The City College Scheinfeld Center kicks off this year’s Enlightened Entrepreneurship Series on Friday Oct. 22 with a conversation with local legend Paul Orfalea, the founder of Kinko’s.

The event is free and will be held at the Fe Bland Forum at West Campus between 4:30-6:30 p.m. giving students the opportunity to interact with a successful entrepreneur.

“I hope that the event will serve as a source of inspiration, as well as critical insight, to our students and community,” said Bonnie Chavez, moderator of the Enlightened Entrepreneurship Series. “It is a unique opportunity to engage in an intimate conversation with a successful entrepreneur and hear, first hand, about their journey in building a successful life and business.”

Orfalea founded the copy-chain Kinko’s, named after his nickname “Kinko,” referring to his kinky, curly hair. Today Kinko’s is known as FedEx Office since FedEx bought it in 2004 for $2.4 billion.

Orfalea struggled through early life and education with Dyslexia and ADHD, yet still managed to become a highly successful businessman by learning how to turn his challenges into advantages.

“I get bored easily and that is a great motivator. I think everybody should have dyslexia and ADD,” Orfalea said in a December 2007 New York Times article.

“Paul is a legend in our community,” said Melissa Crawford, director of the Scheinfeld Center. “He is the poster-child, the example of someone that has faced all these challenges.”

Orfalea started out with one copy machine and one simple idea: providing college students with products and services they need, for a price suitable for an average student’s wallet. The space he rented when opening his business in Isla Vista close to UCSB, was so small it didn’t even fit the copy-machine.

Orfalea retired from Kinko’s in 2000. Today, besides being active in a number of businesses, Orfalea shares his life and business experiences through speeches, writing and college courses.

In 2005 Orfalea co-wrote the book “Copy This! Lessons from a Hyperactive Dyslexic who Turned a Bright Idea into one of America’s Best Companies.” The book is an autobiography, describing his journey of success and how he turned his copy-shop into a $2 billion-a-year company, despite his challenges. The sales are donated to nonprofit organizations for children with learning challenges.

Orfalea will be signing his book at the event for those who bring a copy.

Professor Chavez will open up the conversation with a short interview with Orfalea, followed by students being able to ask questions and interact with the guest.

“I do try to develop questions that are outside the norm,” Chavez said. “I really want the audience to get to know the person behind the successful entrepreneur.”

“The beauty of this event is that the audience – students – can ask any question they choose,” Chavez said. “The interviewee does not have any prior knowledge of any of the questions, and as a result is a very genuine, honest and spontaneous conversation. It is because of the format of these events that the audience is able to get close and personal with such successful and prominent entrepreneurs,” he added.

Crawford said she wants the students to know that it’s possible to become successful despite extreme challenges.

She said one of her expectations for this event is to provide inspiration for those students that want to become entrepreneurs. “If Paul can do it,” she said, “they can do it.”

The event is free to the public, but the space is limited. To sign up for a seat visit this Website and register.

Where: Fe Bland Forum at West Campus.

When: 4:30-6:30 p.m., Friday Oct. 22.

Co-sponsors: Center for Sustainability.