Entrepreneurial Event Focuses on Economic Prosperity, Job Creation
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More than 500 leading entrepreneurs gathered in Atlanta to focus on business and job growth
Alexandria, Virginia, USA (25 April 2012) – Entrepreneurs continue to play a vital role in our country’s economic recovery, creating the businesses and innovations that will lead to new business opportunities and job creation. Focusing specifically on helping leading entrepreneurs grow their businesses, Atlanta recently played host to more than 500 business owners from all over the East Coast at the annual Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) NERVE Conference. Held on April 19th and 20th, the gathering focused on providing the attendees with tools and learning opportunities to help them grow their businesses.
“Entrepreneurs and small businesses will be key factors in stabilizing the U.S. economy as well as driving future growth,” explains David Duncan, a member of the EO NERVE committee and founder of Paddywax, hand-poured soy wax candles. “That’s why it’s so important to continue to bring entrepreneurs together to learn from each other and build strong networks. This event brings together intelligence, leadership, and a passion for business. It’s an incredible opportunity for learning, networking and sharing of ideas and experiences.”
In addition to impactful keynote addresses and breakout sessions focused on various business growth strategies, the event featured the first of many collaborations under the recently created
NYSE Big StartUp, a nationwide jobs-growth initiative designed to connect young companies and entrepreneurs with corporate America. Partnering the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and
NYSE Euronext (NYX), the program calls on the nation’s corporate community to lend support, experience and resources to startups and small companies to improve procurement, networking, business development, training, marketing and information sharing.
“Connecting entrepreneurs and young companies to corporate America and established business leaders is a powerful combination,” said Scott Cutler, Executive Vice President of NYSE Euronext. “EO NERVE is a forum that brings together these communities, and by collaboratively engaging in The NYSE Big StartUp productive conversations, new opportunities and innovative ideas will emerge to fuel enterprise and economic growth new jobs.
“At NERVE in Atlanta, we were thrilled to have Richard Kahlbaugh, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive of Fortegra Financial Corporation, a NYSE-listed company, deliver an impressive keynote address on the power of entrepreneurship and innovation. On behalf of my colleagues and The NYSE Big StartUp partnership, I want to thank Richard for participating in EO Nerve and The NYSE Big StartUp.”
Speaking on the topic of leadership, Mr. Kahlbaugh said the following:
“Leading a business to success, one spends a lot of time illuminating the path from ‘the dream’ to how to achieve it. And if you can illuminate that path, connecting the dots for your team, I think you’ll see your success rate accelerate. That’s what leadership is – connecting the dots for the organization.”
The NYSE Big StartUp is unique in its comprehensive approach to promoting job growth through small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs. The program helps to promote the increased demand for goods and services that these growing companies need, while also mobilizing the corporate sector to contribute knowledge, expertise and funding where it can be critical to job creation. For more information on the NYSE Big StartUp and how to engage with the partnership or to access a list of programs and events, please visit:
www.nysebigstartup.com.
Video of Richard Kahlbaugh’s keynote speech can be found on the Big StartUp website here:
http://youtu.be/c5-BrAM8KPc
About the Entrepreneurs’ Organization
The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is a dynamic global network of more than 8,000 business owners in 40 countries. Founded in 1987 by a group of young entrepreneurs, the year 2012 marks EO’s 25th anniversary. With its transformative experiences and unparalleled peer network, EO transforms the lives of the entrepreneurs who transform the world. EO is the catalyst that enables entrepreneurs to learn and grow from each other, leading to greater business success and an enriched personal life. Membership in one of EO’s 120 chapters is by invitation only; the average member is 41 years old with annual revenues of US$17.3 million. For more information on EO, visit www.eonetwork.org or call +1.703.519.6700.
About NYSE Euronext
NYSE Euronext (NYX) is a leading global operator of financial markets and provider of innovative trading technologies. The company's exchanges in Europe and the United States trade equities, futures, options, fixed-income and exchange-traded products. With approximately 8,000 listed issues (excluding European Structured Products), NYSE Euronext's equities markets – the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Euronext, NYSE Amex, NYSE Alternext and NYSE Arca – represent one-third of the world's equities trading, the most liquidity of any global exchange group. NYSE Euronext also operates NYSE Liffe, one of the leading European derivatives businesses and the world's second-largest derivatives business by value of trading. The company offers comprehensive commercial technology, connectivity and market data products and services through NYSE Technologies. NYSE Euronext is in the S&P 500 index, and is the only exchange operator in the Fortune 500. For more information, please visit:
http://www.nyx.com.
