EDBA Dissertation Defense – Chris Smith

You are invited to attend the public defense of an Executive Doctor of Business Administration dissertation on Friday, November 13th (10:00 am) in Raburn 110.

Chris Smith will present his work titled: Refining Small Firm Success Prediction in Craft Breweries: From General Model to Industry Precision through a Sector-Specific Extension of the Lussier Framework. He will answer any questions the audience/committee has following the presentation.

Here is a brief summary of the work:
This study examines the factors influencing the success and failure of small craft breweries across the United States. Building on the established Lussier small business success prediction model, the research incorporates four industry-specific factors: social media engagement, community engagement, the regulatory environment, and locally sourced ingredients. Using survey data from 202 brewery owners and operators across 47 states, the study evaluates whether these additional factors improve predictions of business success. The findings demonstrate modest improvements in predictive accuracy and identify regulatory conditions, financial preparedness, and owner education as important factors associated with business performance. This research offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs, business advisors, and policymakers seeking to strengthen small-business sustainability in specialized industries.

Dissertation Chair: Dr. Steven Puckett
Dissertation Committee: Dr. Alisha Horky, Dr. Barry Cumbie, Dr. Justin Scott

Your support and presence are greatly appreciated as we celebrate this significant milestone.

Thank you,
Megan