2010 GCEC Conference Schedule

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Smeal College of Business

Thursday, October 21st to Saturday, October 23rd, 2010

Conference Notes:

1. Attendees should plan their flights to arrive at the University Park Airport by about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. Attendees should plan their return flights on Sunday morning, October 24, 2010. Note that flights into the local airport are somewhat limited and we recommend early reservations.  The airport is only a few minutes from all local hotels and there are shuttle buses and taxis meeting every flight.
2. For those arriving earlier, we will have a number of student run companies at the reception area after lunch for you to interact with and learn about the life of young entrepreneurs at Penn State.
3. The formal kick-off will be a network reception with snacks and beverages.
4. The conference will conclude with the awards banquet on Saturday night, October 23.
5. All events will be held either at the Nittany Lion Inn on Campus or in the Smeal College of Business Building, except the dinners on Friday and Saturday.

The final detailed agenda will be published shortly before the conference as we will be adjusting the content based on the input from presenters, panelists, and the interactive BLOG. Below is an outline of the program for guidance.

Thursday, October 21

9:00 a.m.

Conference Registration Opens, Atrium, Nittany Lion Inn

9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Travel to State College, Pennsylvania (arrive by 3:30 p.m.)

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Registration and Poster Board networking Lounge

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

GCEC Executive Council Meeting (453 Business Building, Smeal College of Business)

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Plenary Session I
Welcome and Networking Reception (Nittany Lion Inn, Atrium/Ballroom)

9:00 p.m. – Midnight

Hospitality Suite Open – Nittany Lion Inn, Alumni Lounge (attendance optional)

Friday, October 22

7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast, Nittany Lion Inn, Boardroom

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Plenary Session II, Nittany Lion Inn, Ballroom
Welcome: Dr. Rodney Erickson, Provost, Penn State University
Outline of the Conference Agenda: Dr. Anthony Warren, Penn State University
Keynote: Dr. Surabhi Banerjee, EIILM, Kolkata and Dr. Nik Franke, WU – Vienna

10:15 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Breakout Session #1: Panel/Breakout Sessions, Smeal College of Business

12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch, Atrium, Business Building

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Breakout Session #2: Panel/Breakout Sessions, Smeal College of Business

2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Breakout Session #3: Panel/Breakout Sessions, Smeal College of Business

4:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.

Plenary Session III, Nittany Lion Inn, Ballroom

6:00 p.m.

Buses Depart from the Nittany Lion Inn

6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Dinner (all attendees)

9:00 p.m. – Midnight

Hospitality Suite Open – Nittany Lion Inn, Alumni Lounge (attendance optional)

Saturday, October 23

7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast, Nittany Lion Inn, Boardroom

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Plenary Session IV, Nittany Lion Inn, Ballroom

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Plenary Session V, Nittany Lion Inn, Ballroom
Selfish Self Promotion and UCLA Invitation, Nittany Lion Inn, Ballroom
Keynote Speakers: Dr. Stan Mandel, Wake Forest University and Dr. Tom O’Malia, UCLA

11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Breakout Session #4: Panel/Breakout Sessions, Smeal College of Business

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch, Atrium, Business Building

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Breakout Session #5: Panel/Breakout Sessions, Smeal College of Business

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Networking Time

5:15 p.m.

Buses Depart to Beaver Stadium

5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.

Tour of the Penn State Museum/Reception

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Gala Awards Dinner (all attendees) – Beaver Stadium (Home of the Nittany Lions)

9:00 p.m. – Midnight

Hospitality Suite Open – Nittany Lion Inn, Alumni Lounge

Sunday, October 24

No Events; Attendees Travel Back Home

Conference Themes

Based on your feedback from a recent survey, the conference will follow five major themes each with several different topics. Break-out sessions will be in two formats, panel led discussions and chair led work-shops.  The final details will be provided shortly before the conference and we plan to provide each participant a personal plan for an optimum set of sessions based on their personal experience and needs. The themes and topics that you have suggested and which will guide the final agenda are:

THEME ONE: E-Ship Center Development. Session Topics:

1. Center funding
2. Cross-campus initiatives
3. Issues specific to large and mature centers
4. Issues specific to new and small centers
5. Using social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc) to engage entrepreneurs
6. Working with external partners (VCs, Angels, Alumni, etc)

THEME 2: Student Initiatives. Session Topics

1. Business planning competitions
2. Student incubators
3. Student managed venture funds

THEME 3: E-ship and Technology. Session Topics

1. Technology entrepreneurship
2. Technology transfer-related programs
3. University incubators

THEME 4: E-ship Education. Session Topics

1. Entrepreneurship in non-business sectors (art, farming, etc.)
2. Novel curricula and program design
3. Problem-based learning
4. ocial entrepreneurship programs

THEME 5: E-ship Impact. Session Topics

1. Outreach and media relationships
2. Promoting development of entrepreneurial culture and resources
3. Roles in local economic development

MISCELLANEOUS: General Theme Open for Session Proposals NOT Fitting any of the Topics

We would like to hear from any of you that would like to either act as a chairperson or a panelist in any of the above topics to provide a short synopsis of your background and what you feel you could bring to one of more of the topics by making on short post on the BLOG for this purpose.