Gazelle Sports co-owner to speak at next Entrepreneurship Forum

Contact: Alyssa Benson
Photo of Chris Lampen-Crowell.

Lampen-Crowell

KALAMAZOO, Mich.— The co-owner of a local sportswear store will be the next speaker at the Entrepreneurship Forum speaker series at Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business.

Chris Lampen-Crowell of Gazelle Sports will speak at 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, in 2150 Schneider Hall. The event is free and open to the public and begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (269) 387-6059 or at wmich.edu/business/e-rsvp. Free parking is available at the Fetzer Center in Lot 72F.

Gazelle Sports

Since opening in December of 1985 in Kalamazoo, Gazelle Sports has grown from a single store to multiple business units across West Michigan. In addition to the Kalamazoo location, Gazelle Sports has stores in Grand Rapids, Holland and Northville. The retailer has been acknowledged for its success and service, including being recognized as a Top 50 Running Store and Michigan Small Business of the Year, as well as being awarded The North Face Never Stop Exploring Award in 2011. In addition to selling activewear and training products in their brick and mortar and online stores, Gazelle Sports also facilitates training programs, helping the community learn more about running and health lifestyles.

Chris Lampen-Crowell

Lampen-Crowell, who received a bachelor's degree from WMU in 1982, is a Kalamazoo native and avid runner and one of the original founders of Gazelle Sports. He has created, led and organized hundreds of events and programs in the community, such as the Borgess Run Camp and the Greater Kalamazoo Girls on the Run. Lampen-Crowell also founded the Kalamazoo Downtown Retailer and Restaurant Association and serves as a Downtown Kalamazoo Brand and Engagement manager and an Independent Running Retail Association Board chair.

About the Entrepreneurship Forum

The Entrepreneurship Forum is a monthly series hosted by WMU’s Haworth College of Business designed to bring stories of entrepreneurial success to the greater Kalamazoo community. The series is devoted to entrepreneurs and unique stories of startup success.

To learn more about the series, visit wmich.edu/business/entrepreneurship-forum.

Future Entrepreneurship Forum Speakers

  • March 18: Steve Laham, Chocolates by Grimaldi
  • April 15: Susan Sonday, Emerald eCycling

For more information or to RSVP, contact Caitlin Smith at (269) 387-6059 or register at wmich.edu/business/e-rsvp. To suggest an entrepreneur who should be considered for the series, contact Stacey Markin at stacey.markin@wmich.edu.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.