Kicking off the Business School Alumni Network’s Back to Business Speaker Series, Joshua Pollack, owner and founder of Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen, recently spoke to a group of more than 50 business alumni about his experience with creating business plans and securing financial funding during challenging economic times. Pollack cited his passion for food, and his yearning for east coast delicacies that were unavailable in Denver, as his personal motivation for opening Rosenberg’s Restaurant in 2014, named after his grandmother, and located on Welton Street in the Five Points neighborhood.

After graduating from CU Boulder, Joshua recognized that in order to be successful in starting his own restaurant, he needed additional business knowledge. He took classes through CU Denver Business School’s Jake Jabs Center for Entrepreneurship, and entered their Business Plan Competition, finishing in third place. This valuable experience helped Pollack to fine tune his business plan, identify unconventional opportunities for funding, and set up shop in an area identified by Denver’s Office of Economic Development as an Enterprise Zone.

Joshua emphasized that hiring employees locally, growing and sourcing his business locally, and most importantly, getting involved in his community, have all attributed to Rosenberg’s success. He will be expanding his operations with a second location later this summer in the Stanley Marketplace in Aurora, as well as opening an Italian deli named, Lou, after his grandfather, before the end of the 2016.

The Business School Alumni Network’s Back to Business Speaker Series takes place twice a year, and offers a chance to connect with alumni, contribute to the conversation and learn from leaders in our business community.

Members of the Alumni Network Executive Committee from L-R: Amber Morlan, Vice Chair of Events; Joshua Pollack, Owner and Founder of Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen; Keri Ungemah, BSAN Chair; Curtis Edwards, Vice Chair of Programs