CONTACT: Gianna Sabella, 609-936-2389 gsabella@integra-ls.com
Integra LifeSciences, Association Business Solutions, Princeton University and NAWBO-NJC Join EntrepreneurshipWeek USA in Effort to Support and Educate the Nation’s Next Generation of Entrepreneurs and Innovators.
Plainsboro, NJ January 12, 2007 – (Integra Lifesciences Holding Corporation (Integra) (Nasdaq: IART), Association Business Solutions, Inc (ABS), Princeton University and the National Association of Women Business Owners-New Jersey Chapter (NAWBO-NJC) have joined with more than 300 organizations and a growingnumber of high profile entrepreneurs, authors and inventors in EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, Feb. 24 – March 3, 2007. EntrepreneurshipWeek USA a national effort to inspire and encourage young people, primarily ages 14 to 25, to be among America’s next great entrepreneurs and innovators, while helping celebrate America’s unique culture of inventiveness.
Integra, ABS, Princeton University, NAWBO-NJC and other high profile entrepreneurs will be involved in EntrepreneurshipWeek USA in a variety of ways including participating in an Ask-an-Entrepreneur online session, speaking at events, participating in collegiate business plan competitions, sponsoring and/or hosting local events, and in mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs. Their event on March 1, 2007 at Princeton University is entitled “WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS: INSPIRATIONS AND INNOVATIONS – MAKING IDEAS HAPPEN“ and is designed to encourage young women to pursue entrepreneurial careers.
“EntrepreneurshipWeek USA is a long overdue celebration of the foundation and fabric of our country. It is a celebration of creativity, ingenuity, innovation, resourcefulness and the endless possibilities we all possess. I am honored and excited to support an initiative that encourages and promotes these ideals,” said Stuart Essig, CEO of Integra LifeSciences.
Also lending their support to EntrepreneurshipWeek USA are Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST and inventor of the Segway Human Transporter; Paul Orfalea, founder of Kinko’s and author of Copy This!; Maxine Clark, founder, Chief Executive Bear and chairman of Build-A-Bear Workshop; Edward Iacobucci, president and chief executive officer of DayJet Corporation; Ron Rubin, Minister of Tea and owner of The Republic of Tea; Victor Tsao, co-Founder of Linksys and senior vice president of Cisco Systems, Inc.; Mark Schmid, founder of Syndrome Distribution; and, Jim Kenefick, chairman of Better World Telecom.
Additionally, Judson Laipply, founder and president of Let’s Dance Media, Inc. and creator of the all-time most viewed YouTube video; Randal Pinkett, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, a management, technology and policy consulting firm, and Season 4 Winner of “The Apprentice“; and Michael E. Gerber, founder and Chairman of E-Myth Worldwide, Chief Dreamer, In the Dreaming Room, LLC, and author of the forthcoming Awakening the Entrepreneur Within (Doubleday, Fall 2007), will all be participating in the Week celebration.
With the theme,“What’s Your Big Idea? Take it On!” the EntrepreneurshipWeek USA initiative is designed to serve as an inspiration for young people to think creatively and to turn their ideas into action – whether that means starting a new business, developing an innovation for an existing company or solving a problem that makes society better. Official events are being planned in cities across the country, culminating in Washington, D.C, where the focus will be on the importance of policy to the nation’s entrepreneurs.
Additional names of VIPs and partners associated with EntrepreneurshipWeek USA are available at www.entrepreneurshipweekusa.com.
EntrepreneurshipWeek USA is sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and by government, not-for-profit organizations and businesses, including The New York Times and INC. magazine. Additionally, the House of Representatives noted the importance of entrepreneurship education by enacting a Resolution in support of a national entrepreneurship week.
“We are delighted with the leadership and expertise that Integra, NAWBO-NJC, ABS, Princeton and all the other individuals and organizations bring to EntrepreneurshipWeek USA,” said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation. “Educating our young people about entrepreneurship and reinforcing the value that entrepreneurs and innovators bring to our economy is critical to America’s long-term prosperity – more so now than ever before.”
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation, Inc (Integra) is a diversified medical technology company that develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in a variety of applications. The primary applications for our products are neurosurgery, reconstructive surgery and general surgery. Integra is a leader in applying the principles of biotechnology to medical devices that improve patients’ quality of life. Our corporate headquarters are in Plainsboro, New Jersey, and we have manufacturing and research facilities located throughout the world. Please visit their website at (https://www.Integra-LS.com).
The National Association of Women, North Central Jersey Chapter (NAWBO-NJC) is a network of women entrepreneurs who provide each other with valuable information, resources, referrals, support and so much more. Please visit their website at www.nawboncj.org.
Association Business Solutions, Inc. (ABS) is an Association Management Company that provides results-oriented executive management and administrative solutions. ABS utilizes experienced staff, current technologies and proven business practices to cost-effectively manage Associations. Please visit their website at (https://absnj.wpengine.com)
Princeton University simultaneously strives to be one of the leading research universities and the most outstanding undergraduate college in the world. As a research university, it seeks to achieve the highest levels of distinction in the discovery and transmission of knowledge and understanding, and in the education of graduate students. At the same time, Princeton is distinctive among research universities in its commitment to undergraduate teaching. For more information, please visit their website at www.princeton.edu.
For more information on events and activities across the country as well as how to engage young people to get involved in EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, visit: www.EntrepreneurshipWeekUSA.com.