Keynote Speaker: Dean Cycon, President, Dean's Beans Organic Coffee Company

SPRINGFIELD, MA. - September 29, 2008 - The Western New England College Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship will host the third annual interdisciplinary conference titled "Entrepreneurship in a Global Economy" on Friday, October 17 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:15 p.m. in the Blake Law Center.

The event is designed to bring together experts from a wide variety of fields and put them in a setting where they can talk to and learn from each other about the challenges facing existing small businesses and start-ups. "The conference is an opportunity to bring together practitioners, public policy makers, and academics to create change and impact the field of entrepreneurship with reality based discussion," said Aimee Griffin Munnings, director of the Law and Business Center.

The conference luncheon will feature a keynote address by Dean Cycon, owner of Dean's Beans Organic Coffee, a $3 million coffee roasting operation based in Orange, MA. Cycon is a leader of the American Fair Trade Coffee Movement. He has been a legal advocate and activist for indigenous people for more than 30 years, developing new business models founded on respect, ethics, and justice.

The conference will also feature four panel discussions on the topics of environmental justice; globalization, immigration, and effects on entrepreneurship; finance and entrepreneurship; and political outcomes and entrepreneurial policy. Panelists include experts from government, academia, and the nonprofit sector drawn from across the country.

Advance registration for the event is $50 and includes lunch and refreshments. To register or for more information, contact the Law and Business Center at 413-796-2030 or online at www.law.wnec.edu/lawandbusiness.

The Western New England College Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship was established to provide graduate business and law students with an opportunity to offer practical consultation to entrepreneurs starting new or building existing small businesses in the community. The Center strengthens current alliances within the community by using the combined resources of the College’s School of Business and School of Law to foster new business development. For more information about the Center, its programs and services, visit www.law.wnec.edu/lawandbusiness.

Western New England College is a private, independent, coeducational institution founded in 1919. Located on an attractive 215-acre suburban campus in Springfield, Massachusetts, the College serves approximately 4,000 students, including 2,500 full-time undergraduate students, on its main campus and at four sites throughout the Commonwealth. Undergraduate and graduate programs are offered through the College's Schools of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Law. In its annual "America's Best Colleges" ranking, U.S.News & World Report lists Western New England College among the North Region's "Best Universities "“ Master's Category," those which provide a full range of bachelor's and master's programs.

Editor's note: All of the College's news releases are available online at www.wnec.edu/news.

Western New England College Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship

Western New England College Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship

The Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship supports the establishment and development of small businesses in western Massachusetts. The Center is a joint effort of the Schools of Law and Business at Western New England College and is driven by the School of Law’s desire to advance its programs in transactional law and by the School of Business’ desire to offer practical educational opportunities in entrepreneurship. The Center provides an innovative educational program beyond the classroom while employing collaborative cross-disciplinary teaching and outreach to form community partnerships and alliances. MISSION: The Center will: Assist small business clients with limited financial resources and experience to establish themselves in the market on a prudent legal footing and a sound business basis by providing professional services and informational and educational resources. The resources include a resource center, expert panels, seminars, workshops, and conferences focusing on entrepreneurship & economic development issues for the business community, the college community, and the general public. Create opportunities for businesses to share best practices and experiences with students and with other businesses. Promote an understanding of and interest in the value of entrepreneurship & community economic development among the students at the College. Through these and other collaborative efforts with other organizations, the Center will contribute to growth in several dimensions: by developing human capital, increasing social capital, and enhancing the economic development of the greater Pioneer Valley.

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