Castle in the Clouds

Plymouth State’s School of Business has taken a great hold on their newly integrated Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cluster. For some background information, the university began implementing a new way of learning, which they call the Clusters Approach. This new approach to learning brings students and real-world businesses together through partnerships and projects, which they call Cluster Projects. 

There are seven different clusters within the university, with every major falling into one category: Arts and Technologies; Education, Democracy and Social Change; Exploration and Discovery; Health and Human Enrichment; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Justice and Security; and Tourism, Environment and Sustainable Development.

Project Manager Haley Morin, said, “cluster projects are a unique way to take your learning outside of textbooks and to see your work be applied to real-life business situations.”

The School of Business’ Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cluster focuses on “leadership, initiative, converting an idea into an innovation, taking action, and doing.” Within the cluster are business partnerships with PSU professors and local companies who are searching the help of PSU students. Roxana Wright’s Strategic Management Capstone Students are currently impressing business leaders with their partnership and project with Castle in the Clouds, located in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. 

Project Manager Ryan Carey informs the university that, “The Capstone project with Castle in the Clouds provides students with hands-on and real-life experiences that we will all face after college”.

Castle in the Clouds brings in most of their revenue through weddings, but the non-profit currently brings in outside caterers. Charles “Chuck” Clark, Director of Castle in the Clouds, came to Wright looking for student advice as to whether the creation of in-house catering would bring the non-profit more generated revenue. 

Patrick Ell, Marketing Team Leader, tells students that, “Dr. Wright's class has really shown me some real-world operations, and given the class a taste of what it takes to manage a business. I love that we are working towards a solution for a real-life problem to benefit a local business.” 

Strategic Management Capstone Students have been putting forth all their efforts into determining the catering feasibility question for The Castle. By the end of the semester, the students will prepare to present their final decision to Chuck. 

All in all, the Castle in the Clouds Cluster Project is a great example of students getting involved with real-world organizations and having the opportunity to network, build up their resume, and have a strong project to discuss during future interviews.