Tag Archives: entrepreneurship opportunities

Business

Center For Productive Longevity Wraps Up Successful Series of Baby Boomer Entrepreneurship Meetings

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Nationwide Meetings Attracted More than 400 People to Learn More about Creating New Businesses

Boulder, CO, November 20, 2012 – The Center for Productive Longevity (CPL), which serves as the bridge between people 55 and older and opportunities that enable them to continue in productive activities, recently wrapped up its last meeting in the “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers” series. These meetings attracted more than 400 participants 50 and older to the four meetings in Kansas City, Mo., Boston, Chicago and Denver.

There are 78 million Baby Boomers (one-quarter of the total U.S. population) reaching the traditional retirement age of 65 at the rate of 4.2 million each year from 2011 through 2029. With unemployment high and economic growth low for the foreseeable future, new-business creation is a bright spot on a gloomy employment horizon for older people. A survey sponsored by AARP in 2011 indicated that 80 percent of the Baby Boomers surveyed intend to continue working after leaving their regular career jobs. This series of meetings is on the leading edge in encouraging Baby Boomers to consider the benefits and opportunities of new-business creation as they consider how to remain productively engaged.

This interest in entrepreneurship as a career after retirement is reflected in national research as well, with increasingly more people 55 and older creating their own businesses than people 20-34. In fact, according to Kauffman Foundation research, the relative percentage of entrepreneurs has increased by almost 7 percent for people 55-64 from 1996-2011, the largest increase among all age groups. By contrast, the percentage dropped about 5 percent for people 20-44.

“This is what built America! Individuality, capitalism, inventiveness, and the freedom to create your own business,” stated Karen Rose, a participant in the Denver meeting. “This meeting reignited passion in so many of us, along with providing educational avenues to turn passion into success.”

Tom Backhus, another participant in the Denver meeting, said, “The event has given me confidence in moving forward and ideas on the importance of writing my business concept.”

Each meeting had presentations by successful, highly visible entrepreneurs such as Jerry Kelly, CEO and Co-Founder, Silpada Designs, Doug Rauch, former President and CEO, Trader Joe’s, Larry Levy, Founder and Chairman of Levy Restaurants, and Alan Hall, Founder and Chairman, MarketStar.

Participants also attended interactive breakout sessions on topics relating to new-business creation and how to become an entrepreneur, including: risks and rewards, strategies for identifying and selecting potential business opportunities, developing a business plan or business concept statement, and exploring funding support.

Written evaluations from all of the meetings indicated that participants benefited and were even inspired by their experience. Almost all participants reported that it increased their understanding of the benefits and opportunities provided by entrepreneurship, and 74 percent stated they were now more likely to create a new business as a result of the meetings.

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

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

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

Business

Upcoming Meeting at DU Helps Baby Boomers Learn About Later-Life Entrepreneurship

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This is the Fourth and Final Stop in a Series of Meetings Focused on the Benefits and Opportunities of Creating a New Business

Boulder, CO, October 17, 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 hosting its fourth meeting in the “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers” series on Thursday, November 15. This meeting, which is the final stop in the series, will be held at University College on the University of Denver campus. To register and view the agenda, visit http://www.ctrpl.org/november-15-2012. Participants must be 50 and older (50+).

The meetings are designed to contribute to a national momentum for new-business creation, which will help Baby Boomers remain productively engaged while reducing unemployment and increasing national economic growth. AARP, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) and CPL are sponsors of the meeting, along with other organizations.

The day will include presentations from three successful entrepreneurs 50+ and two rounds of interactive breakout sessions on topics relating to new-business creation and how to become an entrepreneur.

The featured speakers include:

* Jody Holtzman, Senior Vice President–Thought Leadership, AARP, has more than two decades of experience helping companies develop and implement competitive strategies and achieve their strategic market goals. At AARP he leads AARP’s new Thought Leadership efforts, which support the new brand positioning around a focus on living, not just aging, and for people 50+ to live their best lives.

* Courtney Price, President & CEO, VentureQuest Ltd., in the early ‘90s, founded the Entrepreneurial Education Foundation in Kansas City, MO, and co-founded FastTrac, which was selected to have the best materials for entrepreneurship training in the U.S.

* Alan Hall is Founder and Chairman of MarketStar Corporation, which is a global, outsourced sales and marketing company. MarketStar assists technology companies by increasing sales through the small to medium business sector. Omnicom Group (OMC) now owns MarketStar. He is also the Founder and President of Grow America, whose focus is on stimulating the growth and development of entrepreneurship throughout the U.S.

* Ding-Wen Hsu, President, Pacific West Technologies, has more than 30 years of MIS and managerial experience. A native of Taiwan, she has been very active in the Asian-American communities in Denver since she moved to Colorado in 1978. She is one of the founders of Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, the largest Asian American festival in the Rocky Mountain region. In addition, she is the co-founder of International Multi-Cultural Institute, a nonprofit organization that promotes understanding and interaction among various cultures.

* Adam Swiecki, President, Swiecki Enterprises, founded Swiecki Enterprises in 2003 after serving as an Army Officer and financier. Focused on the action sport market, he has built leading ecommerce businesses in skate (SkateboardsEtc.com), surf (SurfboardsEtc.com), and snow (SkiGogglesEtc.com).

This meeting focuses on the reality that, with unemployment high and economic growth low for the foreseeable future, entrepreneurship is a bright spot on a gloomy employment horizon for Baby Boomers 50+.

Space for the meeting is limited, and people are encouraged to reserve a place as soon as possible. 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. Registrations should be made by November 1 at http://www.ctrpl.org/november-15-2012/registration. They will be accepted thereafter on a first-come basis.

For more information on CPL and the senior entrepreneurship 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

Business

Center For Productive Longevity’s “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship” Meeting is this Thursday

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Spots Still Available for People 50+ to Learn About New-Business Creation

Boulder, CO, October 09, 2012 – The Center for Productive Longevity (CPL), still has seats available for people to attend its upcoming meeting, “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers”, on Thursday, October 11 at Northwestern University/Kellogg School. To register and view the agenda, visit http://www.ctrpl.org/october-11-2012. Participants must be 50 and older.

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. The event includes a line-up of fantastic speakers and two rounds of interactive breakout sessions on topics relating to new-business creation and on how to become an entrepreneur.

Date: Thursday, October 11

Time: 7:15 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (Including check-in and reception)

Location: Wieboldt Hall/Northwestern University/Kellogg School
340 East Superior Street
2nd Floor Mezzanine
Chicago, IL 60611-3008

Featured speakers:

Dr. Paul Magelli is senior director of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

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.

Nancy Rodriguez is founder and president of Food Marketing Support Services (FMSS), which she started in 1985.

Larry Levy is founder and chairman of Levy Restaurants and chairman and CEO of The Levy Organization.

Carol Levy is co-owner of Material Possessions, a home décor store that has proven to be successful for nearly 30 years.

Cost: $35 per person covers a spouse, if desired, and a post-meeting workshop on the “how-tos” of creating a new business

Sponsors: The Kellogg School, AARP, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) and CPL

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

Business

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

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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

Business

Upcoming Meeting at Northwestern University/Kellogg School helps Baby Boomers Learn about Later-Life Entrepreneurship

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Third in Series of Meetings to Learn About the Benefits and Opportunities of Creating a New Business

Boulder, CO, September 10, 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 hosting 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 and view the agenda, visit http://www.ctrpl.org/october-11-2012. Participants must be 50 and older.

The meetings are designed to facilitate a national momentum for new-business creation, which will help Baby Boomers remain productively engaged while contributing to national economic growth. AARP, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) and CPL are sponsors of the meeting, along with other organizations.

The day will include presentations from successful entrepreneurs over the age of 50 and two rounds of interactive breakout sessions on topics relating to new-business creation and 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.

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.

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 (restaurant) industries.

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 they pioneered the concept of catering in sports and entertainment facilities, including stadiums and convention centers, in every major U.S. market. Levy has also served as a chairperson and board member for a wide variety of organizations and received numerous awards.

Carol Levy is co-owner of Material Possessions, a home décor store that has proven to be successful for nearly 30 years. In 1983, she became co-owner of Material Possessions. With her combination of entrepreneurial spirit and imaginative thinking, Carol helped expand the store to a downtown Chicago location. In 2004, she and her husband, Larry, founded the Levy Institute for Entrepreneurial Practice at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. They took the venture a step further in 2007 by establishing the Carol and Larry Social Entrepreneurial Lab.

The “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers” meeting is limited to 125 participants on a first-come basis. 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. Registrations must be made by October 1 at http://www.ctrpl.org/october-11-2012.

A block of hotel rooms for this meeting is reserved at the MileNorth Hotel, one block away, at a discounted rate of $175.

This is one in a series of four meetings, organized by CPL. The first was held at the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, MO on March 27, and the second is being held at Babson College in Wellesley, MA on September 14; the fourth meeting will be held at the University of Denver on November 15.

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

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

Business

Center for Productive Longevity Announces Speakers for Baby Boomers Entrepreneurship Meeting

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Nearly Full Meeting Features Academic and Business Leaders and Interactive Breakout Sessions

Boulder, CO, September 05, 2012 – The Center for Productive Longevity (CPL), which serves as the bridge between people 55 and older and opportunities that enable them to continue in productive activities, has just increased its maximum number of participants from 125 to 150 because the topic has such fundamental importance, with unemployment high and economic growth low for the foreseeable future.

“New-business creation is the backbone of the U.S. economy, as well as the engine for increased employment and economic growth,” said William Zinke, President of CPL.

The meeting at Babson College on September 14, titled “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers,” has an outstanding line-up of speakers:

* Leonard Schlesinger, the 12th President of Babson College since July 1, 2008; previously in executive positions with Limited Brands from 1999-2007, most recently as Vice Chairman & CEO; Executive Vice President & COO at An Bon Pain from 1985-1988; previously at Harvard Business School for 20 years, where he served as the George Fisher Baker, Jr. Professor of Business Administration.

* Ralph Sorenson, President Emeritus of Babson College (1974 to 1981) and founder of its Center for Entrepreneurship in 1978; Professor Emeritus and former Dean, University of Colorado Business School (1992-present); former Chairman & CEO, Barry Wright Company (1981-1989); Director of Whole Foods Market, Inc. since 1994.

* Douglas Rauch, a founder of Trader Joe’s and with the company for 31 years, primarily as President & CEO of a nationally-acclaimed retail success story; senior fellow at Harvard in the school’s Advanced Leadership Initiative; executive partner at AptaCapital; chair of the WBUR Board of Overseers and works with a number of entrepreneurial startups.

* David Egan, business founder and turnaround strategist. He co-founded THINQ Learning Solutions, an e-learning management software company that achieved a peak market valuation of $250 million and was later successfully sold. He then co-founded LanguageCorps, a specialty seminar company that trains, certifies, places and supports English teachers in Asian and Central American schools. He has also spent 20 years starting and turning around publications in the communications and computer markets for major companies like McGraw-Hill and Ziff Davis Publishing.

* Irene Costello, co-founder of Effie’s Homemade, which has created and marketed since 2007 a line of all-natural rustic baked goods. Effie’s Homemade products are made in the USA and sold in specialty stores nationwide.

There will be two breakout sessions focused on how to become an entrepreneur, with topics ranging from the risks and rewards to developing strategies for recognizing potential business opportunities to developing a business plan.

With 30 years added to longevity during the 20th century and the average age of retirement at 62, new-business creation is an important path to consider for older people who either want or need to continue working. It provides an opportunity for people with experience, expertise, seasoned judgment, proven performance and some accumulated wisdom to be their own boss and “march to their own drummer.”

Additional meetings will be held at Northwestern University/Kellogg School of Management in Chicago on October 11, and the University of Denver-University College on November 15. One goal of these four meetings in different parts of the country is to contribute to the growing wave of entrepreneurship throughout the U.S. For more information on CPL and the senior entrepreneurship 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

Business

Upcoming Meeting at Babson College Helps Baby Boomers Learn About Later-Life Entrepreneurship

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Series of Meetings Address Why and How to Start a New Business

Boulder, CO, August 14, 2012 – The Center for Productive Longevity (CPL), which serves as the bridge between people 55 and older and opportunities that enable them to continue in productive activities, has organized a series of meetings titled, “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers.” The second meeting of the series will be held at Babson College in Wellesley, MA, on Friday, September 14 from 7:45 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. To register and view the agenda, visit http://www.ctrpl.org/september-14-2012. Attendees must be 50 and older.

The meetings are designed to contribute to a national momentum for new-business creation, which will help Baby Boomers remain productively engaged while facilitating national economic growth. AARP and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship are sponsors of the meeting, along with CPL and a number of other organizations.

Babson College is an excellent venue for this meeting because of its standing as a recognized global leader in entrepreneurship education. Babson has been ranked #1 in entrepreneurship education by U.S. News & World Report for the past 19 years. Boston has also recently received praise as a great place to live for older Americans. A report from the Milken Institute, a nonprofit think tank that analyzed 78 factors deemed to most affect seniors’ quality of life, just named Boston a top city for growing older.

“As the country navigates through troubled economic waters, the need to stimulate new business creation in a time of high unemployment and low economic growth becomes increasingly important,” stated Babson President, Leonard A. Schlesinger.  “For places like Boston, with an established and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, the current economic climate creates a hotbed of opportunities for entrepreneurs. The ability of Boston’s entrepreneurs to capitalize on favorable conditions and start new ventures will not only result in more employment and economic growth for Massachusetts, but reduced country-wide unemployment and increased GDP.”

In addition to Mr. Schlesinger, Ralph Sorenson, past president of Babson College and founder of its Center for Entrepreneurship, will be a speaker. Successful entrepreneurs 50+ will also give presentations on what it takes to start a new business and to achieve success. The day will include two rounds of interactive breakout sessions on topics relating to new-business creation and on how to become an entrepreneur, including: risks and rewards of being an entrepreneur, strategies for identifying and selecting potential business opportunities, developing a business plan or business concept statement, and exploring funding support.

The meeting is limited to 125 participants on a first-come basis. 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. Registration must be made by September 1 at http://www.ctrpl.org/september-14-2012/registration.

The first meeting in the Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers series was held March 27 in Kansas City, MO at the Kauffman Foundation, a focal point for entrepreneurship in America, and attracted 95 participants. Written evaluations indicate that it was a successful event: 87 percent of the participants reported that it increased their awareness and understanding of the benefits and opportunities provided by entrepreneurship, and 97 percent stated they were now more likely to create a new business.

After the Babson College meeting on September 14, additional meetings will be held at Northwestern University/Kellogg School of Management in Chicago on October 11, and the University of Denver on November 15.

For more information on CPL and the senior entrepreneurship 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.

About Babson College:
Babson College is the educator, convener, and thought leader for Entrepreneurship of All Kinds™. The College is a dynamic living and learning laboratory, where students, faculty, and staff work together to address the real-world problems of business and society — while at the same time evolving our methods and advancing our programs. We shape the leaders our world needs most: those with strong functional knowledge and the skills and vision to navigate change, accommodate ambiguity, surmount complexity, and motivate teams in a common purpose to create economic and social value. As we have for nearly a half-century, Babson continues to advance Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® as the most positive force on the planet for generating sustainable economic and social value. For information, visit www.babson.edu.

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