2010 Social Entrepreneurship Forum

by 02/14/2010

Recent economic events and lagging job markets have provided the motivation for thousands of Southern Californians to launch their own businesses. The USC Marshall School and its alumni are hosting a day of inspiration and education for aspiring and current entrepreneurs, and the professionals who support them.

The 2010 Keynote Event on February 20, 2010 will focus on the active roles entrepreneurs are taking to address many of the pressing social and environment challenges in their local communities and around the world. Many individuals are launching non-profit or for-profit business ventures and social enterprises with social mission more significant than the financial bottom line.

Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, a nationally syndicated columnist, and author of 12 books, will deliver the keynote address. Adlai Wertman, founding director of the Society and Business Lab at the USC Marshall School of Business, and professor of Clinical Management and Organization will be honored.

Additionally, three panels will feature entrepreneurs and speakers seeking to provide entrepreneurs with effective tactics to use in running their businesses. Panels will include a distinguished group of social entrepreneurs who have demonstrated leadership in promoting social responsibility, a group of respected communications professionals discussing marketing the social enterprise, and a panel of finance experts providing advice on financing the dream from start-up to established operations.

Social Entrepreneurship Panel
Moderated by David Belasco, Adjunct Professor, USC
Panelists
• Fran Seegull, Venture Partner, Funk Ventures
• Brian Sirgutz, President, Causecast.com
• Mike Hannigan, Founder & CEO, Give Something Back
• Seri McClendon, CEO, Clean Agency

Financing the Dream Panel
Moderated by Lars Ekstrom, Managing Director of Lazard Middle Market
Panelists
• John Dilts, Chief of Operations, Maverick Angels
• Peter Shoemaker, Managing Director, Wedbush Capital Partners (Private Equity)
• Frank San Juan, SVP / Business Development, Austin Financial (Banker)
• Ron Johnson, Vice President Business Development Officer, Wedbush Bank (SBA Lender)

Marketing & Branding Panel
Moderated by Steve Getzug, Senior Vice President, Hill & Knowlton, Inc.
Panelists
• Theresa Durham, President, Media Maven Consulting
• Michael D. Miller, Director of Operations, CFO 911 Solutions
• Freddy Nager, Founder, Atomic Tango LLC
• Tracy Olmstead Williams, CEO and President, Olmstead Williams Communication

When: Feb. 20, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.. For a full conference schedule, go to http://marshall.usc.edu/alumni/chapters/losangeles/keynote2010.htm

Where: Junior Achievement Finance Park, 6250 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, California 90068

Why: Recent economic events and lagging job markets have provided the motivation and opportunity for thousands of Southern Californians to launch their own businesses. The 2010 Keynote Event will equip attendees with insights about how a company can have a vision for a “double bottom line.”

Who: Keynote speaker, Arianna Huffington; honoree Adlai Wertman and three panels of local social entrepreneurs, financiers and marketers.

Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, a nationally syndicated columnist, and author of 12 books. In October 2009, Huffington launched HuffPost Impact, a new section that uses the tools and power of online journalism to encourage people to get involved and bring about social change.

Adlai Wertman, founding director of the Society and Business Lab at the USC Marshall School of Business, and professor of Clinical Management and Organization. Prior to joining the faculty at Marshall, Wertman spent seven years as President and CEO of Chrysalis – the only non-profit in Los Angeles devoted solely to helping homeless change their lives through employment. Previously, he spent 18 years as an investment banker.

The Entrepreneurship event continues USC Marshall’s long tradition of leadership in entrepreneurial education. The Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at USC is among the nation’s leaders in entrepreneurship education and research and has consistently ranked among the top national programs.

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