Macomb-OU INCubator is hosting a quarterly series of events to help students connect with entrepreneurs entitled “Fireside Growth Series.”

The first of the series is March 7 at 5 p.m. at the INCubator, on 18 Mile road in the Velocity Building.

The goal of the Macomb-OU INCubator is to support new businesses that deal with homeland security, advanced manufacturing, defense and technology sectors.

These events are networking opportunities for students who plan on pursuing a career in entrepreneurship. The speaker is serial entrepreneur and president of Avidasports, Bruce J. Burton.

“Burtek has founded several companies. He was a perfect choice to speak to students,” Joan Carleton, marketing coordinator at Macomb-OU INCubator, said.

Avidasports is a company that deals with the development of athletic telemetry, which allows coaches and athletes to communicate with one another during training.

Before Burton began working with Avidasports, he founded Burtek, which is a defense and engineering contracting company. Burton created a total of 500 jobs through Burtek, which led him to sell the company in 2008. From there, Burton founded MIlAIR, which is also a defense contracting company.

“There is tremendous value for anyone in business to hear stories from successful entrepreneurs,” said Julie Gustafson, executive director of the Macomb-OU INCubator, in a press release by news at OU. “There is always a lesson to be learned, a pitfall to avoid, or a connection to be made.”

The admission for the is free to students and the public.

To register contact Joan Carleton at 586-884-9324 or email her at [email protected].

—-Contact staff intern Sarah Blanchette via email at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @S_Blanche