EPI Graduates 36 Entrepreneurs and Will Continue..

Participants of the Entrepreneurship Pioneers Initiative (EPI) were hosted at the Paul Robeson Campus Center at Rutgers Newark for a bittersweet graduation on January 15, 2010. EPI, funded by North Jersey Partners, was developed and is managed by The Center for Urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development (CUEED) in collaboration with the Rutgers Small Business Development Center (RSBDC), Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL), and The Greater Newark Business Development Consortium (GNBDC).

This consortium of technical assistance providers delivered an intensive eight-month training program that was designed to assist business owners with honing their skills and applying their learning in real-time to grow their businesses.

The 36 small business owners became a close-knit group and have formed an alumni association that CUEED will continue to host monthly.

Lorrie Sanchez, president of Utterly Global a bullying prevention program, explained, "We didn't want it to end. The program was great; the sharing of ideas, the speakers, the topics, the networking. There were so many resources available to me that I wasn't' aware of. It was a terrific experience."

Jasmine Cordero, EPI and CUEED managing director, added, "This group really gelled and share a strong bond. They began classes early and extended class time to network and share ideas. They did business with each other, provided each other with opportunities, and prepared proposals together."

Jasmine Cordero, EPI and CUEED managing director, added, "This group really gelled and share a strong bond. They began classes early and extended class time to network and share ideas. They did business with each other, provided each other with opportunities, and prepared proposals together."

One significant announcement at the graduation was that funding has been secured from the PNC and Prudential Foundations to renew the EPI program. The second session will begin in April 2010 and the application process will begin shortly.

"This program is well-designed. It expanded your mind and encouraged you to pursue your dreams and think differently about overcoming the struggles that you encounter as a small business owner," stated Reginald Jackman, president of RJ's Spot, a take-out eatery.

For further information, go to the Rutgers Business School - CUEED or contact Cordero at jcordero@business.rutgers.edu or (973) 353-5987.

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North Jersey Innovates Conference a Hit with over 125 Participants

Trust in your partners and employees as well as confidence in yourself were among the common threads at the second 2009 Innovates Conference held in mid-November in Livingston, NJ sponsored by North Jersey Partners and NJEntrepreneur.com. Over 125 participants heard JJ Ramberg, host of MSNBC's Your Business, speak as well as moderate a panel that discussed how to build a business starting from a good idea and determination.

All of the entrepreneurs that participated in the two panels and three workshops shared their experience, successes, failures and challenges with the audience. Regardless of the business, all of the entrepreneurs agreed that realizing your goal is demanding and takes hours of hard work. However, the benefits outweigh the costs.

James Barrood, Executive Director of the Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies, leads a spirited discussion about "blazing new trails" with panelists Rachel Braun Scherl, co-founder of Semprae Laboratories; Saurabh Abrol, co-founder of WineChateau.com; and Scott Barnett, co-founder of Bluenog.

JJ Ramberg to Kick Off the Second 2009
North Jersey Innovates Conference

Newark, NJ - Social media strategies, finding capital, the five deadly sins made in sales, and growing your business are among the topics at the second 2009 North Jersey Innovates Conference on Thursday, Nov. 12 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Eisenhower Corporate Campus in Livingston, NJ co-hosted by North Jersey Partners and NJEntrepreneur.com.

JJ Ramberg, host of MSNBC's Your Business, will kick off the conference and moderate the "From Entrepreneur to CEO" panel session. Now in its fourth season, Your Business, is the only television show dedicated to issues affecting small business. Ramberg has profiled hundreds of small business owners and provided advice through countless small business experts and investors.

The second panel session "Blazing New Trails-Pioneering Entrepreneurs," moderated by James Barrood, Executive Director Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies, will share stories with attendees of entrepreneurs being uniquely creative in launching a new venture. In addition, there will be workshops, exhibitors, small business financial representatives, and networking time for participants.

Register online at http://njinnovates.com by Nov. 4 for a special rate of $35; registration after Nov. 4 is $45. In addition to North Jersey Partners and NJEntrepreneur.com, the U.S. Small Business Administration, NJ Economic Development Authority, Martin Financial Group, and OlenderFeldman LLP are conference sponsors.

North Jersey Partners is an innovative regional partnership of public, private and government organizations collaborating to deliver programs, training, and support to ensure the continuity of a skilled workforce to drive economic growth in northern New Jersey. This conference is funded by North Jersey Partners through the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant through the U.S. Department of Labor Education and Training Administration.

NJEntrepreneur.com, through its Web site, serves as a centralized resource for entrepreneurship throughout New Jersey providing information and support that is so critical for those starting and building a business in the Garden State.