Sonoma State University wants to encourage new business development in the North Bay region with its recently established Entrepreneurship Center, aimed to help aspiring businesspersons and students.
"The SSU Entrepreneurship Center will be a place to nurture and mentor start-ups as well as to help high growth businesses avoid burn-out," says the Director, Armand Gilinsky, Ph.D., and also an associate professor at the university.
"This is a community outreach program that will extend well beyond the university," he explains. Programs include monthly breakfast briefings for small and family-owned businesses, a four-day Entrepreneur Training Course, and an Entrepreneurship Award Dinner.
The monthly Breakfast Briefings series will begin Friday, Jan. 25, 8:30-10 a.m., at the Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center on campus.
"This will be an excellent opportunity for local business leaders to learn about current trends in the market while also establishing valuable networking opportunities," says Dr. Gilinsky.
The first seminar, "Managing In Tough Times," will be presented by Claire Calderon, Robert Dellenbach and Jean Hackenburg of the Telecom Valley Alliance. The speakers will focus on how companies should recognize changes that affect their businesses before they become catastrophic. Registration costs are $25 per person and can be reserved through the Center, or in person on the day of the seminar
The four-day residential Entrepreneurial Excellence Course is planned for November at Sonoma State University. Participants will be entrepreneurs seeking to "fine-tune their business plans" and take their companies to the next level.
Participants will leave with a full appreciation of effective business planning as well as a network of valuable contacts. Two of the evening programs will include "Angel" meetings in which the participants are going to watch businesses present their plans to the North Bay Angels, a Capital Investment group, and a panel comprising ventures that received funds and their funders.
"The course is conceived as applied entrepreneurship--students will learn by doing," says Gilinsky. "Instructors will be a blend of leading business school faculty from around the nation and successful entrepreneurs from our region."
On June 20, the Center will hold the North Bay Lifetime Entrepreneur (NOBLE) Award ceremony to celebrate the success of our local entrepreneurs. In the coming years, the Center will create a business incubator to service students and alumni by providing shared access to office space, technology infastructure, service providers and mentors
The Entrepreneurship Center's initial advisory board consists of local entrepreneurs and business leaders who will meet four times a year.
Board members include: Cathy Cook, an independent public relations consultant, Russ Kennedy of the North Bay Angels, Lisa Mahaney of Silicon Valley Bank, Lynda Sadler of Traditional Medicinals, Tux Tuxhorn of Tuxhorn and Company, and David Whitney of GrowthTech Partners.
The Exchange Bank has agreed to sponsor the Entrepreneurship Center. Other sponsors will be named soon.
For more information about the Center's programs, call (707) 664-2387.
