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Business

Baby Boomers Are Fastest Growing Segment in Entrepreneurial Wave

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Recent Event Attracted Nearly 100 Baby Boomers to Discuss Benefits of Entrepreneurship

Boulder, CO, April 26, 2012 – The Center for Productive Longevity (CPL), which serves as the bridge between people 55 and older and the opportunities that enable them to continue in productive activities, today announced the results of the first in a series of four meetings, “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers.” During a time of high unemployment and low economic growth, CPL initiated the 2012 series to stimulate the interest of Baby Boomers in new-business creation.

The first event was held at the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, MO, a focal point for entrepreneurship in America, and attracted almost 100 participants to engage in interactive discussion and dialogue about entrepreneurship. Sponsors of the event included the Kauffman Foundation, AARP, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) and CPL.

Written evaluations from the event indicated that almost all participants have a strong desire to start a new business; 97 percent stated they are more likely to create a new business as a result of attending the daylong meeting.

These responses mirror a national trend where increasingly more Baby Boomers are starting their own businesses. In fact, according to the Kauffman Foundation, from 1996 to 2011 the number of Baby Boomers starting a business increased by nearly seven percent, the largest increase among all age groups. For people 20-44, the number of people starting a new business actually fell about five percent during that same time period.

“There is a wide range of individual, economic and societal benefits for the Baby Boomers to start new businesses,” says William Zinke, 85, founder and president of CPL. “People are living longer, yet often retiring earlier, and recent AARP studies confirm that 80 percent of Baby Boomers indicate their intent to continue working after leaving regular career jobs.”

Additional feedback from the meeting found that 87 percent of attendees stated that the event increased their awareness and understanding of the benefits and opportunities provided by entrepreneurship “very much” or “a great deal.” Seventy-seven percent indicated that they were “a great deal” or “very much” more likely to pursue programs or courses on entrepreneurship as a result of attending the event.

Speakers from the March meeting included Benno C. Schmidt, Jr., Interim President & CEO, Kauffman Foundation and former President, Yale University; Bruce Merrifield, former U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce and Chaired Professor of Entrepreneurship, the Wharton School; Mary Beth Izard, author of BoomerPreneurs; Jerry Kelly, CEO and Co-Founder, Silpada Designs; and Danny O’Neill, President and Founder, Roasterie.

Human Resource Services, Inc. (HRS) created CPL as a non-profit to serve as the bridge between people 55 and older and opportunities that enable them to continue as productive contributors. The economic benefits of enabling people 55+ to continue working include providing them with needed income, contributing to–instead of drawing from–entitlement programs, reducing unemployment and increasing national economic growth.

The next “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers” meetings are scheduled to be held at Babson College in Wellesley, MA on September 14, Northwestern University/Kellogg School of Business in Chicago on October 11, and the University of Denver on November 15. To register, visit
http://www.ctrpl.org/entrepreneurship-meeting/overview. Follow the Center for Productive Longevity on Facebook at facebook.com/CTRPL.

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

Company Contacts:
William K. Zinke or James R. 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 be the bridge between people 55 and older and their engagement in productive activities, paid and volunteer, where they are qualified and ready to continue adding value. It is imperative that we recognize the value added by an aging workforce. Visit www.ctrpl.org for more information.

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

Bill Ringle to Lead Seminar on How to Quickly Find New Business and Improve Teamwork

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On February 7, learn how to achieve more sales, more growth, and better teamwork in “Recalibrating Your Business GPS: Finding a Productive Direction – Fast!” with business growth strategist Bill Ringle.

Philadelphia, PA, January 21, 2012 – Like a ship without a rudder, businesses without a well-tuned, accurate, and powerful GPS get lost or sink. Bill Ringle will lead a half-day seminar on “Recalibrating Your Business GPS: Finding a Productive Direction – Fast!” on February 7, 2012 at the Laurence A. Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship at Drexel University’s Main Campus in Philadelphia, PA.

A strong economy masks inefficient systems for profitable business growth; to a large degree, start-ups and established small businesses can get by with “networking” and “referrals” when deal flow is strong. Even multimillion-dollar businesses may employ only a small fraction of the means available for acquiring new business and achieving growth. However, in a turbulent economy like we’ve experienced in the United States since 2008, it takes more to grow effectively. You’ve got to tune in to what your customers want and need, establish multiple methods of being strategically visible, and be faster than your competition to respond to requests and fulfill promises. That’s where understanding how your Business GPS works comes into play.

This seminar is designed to equip participants with three powerful tools to recalibrate your Business GPS: one to find and engage qualified buyers faster, one to align your team around building stronger relationships with prospects and clients, and one to support stronger communications among your team.

“Small business is still the engine for economic growth in this country, hiring about 65% of the new jobs in the last 5 years, while corporations have largely been reducing the size of their workforces. With the simple tools and distinctions covered in this program, small businesses can stand out in their fields, attract more business, and sustain that growth over time. Because the rocky economy has conditioned most people to pull back on spending, it creates big opportunities for growth without spending a lot of money on marketing,” says business growth strategist and seminar leader Bill Ringle. “The foundation of business is the strength of your relationships, both inside and outside the organization. By knowing the specific elements of your Business GPS, you will be in a better position to lead your company to growth in the weeks and months ahead.”

Bill Ringle is a nationally known business expert who presents keynotes and seminars on the proven practices of sustainable business growth to associations and business groups. Over 425 of his articles have been published in eNewsletters, web sites, and professional journals, and he has contributed to or authored four published books. He is the former Internet Program Manager for Worldwide Training with Apple, Inc. Ringle serves on privately held company and not-for-profit association boards. He is the former chair of Mid-Atlantic Diamond Venture (MADV), where he prepared and connected hundreds of emerging growth, high tech entrepreneurs to angel investors, and facilitated over $200 MM in early stage investments. Ringle is an alumnus of both Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Drexel University.

Visit http://www.AskBillRingle.com/GPS-seminar for more details.

Contact:
Meredith Hegg
LearnWell
491 Baltimore Pike, Suite 209
Springfield, PA 19064
610-626-0175
pr@learnwell.com
http://www.askbillringle.com