David LaPlante

This here blog is RETIRED. I'm over at www.davidlaplante.com now and forever on. 8-)

EntrepreneurshipWeek USA Kickoff Event tonight at Desert Research Institute

UPDATE: Just received word that the event is CANCELED tonite due to SNOW (and a disproportionate number of 2WD minivans and Chrysler Sebrings setting a precedent of creating chaos on Reno's streets).

I'm headed up to DRI tonight at 5:30 pm for the kick off of EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, a nationwide event to celebrate and encourage entrepreneurs. Taking Logan to hopefully get a tour of the DRI Virtual Reality CAVE. The evening's highlights include:

• Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki
• Dr. Steve Wells, President, Desert Research Institute
• Fred Hamilton, Publisher, Reno-Gazette-Journal
• Meet the Business Report of Northern Nevada's "Entrepreneurs of the Year"
• Tour of DRI's CAVE and Ice Core Labs

EntrepreneurshipWeek is sponsored by the Nevada Commission on Economic Development (NCED), Nevada's Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NCET).

Some of The Week's events include:

• Monday, Feb 26 - Annual Engineer's Day (UNR) All day - College of Engineering (CoEN) Open House - Free
• Wed, Feb 28 - "POP is YOUR Connection - Connect with the Resources for Starting or Expanding Your Business" 10 am - Plaza Hotel and Conference Center - Carson City
• Fri, Mar 2 - Entrepreneur Expo - Reno-Sparks Convention Center- 9 am - 5 pm - Sponsored by: - NCET - Nevada's Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology - Nevada Commission on Economic Development

Here's a Q&A from NCET talking about about why this event is cool:

EntrepreneurshipWeek USA Q&A:

1) Who should attend Entrepreneurship Week and why?Anyone who is an entrepreneur, or anyone who had ever considered becoming an entrepreneur, should attend the EntrepreneurshipWeek USA events, especially the Entrepreneur Expo on Friday, March 2 at the Reno Convention Center.

2) What can attendees hope to get out of the event? Each of our events focus on one or more issues important to entrepreneurs. The Entrepreneur Expo, for example, will feature exhibitions by 30 to 40 organizations that provide services for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. We'll also have 10 to 15 speakers and panelists addressing topics such as "How to Write a Business Plan," "Strategic Planning," "Technology for Your Business," "Electronic Marketing for Small Businesses," "How to Go Public," and many, many more.

3) What is the significance in having an event like this in northern Nevada? EntrepreneurshipWeek USA is a new nation-wide event created to celebrate the importance of entrepreneurs. Given their role in Nevada's past, present and future, it's fitting that Nevada is doing more to recognize EntrepreneurshipWeek USA than any other state in the union. Our events have two very important elements. First, celebrating Northern Nevada's successful entrepreneurs, who can serve as an example to aspiring entrepreneurs. Their stories demonstrate that entrepreneurs come in a wide range of backgrounds and skill sets. Second, showcasing the numerous local, state and federal programs and non-profit organizations that exist to encourage and help entrepreneurs. Few Nevadans are fully aware of the vast resources available to entrepreneurs, and we hope that EntrepreneurshipWeek USA will help connect the resources and the entrepreneurs.

4) Describe some of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face in northern Nevada. The biggest challenges facing Northern Nevada's entrepreneurs are access to investment capital and access to qualified Board members and experienced advisors. EDAWN and NCET are working closely together to identify - and in some case spur the formation of - additional sources of investment capital. At the same time, NCET is identifying a pool of experienced and qualified individuals who can serve on Boards of Directors and Boards of Advisors to new and growing companies. These companies can then draw on the wealth of knowledge and experience embodied in these people.

5) Why is entrepreneurship such a hot topic? Nevada is a state built by entrepreneurs. Currently, 85% of Nevada's companies employ 20 or fewer employees, proving that Nevada's economy is truly fueled by small businesses. Studies by EDAWN and NNDA show that Nevada's future growth will be driven by businesses started within Nevada, rather that by companies relocating to Nevada. For these reasons, we clearly need to focus on encouraging, helping and celebrating Nevada's entrepreneurs.

Technorati : CAVCaM, DRI, EDAWN, Entrepreneur, EntrepreneurshipWeek, Foundation, Kaufman, NCED, NCET, Nevada, Reno, development, econmic

Del.icio.us : CAVCaM, DRI, EDAWN, Entrepreneur, EntrepreneurshipWeek, Foundation, Kaufman, NCED, NCET, Nevada, Reno, development, econmic

"Perception Is a Critical Factor in Attracting Expanding Companies" - Expansion Management Magazine; Reno, Nevada Named in Top 50 Hottest Cities

Expansion Management Magazine just named Reno of of the "2007 AMERICA'S 50 HOTTEST CITIES"! In it, they call out that "Perception Is a Critical Factor in Attracting Expanding Companies." Yep. Perception is reality. Sometimes we call that branding ;-)

In their annual poll of 80 prominent corporate site location experts, Reno, Nevada ranked in the top 50 out of 360+ metros to arrive at their list of the best places to expand or relocate a business.

Congratulations to EDAWN for their continued success in managing the perception of the Reno. Perhaps the unsung hero here is the RSCVA. If it weren't for their relentlessly drumbeating our outdoor adventure and diverse gaming+ activities, Reno's profile would be much less. Furthermore, their open dialog with EDAWN about leveraging tourism and economic development messages together has really given this region legs to stand on.

My prediction: Northern Nevada will start to emerge over the next 10 years as one of the more "green" economies to live/operate in as the University of Nevada, Desert Research Institute, the State and the numerous homebuilders and commercial developers create a catalyst of profitable and attractive opportunities for living and business expansion. I've been privy to a lot of the discussions going on and it's really exciting.

In ten years we could be recognized as the #1 "green" city for business and living. Easy? No. Doable? Yes.

  Technorati : branding, development, economic, edawn, expansion, growth, management, ncet, nevada, perception, quality, relocation, reno, reputation

Confidentiality Notices are Annoying - Some better ways to let people know to keep it on the QT

You've seen them. Maybe you get only a few a day, I seem to get hundreds. Usually they come in the form of a one-sentence email from your attorney and a 300-1,000 word essay / legal briefing on confidentiality at the bottom. Below is a sooper-shorty one for example:

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
The information contained in this e-mail correspondence is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED and CONFIDENTIAL. If you are not the named recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, duplication, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance upon this correspondence is strictly prohibited. If you received this correspondence in error, please notify the sender by phone, fax, or e-mail and destroy any and all copies of the correspondence. Thank you.

These are really annoying when you read most of your email on a cell phone. I think I've scrolled 10 miles thru these over the last year getting to the bottom of the thread.

Have you noticed they usually come from professionally anal people? Pretty much every attorney, accountants and HR professional I know has 200-1,000 words of fine print at the top, bottom and even embedded in the header. Especially email from those old men who smell like old spice and are always trying to recall one politician or another and love rambling on-and-on-and-on at public forums. They love appending their emails with all kinds of crazy stuff like this.

Here's a couple Nevada-specific idea for a Confidentiality Notice that I'd like to see/use in my email. Short and sweet. Probably just as effective. Liven things up a little:

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
I live in Nevada. We have lots of abandoned mineshafts and ample room for shallow graves. Keep this email to yourself.

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
Just like those photos of you I took in Vegas, what happens in your Inbox stays in your Inbox.

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
Like I trust my .40, I trust you to keep email this to yourself. I have a Basque/Italian family, BTW.

What kind of Confidentiality Notices would you like to fly?

  Technorati : confidentiality, disclaimer, email, humor, legal, nevada, notice

Steve & Drew's Reno Adventure

                 

A great example of consumer-generated media consistent with Reno-Tahoe brand (sans the bathrobes).