Enjoy a free lunch at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday April 19 in the Schmeltz Atrium as you listen to two BGSU alumni, Joe Lisa, owner, Altric Holdings Inc., and Tom Crookston, co-owner of Reverend’s Bar & Grill and founder of Gen 4 Construction talk about their experiences as young entrepreneurs.

This event is open to students, faculty, staff, alumni and the general

Joe Lisa '19

Owner, Altric Holdings Inc.

Joe Lisa is the owner of Altric Holdings Inc. a holding company that houses all his business ventures.

His senior year at BGSU Lisa started his first company Highpoint Painting & Property Solutions, a residential painting and remodeling business that typically serves Northwest Ohio and expands out-of-state upon request. After finding success with Highpoint, Lisa expanded his business portfolio to include Fireside Capital, a hotel and lodging company with glamorous camping (glamping) sites in Arizona, the Fireside Lodge in northern Michigan and a small cabin community, Pioneer Cabins, in Gaylord, Michigan. His most recent project, Parrothead Paradise, offers nine vacation properties in the Lake Erie coastal region around Port Clinton and Marblehead.  

Lisa credits the entrepreneurship program at BGSU for his business success. By teaching the fundamentals for starting a business, Lisa had the confidence to begin and pursue the growth of his companies. The most impactful thing Lisa took away from the program was passion, saying "Being passionate about what you are doing will help your business grow."

Lisa earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in marketing and an entrepreneurship minor. He participated in The Hatch in 2017.

Tom Crookston ‘19
Co-Owner, Reverend’s Bar & Grill

Founder, Gen 4 Construction

While attending BGSU, Tom Crookston discovered the tools and developed the confidence to turn his desire to be an entrepreneur into a reality.

Shortly after Crookston graduated, he and his former employer, Doug Doren ’93 acquired Reverend’s Bar & Grill in Downtown Bowling Green, Ohio. The pair immediately got to work on making changes to the business - focusing on operational efficiency, consistent product quality and speed of service. Crookston and Doren are also acquiring and managing long-term real estate rentals through their property management firm, Wood Capital LLC.

A year after purchasing Reverend’s, Crookston founded Gen 4 Construction, LLC. in June of 2020. With its name paying tribute to his family’s extensive roots in the construction industry, Gen 4 Construction provides interior and exterior renovation services to residents and real estate investors in Bowling Green and the surrounding area. 

Crookston is thankful for the growth opportunities and people he met while studying entrepreneurship and supply chain management at BGSU. The professors, fellow students and alumni helped fuel his inspiration to pave his own way.