Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship at App State Begins a New Chapter

For nearly two decades, the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship at Appalachian State University’s Walker College of Business has given students a place to test ideas, find mentors and launch businesses.

Since its founding in 2007, the center has helped thousands of students, faculty and local entrepreneurs turn ideas into viable startups. Students compete in pitch competitions, work with experienced mentors and gain access to funding and resources that help them move from concept to company. Managing Director Erich Schlenker leads the center today.

The center grew out of the philanthropy of Transportation Insight founder and chairman Paul Thompson and his partnership with the Walker College of Business. Paul believed entrepreneurial thinking could help students grow in ways that go beyond the classroom. The college recently recognized that support and its impact on students and alumni.

From the start, the university and Transportation Insight structured the center’s name as a term-limited agreement to make room for future investment. In January 2027, the Transportation Insight name will leave the center as it begins a new chapter.

The center’s impact continues in its alumni, the businesses they launched and the careers they built.

Transportation Insight thanks Appalachian State University and the Walker College of Business for nearly two decades of partnership and looks forward to seeing the center’s next generation of entrepreneurs.

About the Walker College of Business

The Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University delivers transformational educational experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative and engaged business leaders who positively impact their communities, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling nearly 5,000 students, including more than 4,500 undergraduates across 11 majors, the Walker College of Business has the highest full-time undergraduate enrollment in the University of North Carolina System. App State’s Walker College is accredited by AACSB International — the premier global accrediting body for business schools. Learn more about App State’s Walker College of Business at https://business.appstate.edu.

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Transportation Insight

Transportation Management Solutions

Transportation Insight (TI) is a leading provider of supply chain and logistics solutions, helping North American manufacturers, retailers and distributors optimize transportation, reduce costs and improve operational efficiency for more than 25 years. Offering expertise in managed transportation, freight audit and payment, parcel optimization and data-driven analytics, TI partners with clients to streamline supply chains, enhance visibility and drive strategic growth.