Community College of Philadelphia President Joins National Forum to Promote Entrepreneurship

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CONTACT: Heather Van Sickle
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COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA PRESIDENT JOINS NATIONAL FORUM TO PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP

National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship Promotes Entrepreneurship by Engaging Community Colleges to Join New Presidents for Entrepreneurship Forum

PHILADELPHIA—July 9, 2012 -- The National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), the nation’s leading organization focused on promoting entrepreneurship through community colleges, has announced that President Stephen M. Curtis of Community College of Philadelphia has joined its new Presidents for Entrepreneurship Forum. Through the program, presidents of community colleges throughout the country commit to increase the focus on entrepreneurship at their institutions and the impact these colleges have on the economic well being of the communities they serve. Officials from four other Pennsylvania community colleges have also joined the new forum.

With the economy still lagging in many regions of the United States, more than 175 community colleges have joined the entrepreneurship forum, and by doing so, have committed to playing a greater role in stimulating economic development in the communities they serve.

"Philadelphia is a city of vibrant neighborhoods, where small companies and firms serve as an important economic engine,” President Curtis said. "Our new Center for Small Business Education, Growth and Training seeks to strengthen this sector and assist the legions of family-owned businesses and budding entrepreneurs. Since small businesses today employ half of all private sector employees, they are a strategic partner for us as well as a potential employer for students. By providing customized training and workshops, we expand the path to possibilities for Philadelphia."

Other Pennsylvania community college officials joining the forum are: Joe Forrester, president, and Melissa Denardo, provost and vice president of Learning & Success, Community College of Beaver County, Center Township; Donald Snyder, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville; John Sygielski, Harrisburg Area Community College, Harrisburg and Gettysburg; and Karen Stout, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell and Pottsdown.

About the Presidents for Entrepreneurship Forum
The Presidents for Entrepreneurship Forum is in response to the Obama Administration’s Startup America call to action to stimulate economic growth state by state by encouraging entrepreneurs to start their own businesses. NACCE is a founding affiliate of the Startup America Partnership, an alliance of the country’s most innovative entrepreneurs, corporations, universities, foundations, and other leaders.

According to NACCE Executive Director Heather Van Sickle, the Presidents for Entrepreneurship Forum is a way for community colleges to advance entrepreneurship and create jobs across the country.

Community college presidents who join the Forum make five commitments:

• Develop transparency of community college and community assets

• Create internal and external teams dedicated to entrepreneurship

• Increase entrepreneurs’ engagement in community colleges

• Engage in industry cluster development

• Create broad exposure to their college’s commitment to entrepreneurship.

"The five commitments were developed based on NACCE’s observations of what was working best on member campuses,” said Van Sickle. "After observing the entrepreneurship-related activities of our members over a period of years, we started to see commonalities among the more successful institutions,” she said. "One of the major things that clearly makes a difference is the commitment by leadership to entrepreneurship.”

About NACCE
The National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) is an organization of educators, entrepreneurs, and distinguished business development professionals providing quality programs and services in entrepreneurship education and serving as advocates for "entrepreneurship movement.”

Through membership, an annual conference and exhibition, a quarterly journal, monthly webinars and podcasts, a dynamic list-serv, and other resources, NACCE serves as the hub for the dissemination and integration of knowledge and successful practices regarding entrepreneurship education and student business incubation. These programs and courses advance economic prosperity in the communities served by its member colleges.

For more information about the Presidents for Entrepreneurship Forum, or to join NACCE, visit http://www.nacce.com. Follow NACCE on Twitter at @NACCE and like the NACCE – National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship page on Facebook.

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