Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Meeting Aligns with Chicago’s Economic Growth Plan

People 50+ Are Invited to Learn About the Benefits and Opportunities of New-Business Creation

Boulder, CO, September 27, 2012 – The Center for Productive Longevity (CPL), which serves as the bridge between older people and opportunities for them to continue in productive activities, is holding its third meeting in the “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers” series on Thursday, October 11. The meeting will be held in Wieboldt Hall on the Chicago campus of Northwestern University/Kellogg School. To register, view the agenda and its outstanding speakers, visit http://www.ctrpl.org/october-11-2012. Participants must be 50 and older and register by October 5.

The meetings are designed to contribute to a national momentum for new-business creation, which will help Baby Boomers 50+ to remain productively engaged and to continue adding value. In fact, the event aligns with Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s ten strategic objectives to achieve economic growth for Chicago.

In February, Mayor Emanuel included entrepreneurship in his regional economic growth plan, which was created to articulate clear, actionable strategies to stimulate economic growth and job creation in Chicago. The plan contains ten strategies to advance the city’s economy and to make it a better destination for families and businesses.

World Business Chicago, which is leading the steering committee for Mayor Emanuel’s vision, published “A Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs” in March 2012. The report outlines strategies that have a direct effect on economic prosperity and lead to initiatives that will improve the overall quality of life in Chicago. One critical strategy focuses on the importance of entrepreneurship.

It states, “We should build on recent entrepreneurial momentum by expanding the networks that connect entrepreneurs with customers, venture capital, and mentorship opportunities. We should implement new, targeted initiatives focused on promising clusters. And we should facilitate stronger connections between academic research and private industry to promote higher rates of innovation in our firms and to increase industry-driven research, development and commercialization at universities.”

CPL’s meeting helps to meet those objectives and will include presentations from three successful entrepreneurs. It will also include two rounds of interactive breakout sessions on topics relating to new-business creation and on how to become an entrepreneur.

The featured speakers include:

* Dr. Paul Magelli is senior director of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He has held a number of positions at the University of Illinois, including assistant dean of the MBA program and assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Magelli has also just completed his second climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro at age 80.

* James Shein is professor of entrepreneurship at Kellogg School’s Larry and Carol Levy Institute for Entrepreneurial Practice and an academic director of the Successful Corporate Renewal executive program. He previously spent four years as president and CEO of R.C. Manufacturing, and ten years as president and chief executive officer of Northbrook Corporation.

* Larry Levy is founder and chairman of Levy Restaurants and chairman and CEO of The Levy Organization. He co-founded Levy Restaurants in 1978 and served as CEO until December 2003. Levy Restaurants’ diverse portfolio includes a network of acclaimed restaurants throughout the country and abroad. They also pioneered the concept of catering in sports and entertainment facilities, including stadiums and convention centers, in every major U.S. market. Levy has served as a chairperson and board member for a wide variety of organizations and has received numerous awards.

* Carol Levy is co-founder of Material Possessions, a home décor store that has proven to be successful for nearly 30 years. With her combination of entrepreneurial spirit and imaginative thinking, she helped expand Material Possessions to a downtown Chicago location. In 2004, she and her husband, Larry, founded the Larry and Carol Levy Institute for Entrepreneurial Practice at the Kellogg School. They took the venture a step further in 2007 by establishing the Carol and Larry Social Entrepreneurial Lab.

* Nancy Rodriguez is founder and president of Food Marketing Support Services (FMSS), which she started in 1985. FMSS is a contractual research and development company that services both the retail (supermarkets) and food service (restaurants) industries.

The “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers” meeting is limited to 125 participants. The charge of $35 per person covers a spouse, if desired, and a post-meeting workshop on the “how-tos” of creating a new business. The Kellogg School, AARP, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) and CPL are among the meeting sponsors.

The first meeting in the series was held at the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, MO on March 27, and the second was held at Babson College in Wellesley, MA on September 14; the fourth and final meeting in the series will be held at the University of Denver on November 15.

For more information on CPL and these meetings, visit www.ctrpl.org or Facebook at www.facebook.com/CTRPL.

Company Contacts:
William Zinke or James Hooks
Center for Productive Longevity
303.499.3939
wzinke@ctrpl.org or jhooks@ctrpl.org

Media Contacts:
Jenny Foust or Alicia Hassinger
Communications Strategy Group
303.433.7020
jfoust@csg-pr.com or ahassinger@csg-pr.com

About the Center for Productive Longevity
The mission of CPL is to stimulate the substantially increased engagement of people 55 and older in productive activities, paid and volunteer, where they are qualified and ready to continue adding value. Visit ctrpl.org for more information. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CTRPL.

Contact:
Alicia Hassinger
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
ahassinger@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

FRA Welcomes Olympic Spotlight on Brazil

FRA has welcomed reports of a booming Brazil economy, as the Olympic flame is officially passed from London to Rio de Janeiro, the next host city of the Games.

Bainbridge Island, WA, September 28, 2012 – Forestry Research Associates (FRA) has welcomed reports of a booming Brazil economy, as the Olympic flame is officially passed from London to Rio de Janeiro, the next host city of the Games.

Stats from wire reports show that not only will the Games increase interest in the South American region, they will also highlight investment opportunities in Brazil.

FRA recommends sustainably managed timber plantations, such as those operated in Brazil by firms like Greenwood Management, to take advantage of not just the Brazilian economy but also the growing popularity of alternative investments.

Timber prices have beaten inflation consistently and small investments of around $10,000 can secure you a part of this booming industry. Greenwood manage the plantation and support the local community. As the population of Brazil become empowered by regular work, they are investing back in timber for homes and furniture. And Greenwood will start paying returns to investors as soon as money starts coming in from any mature trees on the entire plantation.

Reports show that 53 per cent of the Brazil population now classify as middle class and expect a higher standard of living than previously. The Presidential Office of Strategic Affairs report last month found that as many as 35 million Brazil nationals have climbed out of poverty over the last ten years.

FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins, said: “Alternative investments are a popular choice for those looking to diversify their portfolio and protect themselves from the Eurozone crisis and a volatile stock market.”

As well as the Olympics, Brazil also hosts the World Cup in 2014, providing more jobs for the community. The region is famed for its commodities and investments such as timber are bound to grow in popularity as the country comes under international spotlight over the next four years.

Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394
info@forestry-research.com
http://www.forestry-research.com