Today I had the honor of visiting with Mayor Gordon of the City of Phoenix, his Deputy Chief of Staff and the Deputy Directors of both the Downtown Development Office and the Small Business Division of the Economic Development Department. My good friend, Denise Meredith, former Executive Director of the Bureau of Land Management and now a start-up entrepreneur herself and Toby Lindemann, one of my first students from Barret Honors College (ASU) and a colleague at Club E and the eFactory were also in attendance.
The purpose of our meeting was to share our vision with the City of Phoenix, how we felt that our entrepreneurial initiatives with Club Entrepreneur (www.clubenetwork.com), the StartUp Now workshops (www.startupnowworkshops.com), the eFactory (www.clubefactory.com) and our entrepreneurial education component (www.clubefactoryedu.com) could best interact with the City in a cohesive and cooperative effort.
The topics of conversation in our allotted half hour session covered the gamut, from creating a pipeline of laid off workers passing through the city's unemployment outsourcing department at the rate of some 18,000 per month, into the alternative of business ownership through our StartUp Now workshops....to discussions centered around our intention to open up a chapter of Club Entrepreneur and a brand new eFactory on the planned acquisition of nearly an entire city block on 3rd Street and Roosevelt...smack in the middle of downtown Phoenix.
Other subjects quickly covered, involved our wish to expedite certain licensing requests for our new projects through the processes facilitated through an Advocacy Group introduced to us by the City. Likewise, a discussion was had on Club Entrepreneur's interest in tackling some of amazing technologies in the alternate energy field, recently offered by a prolific inventor, which could be developed and monetized through the efforts of skilled members selected from within the ranks of the Club E membership. All of these new businesses could create new employment and tax revenue for the City.
Future plans of developing the 66,000' vacant parcel attached to the property that will house our nearly 9,000' eFactory, currently referred to as "Canvas," will hopefully mirror our recent project in the City of Mesa, where the eFactory is soon to settle in as both a tenant and joint venture partner of a 56,000' five story building in the heart of the revitalized Main Street area. It is our hope to develop a similar structure in Downtown Phoenix, a five story state-of-the-art eFactory facility that would incubate and support scores of successful new businesses to be launched throughout the City of Phoenix. A model of this vision can be seen at www.weareamericasbailout.com in the most recent videos on that site.
We covered a lot of ground, very quickly and I can happily report that by all indications, the Mayor thoroughly endorsed our efforts and vision and told me that we were in the best of all possible hands with Deputy Director Michelle Pierson and Deputy Director Jason Harris. I am particularly thankful for Deputy Chief of Staff, Marchelle Franklin, for facilitating this meeting together and look forward to working with her on future meetings.
Since moving to the Phoenix area from back East, over seven years ago now, I have been amazed at the opportunities that abound in this corner of the "Wild West." I can honestly say that in my 33 years as an entrepreneur, I have never been in an area that offers more in the way of pure entrepreneurial spirit and a climate of the "can do" attitude. To someone like me, this is a match made in heaven.
My little band of fearless colleagues and I at Club E are very excited to be opening up a brand new chapter of our organization in Downtown Phoenix and expanding our eFactory concept into the property at 3rd Street and Roosevelt. We hope to establish another successful branch of our StartUp Now workshops to help the unemployed of Phoenix learn to become self reliant by starting their own companies and we look forward to a very productive and mutually beneficial collaboration with the City of Phoenix.
Thank you Mayor Gordon and your enthusiastic staff for this opportunity!
Best regards,
Peter J. Burns, III
Founder
Friday, May 22, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Mentorship At It's Highest Level
VALLEY BUSINESS OWNERS GET ADVICE AND MINGLE WITH COLLECTION OF C-LEVEL EXECUTIVES
National Notables Attend Valley Advisory Group’s First Membership Social Event
March, 2009 ( Paradise Valley, AZ) -- Small and Big business CEOs from around Arizona gathered in Paradise Valley to meet with the Valley Advisory Group (VAG), an organization made of numerous senior level executives who help small to mid-size businesses assess their strength and weaknesses and determine the proper course for growth.
“The strength of America was built on the success of small business owners,” said Kevin Palmer, founding member of the Valley Advisory Group “It is the success of those businesses that gives hope to every American that prosperity is still possible in a day and age when many feel economically disenfranchised,” Palmer noted.
The Valley Advisory Group helps Arizona-based businesses achieve their next stage of growth by capitalizing on the real experiences of the senior members of this diversified group.
“We are mentors for small to mid-size business owners,” said Peter J. Burns, III, president of the Valley Advisory Group. “A business owner presents his model and talks about his challenges and goals and our senior executives offer their insight and talents as to how this owner can move to the next level.”
These high-level business volunteers recently staged their first membership event designed to showcase VAG to potential new members who have a specific interest in helping small businesses grow. More than 150 top business leaders attended including:
· Sue Malone, member of President Obama's White House Small Business Transition Team and the 2nd largest SBA lender in the country
· Ingrid Vanderveldt, Host MSNBC "American Made" Television Show, CEO of Club E Network
· Stanley Friedman, retired Partner of PriceWaterhouseCoopers & current adjunct Professor of Law at Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law at Arizona State University
· Richard Sonstelie, former Chairman of Puget Sound Energy
· Robert Stauth, former CEO of Fleming Foods.
Other notables included Phoenix City Council member Maria Baier, Scottsdale City Council member, Suzanne Klapp and former Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross.
Privada, 51-home luxury community, hosted the event which was catered by Four Seasons Resort. Peter Burger and Jennifer Patterson of Monarch Privada Development, the community’s builder, were also in attendance.
“We are delighted to host Valley Advisory Group at our model home. We applaud the group’s role in helping emerging businesses expand in Arizona, stimulating the State’s economy, employment and tax base,” said Burger.
VAG membership offers broad experience in business strategy and planning; capital finance and financial operations; logistics and distribution; human resources; information systems and technology; international business; legal and intellectual property; marketing and sales; publishing; operations management.
For more information: Valley Advisory Group – www.ValleyAdvisoryGroup.com
--
Peter J. Burns, III
Founder
Club Entrepreneur www.clubenetwork.com
Institute for Entrepreneurship www.clubefactoryedu.com
eFactory www.clubefactory.com
602 725 1584
National Notables Attend Valley Advisory Group’s First Membership Social Event
March, 2009 ( Paradise Valley, AZ) -- Small and Big business CEOs from around Arizona gathered in Paradise Valley to meet with the Valley Advisory Group (VAG), an organization made of numerous senior level executives who help small to mid-size businesses assess their strength and weaknesses and determine the proper course for growth.
“The strength of America was built on the success of small business owners,” said Kevin Palmer, founding member of the Valley Advisory Group “It is the success of those businesses that gives hope to every American that prosperity is still possible in a day and age when many feel economically disenfranchised,” Palmer noted.
The Valley Advisory Group helps Arizona-based businesses achieve their next stage of growth by capitalizing on the real experiences of the senior members of this diversified group.
“We are mentors for small to mid-size business owners,” said Peter J. Burns, III, president of the Valley Advisory Group. “A business owner presents his model and talks about his challenges and goals and our senior executives offer their insight and talents as to how this owner can move to the next level.”
These high-level business volunteers recently staged their first membership event designed to showcase VAG to potential new members who have a specific interest in helping small businesses grow. More than 150 top business leaders attended including:
· Sue Malone, member of President Obama's White House Small Business Transition Team and the 2nd largest SBA lender in the country
· Ingrid Vanderveldt, Host MSNBC "American Made" Television Show, CEO of Club E Network
· Stanley Friedman, retired Partner of PriceWaterhouseCoopers & current adjunct Professor of Law at Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law at Arizona State University
· Richard Sonstelie, former Chairman of Puget Sound Energy
· Robert Stauth, former CEO of Fleming Foods.
Other notables included Phoenix City Council member Maria Baier, Scottsdale City Council member, Suzanne Klapp and former Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross.
Privada, 51-home luxury community, hosted the event which was catered by Four Seasons Resort. Peter Burger and Jennifer Patterson of Monarch Privada Development, the community’s builder, were also in attendance.
“We are delighted to host Valley Advisory Group at our model home. We applaud the group’s role in helping emerging businesses expand in Arizona, stimulating the State’s economy, employment and tax base,” said Burger.
VAG membership offers broad experience in business strategy and planning; capital finance and financial operations; logistics and distribution; human resources; information systems and technology; international business; legal and intellectual property; marketing and sales; publishing; operations management.
For more information: Valley Advisory Group – www.ValleyAdvisoryGroup.com
--
Peter J. Burns, III
Founder
Club Entrepreneur www.clubenetwork.com
Institute for Entrepreneurship www.clubefactoryedu.com
eFactory www.clubefactory.com
602 725 1584
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Let Club E send you or a family member to college...for FREE!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONTACT: Jerry Cobb
jerrycobb@actual-media.com
602.478.0002
Club Entrepreneur Offers Zero Tuition College Education for Arizona Residents
21st Century Marketing Techniques, Tax Credit Cover All Costs
(TEMPE, AZ) May 7, 2009 - Arizona residents can now earn a fully accredited college degree at no cost by joining Club Entrepreneur, a free online community for emerging entrepreneurs. Prospective students who sign up are eligible have their tuition waived at Andrew Jackson University (AJU), a nationally accredited online institution with eleven degree programs. Additional enrollment fees, books and materials costs, and other qualified expenses can be fully offset by the recently passed American Opportunity Tax Credit, effectively bringing the net cost of a college education to zero.
“Our sponsored tuition program will strengthen Arizona’s economic future by unlocking the gates to higher education for thousands of residents who are being shut out by the recent wave of fee increases at colleges and universities throughout the state,” remarked Club Entrepreneur founder Peter J. Burns, III.
Club Entrepreneur is the latest addition to AJU’s growing list of business and organizational sponsors who want to offer educational opportunities to their employees or members. Interested students must join the sponsor’s e-mail list or online network in order to qualify for the tuition waiver. There is no cost to the sponsor or the student to participate.
“Traditional educational institutions find applicants by paying hefty fees to educational websites which collect and sell personal information of interested students,” explains AJU President Don Kassner. “We eliminate this costly middle man by partnering with groups that are trying to reach the same population we are,” he adds.
Students are under no obligation to maintain a relationship with their sponsoring organization and will continue to have their tuition waived even if they sever ties with their sponsor. “It’s really up to the individual sponsor to maintain a good relationship with the student,” according to Kassner. Sponsors are prohibited from selling or sharing the personal information of their sponsored students.
Participating students can choose from a variety of Associate, Bachelor and Master degree programs in business, communication, health care administration and other fields. Courses and assignments are administered “anytime anywhere” on AJU’s secure, user-friendly online platform. For more information on the sponsored tuition program, visit Club Entrepreneur at http://www.clubefactory.com/
--
Peter J. Burns, III
Founder
Club Entrepreneur www.clubenetwork.com
Institute for Entrepreneurship www.clubefactoryedu.com
eFactory www.clubefactory.com
602 725 1584
PRESS CONTACT: Jerry Cobb
jerrycobb@actual-media.com
602.478.0002
Club Entrepreneur Offers Zero Tuition College Education for Arizona Residents
21st Century Marketing Techniques, Tax Credit Cover All Costs
(TEMPE, AZ) May 7, 2009 - Arizona residents can now earn a fully accredited college degree at no cost by joining Club Entrepreneur, a free online community for emerging entrepreneurs. Prospective students who sign up are eligible have their tuition waived at Andrew Jackson University (AJU), a nationally accredited online institution with eleven degree programs. Additional enrollment fees, books and materials costs, and other qualified expenses can be fully offset by the recently passed American Opportunity Tax Credit, effectively bringing the net cost of a college education to zero.
“Our sponsored tuition program will strengthen Arizona’s economic future by unlocking the gates to higher education for thousands of residents who are being shut out by the recent wave of fee increases at colleges and universities throughout the state,” remarked Club Entrepreneur founder Peter J. Burns, III.
Club Entrepreneur is the latest addition to AJU’s growing list of business and organizational sponsors who want to offer educational opportunities to their employees or members. Interested students must join the sponsor’s e-mail list or online network in order to qualify for the tuition waiver. There is no cost to the sponsor or the student to participate.
“Traditional educational institutions find applicants by paying hefty fees to educational websites which collect and sell personal information of interested students,” explains AJU President Don Kassner. “We eliminate this costly middle man by partnering with groups that are trying to reach the same population we are,” he adds.
Students are under no obligation to maintain a relationship with their sponsoring organization and will continue to have their tuition waived even if they sever ties with their sponsor. “It’s really up to the individual sponsor to maintain a good relationship with the student,” according to Kassner. Sponsors are prohibited from selling or sharing the personal information of their sponsored students.
Participating students can choose from a variety of Associate, Bachelor and Master degree programs in business, communication, health care administration and other fields. Courses and assignments are administered “anytime anywhere” on AJU’s secure, user-friendly online platform. For more information on the sponsored tuition program, visit Club Entrepreneur at http://www.clubefactory.com/
--
Peter J. Burns, III
Founder
Club Entrepreneur www.clubenetwork.com
Institute for Entrepreneurship www.clubefactoryedu.com
eFactory www.clubefactory.com
602 725 1584
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Victory in Death
I lost a friend a couple of weeks ago and just learned about it last Thursday. Victory Darwin was one of the best of the best in my field, entrepreneurship. We "met" virtually, through Linked In a couple of years ago and collaborated on a number of ventures ever since. He was uber bright, witty and above all, passionate. I will miss Victory very much...as will his family, friends and legion of others, whose lives he touched.
In the midst of one of my frantic days at work, juggling a dozen deals at once...the email about Victory's death came over my Blackberry and I was stunned. I left the Boardroom, where I was engrossed with a conference table in our Tempe, Arizona-based eFactory and retreated to my office. I took the time to access the link of what turned out to be Victory's last video blog...he died that day. It is powerful and even more so, if you knew the man. Victory looked very sick and he was obviously recording this last testament from his hospital bed but the spark of his intellect and that twinkle in his eye was still there. Here is the link to Victory's last message...
http://www.biglife.ws/profiles/blogs/victory-darwin-has-passed-away
While listening, and I have played this over and over these past two days, Victory actually mentioned me and two of my former students from the College of Entrepreneurship and Club Entrepreneur. I was shocked and proud at the same time to hear this wonderful man refer to us in such nice terms...and from what turned out to be his deathbed. How humbling for us...
Victory Darwin will be missed. He was the "Entrepreneur's Entrepreneur," and may his legacy live on with every one of us that will pass down his story and his passion for life.
Even in death, Victory will live on in our hearts!
Best to all,
Peter J. Burns, III
In the midst of one of my frantic days at work, juggling a dozen deals at once...the email about Victory's death came over my Blackberry and I was stunned. I left the Boardroom, where I was engrossed with a conference table in our Tempe, Arizona-based eFactory and retreated to my office. I took the time to access the link of what turned out to be Victory's last video blog...he died that day. It is powerful and even more so, if you knew the man. Victory looked very sick and he was obviously recording this last testament from his hospital bed but the spark of his intellect and that twinkle in his eye was still there. Here is the link to Victory's last message...
http://www.biglife.ws/profiles/blogs/victory-darwin-has-passed-away
While listening, and I have played this over and over these past two days, Victory actually mentioned me and two of my former students from the College of Entrepreneurship and Club Entrepreneur. I was shocked and proud at the same time to hear this wonderful man refer to us in such nice terms...and from what turned out to be his deathbed. How humbling for us...
Victory Darwin will be missed. He was the "Entrepreneur's Entrepreneur," and may his legacy live on with every one of us that will pass down his story and his passion for life.
Even in death, Victory will live on in our hearts!
Best to all,
Peter J. Burns, III
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