FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          September 4, 2003

NORTHWESTERN TO PRESENT ENTREPRENEURS/INVENTORS WORKSHOP

            Entrepreneurship, innovation and technology commercialization will be explored and explained in a workshop on the campus of Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

            Titled “Entrepreneurs and Inventors: Opportunities in Oklahoma,” the free two-hour session will begin at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 24, in the Ranger Room in Northwestern’s Student Center. It is designed to show participants where to get help and how to get started in their business ventures.

            Dr. Patti Wilber, director of the university’s Center for Business Development, said the program will explain the tools to create a business plan, to provide investors with needed information and how to avoid common mistakes.

            “In our local economy, ‘growing our own’ has become a primary economic development focus for us. We want to assist those already located here in starting and developing local businesses,” Wilber said.

            She encourages anyone, including local entrepreneurs, students, staff and faculty members, interested in learning more about entrepreneurial potential in Oklahoma to attend. For students, Wilber said the program was appropriate for all disciplines including business, science, math, music and nursing.

            “Competitive regional economies require entrepreneurship,” Wilber said. “It’s critical that

people—from current students to local leaders—learn how to enhance Oklahoma’s economic infrastructure of networking, education and promotion of entrepreneurship throughout the state.”

            The workshop will be conducted by Sheri Stickley, director of the Technology

Development Programs Division of the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), and Tom Walker, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of the Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center (OTCC).

            OCAST is Oklahoma’s technology-based economic development agency and is the only state agency whose sole focus is technology. OCAST provides competitive grant funding and technical assistance to qualified, advanced technology researchers, entrepreneurs and companies in Oklahoma.

            The OTCC was initiated by OCAST in 1998 and is dedicated to the creation and expansion of high tech companies within the State of Oklahoma. Its goal is to turn state-of-the-art technologies generated by Oklahoma scientists, companies, inventors and entrepreneurs into viable commercial enterprises.

            Stickley has more than 23 years experience in economic development in Oklahoma. She designs, implements and directs programs that assist businesses to develop, commercialize and apply new technology.

            Walker is responsible for the design, development and management of statewide and national resources to assist advanced technology companies, including proof of concept, technical and market validation, market assessments and studies, economic feasibilities and capital acquisition. He also is executive director of the Oklahoma Investment Forum that has attracted more than $6 billion in managed venture capital from 16 states in 2002.

            While there is no cost for the workshop, attendees are asked to pre-register by calling (580) 327-8606 or e-mailing Wilber at plwilber@nwosu.edu no later than Sept. 22 to ensure seating and workshop materials.

-NW-

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