October 12, 2009

Carter, Laur Russell speak at national conference

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Two business development staff members from Southern Illinois University Carbondale will make a presentation at the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers Conference this week in Houston, Texas.

Emily Carter, director of entrepreneurship and business development, and Robyn Laur Russell, director of the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center, will speak at the national conference held at the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University Oct. 15-17. The theme of the event is “Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Engines of the Global Economy.” Participants will be attending from 43 states and 15 other countries representing more than 230 entrepreneurship centers.

The Friday morning session featuring Carter and Laur Russell’s presentation is “Incubators and Collaborative Environments: What’s Working? What are the Challenges and Should You Start One? How Do They support the Curriculum, New Venture Creation and Student Entrepreneurship?” Their presentation, “Innovative Outreach Ideas,” examines innovative approaches for attracting and engaging business owners who operate at a high level and don’t necessarily seek assistance. Carter and Laur Russell will highlight the recent launch of the high-growth entrepreneurship club, StudioE.

The elite field of conference presenters includes many leaders in the field, including several that “Entrepreneur” magazine lists among its rankings of Top Ten Entrepreneurship Programs, including the programs from the University of Arizona, Temple University, Babson College, University of South Carolina, Tulane and Drexel University.

Formerly the National Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers, The Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers dates to 1996. Its purpose is to serve as a coordinating venue through which university-based entrepreneurship centers and members can collaborate, communicate and work together to advance excellence in entrepreneurship through their roles and positions in the academic and business communities. The GCEC is the premier leadership organization addressing topics of importance to the country’s university-based entrepreneurship centers. For more information, look online at www.globalentrepreneurshipconsortium.org/.

To learn more about the various resources available to the region’s high-growth entrepreneurs through the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center at SIUC, call 618/453-3805 or visit the Web site at www.siecenter.biz. Find out more about the new StudioE at www.studioeclub.biz.