By Lisa Roy:
Providing another sign that entrepreneurs and the creative class thrive on the energy of city life, Entrepalooza is moving into the City of Buffalo for the first time. After having held past editions of Entrepalooza at Holiday Valley and the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, organizers are excited to move the event into the City to nurture the strong and growing base of startup activity in Buffalo.
Entrepalooza is an annual gathering where hundreds of Buffalo Niagara’s entrepreneurs and business leaders get together for learning, networking, ideas and inspiration. 2012 marks the ninth edition of Entrepalooza, and is at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center in Buffalo, NY on Thursday, May 10, 2012 from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Entrepalooza is co-produced by UB’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Alumni Association, Buffalo Niagara Sales & Marketing Executives, and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.
According to Jerry Reynell, chair of Entrepalooza since 2005 and owner of Curriculum Solutions, Entrepalooza is all about collaborating to help local entrepreneurs grow their businesses. “The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Alumni Association, Buffalo Niagara Sales & Marketing Executives, and Buffalo Niagara Partnership are so pleased to work together and help our local entrepreneurs grow,” he said.
Local entrepreneurs will take center stage in Expo & Experts, featuring 27 experts on topics of interest to entrepreneurs (think social media, growth strategies, insurance, and business finance), and more than 50 local businesses exhibiting in a tradeshow format.
The keynote speaker is Keith McFarland, author of The Breakthrough Company and Bounce: the Art of Turning Tough Times into Triumphs. Keith will bring his experience as a technology CEO, business school dean, consultant and writer to our area’s entrepreneurs. Having researched more than 7000 businesses, McFarland will share his insights into the key steps our entrepreneurs must take to survive and thrive in 2012 and beyond.
Jeanne Hellert, the executive director of Buffalo Niagara Sales & Marketing Executives, hopes newcomers will feel welcome at Entrepalooza ’12. “This might be our ninth year,” she said, “but we absolutely rely on new attendees and new ideas for Entrepalooza to be a success each year.”
Registration for Entrepalooza ’12 begins at 9:00 AM. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Online registration is available here.