Entrepreneurship: Where Practice and Theory Meet
November 6-7, 2008, Sheraton St. Louis City Center Hotel & Suites, St. Louis, Mo.
This conference brings entrepreneurship practitioners and researchers together to discuss current research and share best practices for creating successful new ventures and vibrant rural economies, with a special focus on rural entrepreneurship. The conference design facilitates extensive discussion, sharing and learning between presenters and conferees. The links between theory, practice and assessment are stressed.
The conference will highlight the recently completed evaluations of two major initiatives: The Appalachian Regional Commission's 10-year Entrepreneurship Initiative and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Entrepreneurship Development Systems in Rural America program. Keynote speakers Elaine Edgcomb (The Aspen Institute) and Deb Markley (RUPRI) will summarize in-depth evaluations of the two initiatives and describe impressive success and some challenges. Conferees will meet in small groups to explore how the evaluations and examples apply in their own situations. The workshop will also feature recent developments in Europe (John Potter, OECD, Paris) and presentations from U.S. groups and individuals who have recently started community and small region entrepreneurial initiatives.
Sponsors:
- McQuinn Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, University of Missouri
- ExCEED, University of Missouri Extension
- Rural Policy Research Institute
- St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank
- Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank