confident her dedication to providing excellent service will aid other departments across campus.” 

      Montross currently serves as associate controller for financial reporting. She first joined the CMU community in 2004 as a contract analyst in the CMU Center for Charter Schools, a position she held through fall 2006. In 2008, she rejoined the community as an accountant, and has held progressive leadership positions in the Finance and Administrative Services division. Her prior roles include assistant controller for financial reporting, manager of business operations and sponsored programs in the College of Science and Engineering, and SAP financial systems analyst.

      Montross earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Kalamazoo College and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. 

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