NBIA Forum Meetings

If you're planning to attend the 20th International Conference on Business Incubation in St. Louis, consider taking part in the NBIA Forum Program discussions scheduled May 1 - 3. You won't want to miss these opportunities to talk with peers interested in the same issues you are, get some new ideas, and gain a fresh perspective. The best part is you can continue the discussions online after the conference!

Here's the forum agenda:

Monday, May 1, 9:15 a.m.

Forum: Rural – The discussion will explore topics such as how to define rural, attract clients, identify resources, incubate technology-focused businesses and more.

Moderator: Kenneth Norris, Program Manager, Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Durant, Okla.

Monday, May 1, 10:45 a.m.

Forum: New Managers – If you’re new to the world of incubator management, don’t miss this opportunity to share your experiences, frustrations and ideas with colleagues. Led by an experienced manager, this discussion will explore providing necessary client services, working with a board of directors, having appropriate staffing, managing a facility and more.

Moderator: Devron Veasley, Director, Bessemer Business Incubation System, Bessemer, Ala.

Monday, May 1, 2:15 p.m.

Forum: University – This discussion will bring together managers to share ideas on issues including incubating student businesses and dealing with clients’ needs to access university facilities during off hours.

Moderator: Tony Antoniades, General Manager, Advanced Technology Development Center, Atlanta, Ga.

Tuesday, May 2, 9 a.m.

Forum: Incubating Arts and Creative Industries – Join this NBIA Forum discussion to learn about best practices and programming for arts incubators.

Moderator: Michael Thielke, Chesapeake Entrepreneur Center, Chestertown, Md.

Tuesday, May 2, 10:45 a.m.

Forum: Bioscience – Find out how your colleagues are dealing with issues unique to bioscience incubation by joining this discussion. Topics will include physical infrastructure, shared equipment, university agreements, appropriate rental rates and more.

Moderator: Linda Clark, Ohio University Innovation Center, Athens, Ohio

Tuesday, May 2, 2:15 p.m.

Forum: International Session I – This forum discussion has a global reach and will discuss novel ideas in your incubator/region/country, partnering with other incubators (pros and cons), andother topics to be announced.

Moderator: Jean-Jacques LeDoux, Manager, Industry Partnership Facility, National Research Council, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Tuesday, May, 2, 4 p.m.

Forum: International Session II – This session is a continuation of Session I, and will feature ideas and issues that emerge from the first session, and other topics to be announced.

Moderator: Mary Spaeth, Manager, Transmera AB, Linkoping, Sweden

Wednesday, May 3, 9 a.m.

Forum: Pacific Incubation Network – This meeting of the Pacific Incubation Network will focus on how to identify new members and projects, ideas for regional marketing of incubation, ways to create international awareness of PIN, the relationship between PIN and NBIA, the unique needs of PIN incubators in natural disasters, and more.

Moderator: Jim Robbins, Executive Director, Software Business Cluster, San Jose, Calif.

Wednesday, 10:45 a.m.

Forum: Kitchen – Join this NBIA Forum discussion to learn about best practices, insurance issues, and programming for kitchen incubators.

To join an online NBIA Forum, go to www.nbia.org/resource_center/forums/index.php.