David LaPlante

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

Happy Nevada Day! Why we love Nevada...

My boys woke up excited as this makes their 3rd (of 10 I believe) sanctioned events in which they can wear their Halloween costumes all day in public. Both boys began their Tigger-like bouncing at 6am this morning excited for Nevada Day.

Logan said, "Dad, we LOVE Nevada!!!" Then the boys proceeded to rattle off what they perceived to be their best reasons to love Nevada. I thought I'd share with you what 4 and 7 year old boys believe to be our State's best selling points: 

• Logan: "No school today!"
• Cody: "There's lot's of Eye-candy!" (He was referring to candy-eyeballs, however, he's not entirely incorrect <grin>.)
• Logan: "We get to go camping!" (Yep..we're headed out...)
• Cody: "Fireworks, marshmallows, and campfires!" (All true. Campfires are illegal in California, as are fireworks. I'm pretty sure they have marshmallows though.)
• Logan: "Clean air and water." (He's learning about ecosystems at school right now.)
• Logan: "Skiing!!!" (Except for Heavenly, Mt. Rose and Diamond Peak., all of Tahoe's resorts are in California. Logan hasn't figured this one out. But you can live in Nevada and enjoy them all within 20 to 45 minutes.)
• Cody: "Lots of chukar." (Yep, we're the chukar state.)

Of course things like no taxes and lack of traffic didn't make their list, but I was impressed!

Yes, it's Nevada Day. Actually, Nevada Day is October 31st. That's when Nevada became a state -- er, admitted to the Union -- October 31, 1864 to be exact. That was during the Civil War -- hence we're the "Battle Born" state. We celebrate Halloween and Nevada's statehood on the same day. Sweet.

Of course, with the passage of AB396 by the 1997 Nevada State Legislature we celebrate Nevada Day on the "last" Friday in October beginning in 2000. In other words, whatever it takes for a three-day weekend. That's today. Pretty much the whole State takes the day off -- unless you're a service-based business or the majority of your customers are outside the State.

So, unfortunately, most of the Nevada-based Twelve Horses team is working today. Contrary to popular belief, most marketers in New York and Boston are not as enthused about Nevada Day as we are.

I must note, however, that over the years, most of the Twelve Horses team located in other states and countries have kindly offered to take this day off too and celebrate Nevada Day with us -- how kind of them! ;-)

tags: Nevada, Nevada day, Halloween, holiday, Reno, camping, hunting, fishing, skiing, business