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Thomas Family Center for Entrepreneurship (TFCE) Advisory Board meeting Carmen F. Calabrese, Executive Director. November 2007 to January 2008 Administrative Progress January 25, 2008. Funding Meetings.
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Thomas Family Center for Entrepreneurship (TFCE)Advisory Board meeting Carmen F. Calabrese, Executive Director November 2007 to January 2008 Administrative Progress January 25, 2008 Calabrese - Advisory Board Meeting
Funding Meetings • Attended meeting with the Rural Center for Entrepreneurship. Intent was to network with NC service providers that provide funding and consulting that can be used with our clients. Provided with presentation by the Business Resource Alliance on “Small Business Disaster Recovery.” • Attended meeting on seed, angel, and venture funding sources in North Carolina. Presented by the “The Rural Venture Fund,’ “Natural Capital Investment Fund,” “Inception Micro Angel Funds,” and “Small Business Development and Technology Center.” Calabrese - Advisory Board Meeting
Regional Participation • Participated in establishing an “entrepreneurial summit” exposition in November with various local service agencies, the Center for Community Action, and the UNCP Regional Center. Over 125 entrepreneurs, service providers, faculty, students, and staff attended • Key presentation was by Ms. MaryAnn Elliot on “Lessons Learned” as a successful entrepreneur. Calabrese - Advisory Board Meeting
Regional Participation • Attended, with other UNCP staff, a workshop on “Carnegie Foundation’s elective classification for Community Engagement” at GA. • Classification affirms that the practices of community engagement are aligned with UNCP’s identity and form an integral component of the institutional culture. Calabrese - Advisory Board Meeting
Business Consulting Engagements Primary intent of the TFCE is to support the economic development of the region. Provided consulting services to businesses in: • Urgent Medical Care • Nutritional Supplement • Furniture & Cabinet • Home Health Care • Mental Health Care • Grantswriter for Lumbee Tribe • Consulting & Book Publishing • Criminal Intelligence Analysis • Commercial Real Estate Development Calabrese - Advisory Board Meeting
Strategic Alliances • Met with the Administrators of the NC BioNetwork, which provides consulting and grants for biodiversity studies for new businesses • Met with the new Director of the NC Native American Enterprise Center (NC NAEC) to discuss ways of working with local residents in economic development. Signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” with NC NAEC as a strategic partner • Calabrese invited to make a presentation at NC NACE annual conference in 2008 on the TFCE. Calabrese - Advisory Board Meeting
Strategic Alliances • Working with the UNCP Digital Academy and VC of the computing center to investigate the acquisition of a new product, called Objet Geometries. Product can be used in various UNCP departments, such as art and business, to develop three dimensional products and to teach the integration of 3D technology to product development. • Vision is that Objet Geometrics can be used in an academic setting to teach 3D technology, but also, to start new entrepreneurial ventures. Calabrese - Advisory Board Meeting
Academic Participation • Spent most of November and December in making the transition from MBA Director to the Executive Director. • Continued advising graduate students for the spring 2008 session and reviewed the MBA process with the interim director. • Finished the classes that were assigned for the fall 2007 session. For the spring 2008 session, will lecture in Small Business Management and Organizational Theory and Development. • Participated in programs to establish an entrepreneurial certificate program and the classes for a minor and major in entrepreneurship. Calabrese - Advisory Board Meeting
Internal Projects • Working on a brochure and Web Site for the TFCE to promote the mission and services provided. Expected to be in operation by the first quarter 2008 • Purchased, implemented, and started populating a Data Base management software product to maintain an updated base of contacts as a method of tracking business associates and clients Calabrese - Advisory Board Meeting