The National Entrepreneur Center was founded in 2003, through the collaborative efforts of Walt Disney World, Orange County Government and The University of Central Florida, this “shared facility” and collaborative approach to small business development has attracted national attention for its financial efficiencies and the ability to leverage the resources and skills of each resident organization. Additionally, the center provides easy access to these business assistance organizations for local entrepreneurs. Since inception, the resident organizations have trained and counseled Central Florida businesses in record numbers, while creating nationally recognized business development programs. This innovative approach to economic development through small business, known as “Main Street Gardening,” has been instrumental in earning Central Florida recognition from Entrepreneur Magazine and Biz Journals newspapers, as one of the best places in America to start or grow a small business. http://www.nationalec.org/

In this episode:

How Orlando took a crisis and turned into a business mecca

Not all castles are at Disney

How a funeral led to 13 organizations working together

The National Entrepreneur Center was founded in 2003, through the collaborative efforts of Walt Disney World, Orange County Government and The University of Central Florida, this “shared facility” and collaborative approach to small business development has attracted national attention for its financial efficiencies and the ability to leverage the resources and skills of each resident organization. Additionally, the center provides easy access to these business assistance organizations for local entrepreneurs. Since inception, the resident organizations have trained and counseled Central Florida businesses in record numbers, while creating nationally recognized business development programs. This innovative approach to economic development through small business, known as “Main Street Gardening,” has been instrumental in earning Central Florida recognition from Entrepreneur Magazine and Biz Journals newspapers, as one of the best places in America to start or grow a small business. http://www.nationalec.org/

In this episode:

How Orlando took a crisis and turned into a business mecca

Not all castles are at Disney

How a funeral led to 13 organizations working together

The Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit organization supported through membership investment and strategic partnerships. http://www.spartanburgchamber.com/

Betsy Neely Sikma joined the EFG after 5 years at Accion in Chicago, a member of the Accion US Network and Accion International, the largest nonprofit microlender and business development organization in the nation. Sikma most recently was Accion in Chicago's Vice President for Strategic Marketing and Development. In her role as Director of Entrepreneurial Development, Sikma will be responsible for administering and implementing small business and entrepreneurial programming for the Economic Futures Group and for administering the day-to-day operations of the Spartanburg Angel Network. http://www.economicfuturesgroup.com/staff-directory/our-team/betsy-neely-sikma/?query=%28category.eq.Our%20Team%29.and.%28category.eq.Our%20Team%29&back=staff

In this episode:

How to have a Huge Vision but focus on immediate tangible goals

What is the definition of a small business and an entrepreneur

The Spartanburg “Movement” and how this South Carolina city is the next big thing

Developing a workforce in a new way

The Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit organization supported through membership investment and strategic partnerships. http://www.spartanburgchamber.com/

Betsy Neely Sikma joined the EFG after 5 years at Accion in Chicago, a member of the Accion US Network and Accion International, the largest nonprofit microlender and business development organization in the nation. Sikma most recently was Accion in Chicago's Vice President for Strategic Marketing and Development. In her role as Director of Entrepreneurial Development, Sikma will be responsible for administering and implementing small business and entrepreneurial programming for the Economic Futures Group and for administering the day-to-day operations of the Spartanburg Angel Network. http://www.economicfuturesgroup.com/staff-directory/our-team/betsy-neely-sikma/?query=%28category.eq.Our%20Team%29.and.%28category.eq.Our%20Team%29&back=staff

In this episode:

How to have a Huge Vision but focus on immediate tangible goals

What is the definition of a small business and an entrepreneur

The Spartanburg “Movement” and how this South Carolina city is the next big thing

Developing a workforce in a new way

Launchpad provides entrepreneurs and startups in the Greater Williamsburg Partnership (James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg) with the amenities, counseling, and services necessary to grow a successful business. http://www.gwlaunchpad.com/

Launchpad focuses on three core components:

- Building a community of entrepreneur members, mentors, investors and partners

- Providing education that is focused on relevance, value and better positioning entrepreneurs

- Events that add value to all. Networking that extends beyond business card exchanges

Tim Ryan positions entrepreneurs, startups and small business to validate, execute and win at business https://www.linkedin.com/in/timhryan/ https://twitter.com/ryantnt

In this episode you will learn:

How to manage an incubator paid for by a city

The emotional side of working with small businesses

Setup needed for maximum workflow in an open office concept

Launchpad provides entrepreneurs and startups in the Greater Williamsburg Partnership (James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg) with the amenities, counseling, and services necessary to grow a successful business. http://www.gwlaunchpad.com/

Launchpad focuses on three core components:

- Building a community of entrepreneur members, mentors, investors and partners

- Providing education that is focused on relevance, value and better positioning entrepreneurs

- Events that add value to all. Networking that extends beyond business card exchanges

Tim Ryan positions entrepreneurs, startups and small business to validate, execute and win at business https://www.linkedin.com/in/timhryan/ https://twitter.com/ryantnt

In this episode you will learn:

How to manage an incubator paid for by a city

The emotional side of working with small businesses

Setup needed for maximum workflow in an open office concept

The Commons is a bold collaboration between 24 southeast Wisconsin colleges and universities, our local business community and the region's entrepreneurs. The program blends startup ventures with corporate innovation and layers on 200+ mentoring professionals to give you a truly unique, real-world experience. http://www.thecommonswi.com/

Joe Poeschl is the Program Director / Co-Founder at The Commons. https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-poeschl-432a99a7/

In this episode you will learn:

How to get two dozen schools to adopt your idea

What metrics are important to track

Why starting a city focused meetup can help retain and attract local talent http://startupmke.org/

Brett Baker is a father, tv producer, speech coach and hot wings superfan and ranker of the hit series First We Feast Hot Ones. https://twitter.com/brettsbaker

Hot Ones episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxpNXfj5No8

Reaction to Russell Brand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvnxPMK-KAI

In this episode you will learn:

How to pitch a story idea to the media

Techniques to improve your presentations

What is Brett’s favorite hot sauce

The reason why social media is so special

Brett Baker is a father, tv producer, speech coach and hot wings superfan and ranker of the hit series First We Feast Hot Ones. https://twitter.com/brettsbaker

Hot Ones episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxpNXfj5No8

Reaction to Russell Brand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvnxPMK-KAI

In this episode you will learn:

How to pitch a story idea to the media

Techniques to improve your presentations

What is Brett’s favorite hot sauce

The reason why social media is so special

The Commons is a bold collaboration between 24 southeast Wisconsin colleges and universities, our local business community and the region's entrepreneurs. The program blends startup ventures with corporate innovation and layers on 200+ mentoring professionals to give you a truly unique, real-world experience. http://www.thecommonswi.com/

Joe Poeschl is the Program Director / Co-Founder at The Commons. https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-poeschl-432a99a7/

In this episode you will learn:

How to get two dozen schools to adopt your idea

What metrics are important to track

Why starting a city focused meetup can help retain and attract local talent http://startupmke.org/