As a part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the Lumpkin School of Business and Applied Sciences will host the founder of a fair-trade company Monday.

Stacey Edgar, author of the book “Global Girlfriends” and founder of the company Global Girlfriend, will speak to students, faculty, staff and community members at 6:30 p.m. in Room 2030 of Lumpkin Hall.

Edgar, who published her book in April 2011, created her company in 2003 with her $2,000 tax return.

The company itself sells items made by impoverished women at fair-trade prices. The company also donates part of the proceeds to “Campaign for Female Education in Africa.”

Edgar will speak about her experiences in creating her company and what inspired her to do so.

Cheryl Noll, chairperson of the Lumpkin School of Business and Applied Sciences and organizer of the presentation, said she first heard of Edgar while listening to National Public Radio about two years ago.

“I heard an interview with her and thought ‘Wow, what an interesting person,’” Noll said.

Noll said after seeing Edgar’s name, it clicked who Edgar was, and Noll knew she wanted to have her come speak at Eastern.

“She will be talking about her experiences and how she made something this big happen,” Noll said. “Here, we worry so much about business plans, and she did this whole thing without a business plan and not very much money.”

Noll said Edgar’s business falsifies one of the major beliefs concerning the business world today, by creating a business to benefit impoverished women.

“So many times, people associate business with making money,” Noll said. “She made it her business to empower other women, and it is fantastic.”

She said she hopes people who attend the presentation learn not only from Edgar’s business accomplishments but her message as well.

“She was able to impact so many with so little,” Noll said. “It is a lesson to us all, even if you don’t think you can or will have an impact on someone, you can.”

Along with Monday’s presentation to the public, Edgar will also be giving an invitation-only presentation earlier in the day. Copies of Edgar’s book will be for sale from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Lumpkin Hall.

Edgar will be signing books after her presentation.

All of the events are free and the presentation is funded through the Lumpkin Endowment, which was created by the Lumpkin family, which also founded Consolidated Communications.

“It is a huge deal for us to bring someone of her caliber to come speak,” Noll said.

Amy Wywialowski can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].