The Right Staff

Contact:
Sally Hayhow, Director of Publications
740-593-4331; 740-593-1996 fax; shayhow@nbia.org

ATHENS, OHIO — NBIA Publications today released its newest book, Human Resources: Finding the Right Staff For Your Incubator. It provides all the basic information a business incubation program needs to put a dynamic management team and support staff in place.

Business incubation programs have become essential economic development tools for communities that are trying to improve their economies and keep them healthy over the long run. The programs — which house very-early stage companies and provide them a full array of business planning, management and financial services – yield excellent returns. According to research, a high percentage (84%) of the companies that "graduate" from incubation programs remain in their communities, and an average 87 percent of incubator graduates are still in business. Research also shows that a most essential ingredient necessary to ensure an incubation program's success is its staff.

The book begins by giving basics about incubator staffing, including information about qualifications, experience and challenges of incubator personnel. Because there is no boilerplate approach that works for every incubator, the book provides a comprehensive list of tasks that must be accomplished. These tasks are easy to custom-combine into job descriptions that suit the needs and means of each incubator. Whether a program will have two employees or 20, the book makes it possible to configure the ideal team.

Because the job of managing an incubation program is so complex, the book devotes a chapter to the traits of a model incubator CEO. Following is a chapter on where to find the best candidates and how to set compensation. A particularly useful part of the book is the extensive appendix of job descriptions and position announcements. From top managers to support staff to board members, the jobs detailed here will help readers develop an outstanding team without having to reinvent the wheel.

Cowriters Meredith Erlewine and Sally Hayhow compiled the information from top incubator professionals in the field. "The advice and guidance in this valuable work get right to the point, thanks to the considerable experience of the contributors. They weathered the learning curve and were generous and frank about what they discovered," says NBIA Executive Director Dinah Adkins.

A relatively new concept in economic development circles, business incubation has grown markedly – from 12 North American programs in 1980 to about 600 in 1999.

NBIA Publications is part of the National Business Incubation Association, an international membership organization that provides information, training, research and networking resources to help communities and incubation professionals develop and manage successful incubation programs.

For further information or to obtain a copy of Human Resources: Finding the Right Staff For Your Incubator, ($30 to NBIA members, $42 nonmembers, plus $7 shipping and handling), contact NBIA, 20 East Circle Drive, #37198, Athens, Ohio 45701; 740-593-4331; fax 740-593-1996. Information on the book is available on NBIA's online bookstore, which allows you to order directly and securely through the Internet.