Press Release
Contact: Robert Albright |
Phone: 919-549-7500 ext.123 |
CED Announces Opportunity 2005 Conference
Conference Features Angel Retreat and Entrepreneur Summit; Two-Day Event Set for Nov. 10-11 in Wilmington
August 11, 2005, Research Triangle Park, NC – The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) today announced its Opportunity 2005 Conference: “Fueling Entrepreneurial Success,” set for November 10 and 11 at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside in Wilmington, NC. Spearheaded by the CED-Coastal office in Wilmington, Opportunity 2005 will feature a two-day angel retreat and entrepreneur summit.
The conference will offer a track of programming for entrepreneurs, including how-to panel discussions, case studies and one-on-one consulting. The event will also present professional development and expanded deal-flow programming specifically for novice and long-time angel investors.
“Opportunity 2005 is an outgrowth of the recent merger between CED and the Coastal Entrepreneurial Council (CEC) to leverage CEC’s momentum with CED’s capabilities and content. This unique conference is designed to unleash the untapped potential of entrepreneurs and angel investors throughout the state and beyond,” said conference co-chair Michael Cain of the Wilmington Investor Network. “We encourage entrepreneurs and angel investors from across the region to come to North Carolina’s coast for two days of lively discussion and networking.”
University researchers, “garage entrepreneurs,” corporate employees, small business owners, early-stage entrepreneurs, undergraduate and graduate students or anyone else considering a new business venture are encouraged to attend the entrepreneur summit at Opportunity 2005. Accredited and potential angel investors are encouraged to attend the angel retreat portion of the conference.
“Promoting entrepreneurship and early-stage investing is vital to the growth of our region’s economy,” said conference co-chair Peyton Anderson, CEO of RTP-based Affinergy. “This conference will provide attendees with insight into starting or financing a business. Presenting helpful insight from proven executives and investors, Opportunity 2005 will also offer a low-risk way to 'kick the tires’ on business ideas and find out what available resources are out there.”
CED has assembled a diverse and seasoned group of entrepreneurs, angel investors and other experts to serve on the Opportunity 2005 steering committee, including the following: Anderson, Cain, Piedmont Triad Entrepreneurial Network’s Lisa Blakley, Wilmington Pharmaceuticals’ Gene Haley, Southern Capitol Ventures’ David Jones, TSS Partners’ Steve Jones, Egret Point Partners’ Carlos Parajon, Savvy Marketing Group’s Grace Ueng, and Lewis Advertising’s Don Williams.
Additional information on Opportunity 2005 - including registration, agenda, speakers and panel session topics - will be announced in the coming weeks. For details on sponsorship opportunities, contact CED’s Daniel Robinson at drobinson@cednc.org or 919.549.7500 x127.
About CED: The Council for Entrepreneurial Development, headquartered in Research Triangle Park with a divisional office in Wilmington, is a private, non-profit organization formed in 1984 to stimulate the creation and growth of high-impact companies in various North Carolina innovation centers. CED provides education, mentoring and capital formation resources to new and existing high-growth entrepreneurs through annual conferences, seminars, workshops and programs on entrepreneurial management and finance. CED is the largest and oldest entrepreneurial support organization in the nation with more than 4,000 members representing over 1,100 entrepreneurial companies, financiers and professional firms. www.cednc.org.
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