Tampa To Host National Small Business Entrepreneurship Conference In 2015

The U.S. Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) will host a major event in Tampa in 2015. The group's Annual Conference is expected to draw more than 500 attendees from around the United States and the world in the field of entrepreneurship education for a three-day symposium at the downtown Tampa Hilton.

The conference ("Sun, Fun & Innovation: Advancing Entrepreneurship Teaching and Research'') will draw "tremendous attendees,'' says Hillsborough County Economic Development Manager Stephanie Ashley.

"What's so exciting, when you think about the EDI2  program, is that our community wants to be a model for how the government helps drive ecosystems,'' says Ashley. "So what is this event going to do? This is going to put a national spotlight on Hillsborough County in supporting our entrepreneurial ecosystem.''

USASBE was awarded $25,000 from the county's Economic Development Innovation Initiative (EDI2) fund to help bring entrepreneurship educators to Tampa. The event's activities aim to highlight Hillsborough County as a place to launch entrepreneurial startups through workshops, panels featuring local high-profile speakers and recent graduates, and proposed visits to innovation hubs like Tampa Bay WaVE and CAMLS in downtown Tampa.

Amy Brownlee, an Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Tampa, is the current VP of Conferences for USASBE and is the primary event organizer. Rebecca White, Director of Entrepreneurship at the University of Tampa, previously served as president of USASBE. White will organize a consortium of local area universities for a "collaborative and synergistic approach'' in showcasing Hillsborough County to attendees.

Richard Gonzmart, president of Columbia Restaurant Group, will be the conference's keynote speaker for the event's welcome reception.

The United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Annual Conference will take place January 22-25, 2015 at the downtown Tampa Hilton, 211 N Tampa St.

USASBE will accept submissions for competitive papers from June 9, 2014 until August 31, 2014. Visit USASBE online for more information about attending, presenting, sponsoring, exhibiting, or volunteering at the conference.
 
Writer: Justine Benstead
Source: Stephanie Ashley, Hillsborough County Economic Development Manager