We extend a special thanks to Roger Wittenberg and all 20 presenters who graciously donated their time, in order to share their valuable knowledge and expertise at the Tahoe Entrepreneurship Summit. These men and women are leaders in the business communities of the Reno-Tahoe area who are willing to help others, just as they received help when they were starting out. They consider it a pleasure to talk about their stories and experiences so that others may learn, and they are also ready to take calls and answer questions after this event. The organizations they represent and their generous support define the quality of the business environment in our area.

Another special thanks goes to our volunteers, who made this possible, including – Lorrie Harlem, Bob Heffernan of Lake Lizard Design, Dana Stamos, Nancy Gunther, Mike Wiltshire and Nick Tolotti of CHOPS & Assoc., Bob Preger and John Mascarich of SNC’s Computer Science Advisory Board, the staff and faculty of Sierra Nevada College, and our hospitality team, including SandraFairbanks, Shari Borders, Patricia Smelser, Bonnie Maris, Brooke Durastante, Rich Charles, Penny Scholler and Lily Egan of the Center forSpiritual Living – Tahoe Truckee.

Our collaborator and host for this event, Rick Normington, Chair of the Entrepreneurship Department at Sierra Nevada College, represents this private,four-year liberal arts college that teaches the liberal arts and professional preparedness through an interdisciplinary curriculum, which emphasizes entrepreneurial thinking and environmental, social, economic, and academic sustainability. Its teacher certification, ski resort management, entertainment technology and entrepreneurship programs stand apart, earning it a place among the Top 20 comprehensive western colleges, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Once again, a heartfelt thank you to all, good luck and happy holidays. We hope you enjoyed this, and that what you take away from this event will help determine your ultimate success as a “Global Entrepreneur.”

Gratefully,

Gary Jesch
CHOPS & Assoc. Live Animation

With a little help, you might become an entrepreneur, someone who owns their own small business. What’s involved? Come find out, at the Lake Tahoe – SNC Entrepreneurship Summit, a Nevada activity in conjunction with the worldwide Global Entrepreneurship Week, starting Nov. 17th.

Held in the new Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences, at Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village, on Saturday, Nov. 22nd, the Summit Program features more than 20 speakers at round table panels and keynote presenter, Roger Wittenberg, recycling innovator from Incline Village.

Among the speakers are community notables Kimberly Simantel of eWomensNetwork, sales consultant Alice Heiman, Regional SBA director David Leonard and Speednetworking facilitator Emily Somerville, a SNC graduate now working with Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology.

Live, interactive “cyber humans,” projected onto a large video screen, will be the hosts and MCs of the day.

The event is for everyone in the community who is considering starting their own business, or who owns a business and wants some help with financing, marketing, mindset, government assistance and networking with others.

The price of admission is a food donation to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, collected at the door. No advance registration is required. People can see the entire program and more, at www.tahoegew.com. Call Gary Jesch at 775-831-7451 or email him at gary@tahoegew.com for more information.

Please forward this invitation to anyone, especially young people, who might benefit from this highly inspirational event.

More than 275 universities and colleges in the United States will join thousands of organizations across the globe in an effort to inspire millions to generate new ideas and seek better ways of doing things. They have taken two tracks in planning their activities.

Read More …

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO PLAY THE FLASH VIDEO

VIRTUALIBBY AND DIGITAL DAN WILL HOST Saturday’s all-day activity, from a big projection screen at the TCES Conference Room. Their “virtual newsroom” at the Channel 6 “In the KNOW” studios will be downloaded in real time during the entire day’s activities. The characters are presented by Gary Jesch of CHOPS & Assoc. Live Animation, and are capable of interacting in real time with presenters and other elements of the day, including the slides and videos the presenters will use.

The live animation technology is mainly used by Jesch’s clients to attract people to tradeshow booths and liven up corporate meetings. Recently he has completed two permanent installations of characters at family entertainment centers. More information at www.chops.com

Pragmatic problem solving, science and a unique ability to align with market needs, have made North Lake Tahoe resident, Roger Wittenberg, a successful entrepreneur. With his background as a scientist, entrepreneur and inventor, his companies have leveraged recycling materials into reusable products.  The result— both he and the environment have reaped significant benefits proving that you can do well by doing good.

His largest endeavor, The Trex Company, turned billions of pounds of recycled and reclaimed plastic, including 1.3 billion grocery retail bags and waste wood annually, into alternative wood products. During Wittenberg’s tenure at Trex, (1996 to 2003), sales grew from $23 million to $191 million with a successful public offering in 1999.

After retiring from Trex, Wittenberg founded International Supply Consortium LLC, which uses innovative building technologies and sustainable materials for residential and commercial real estate projects.

Wittenberg is a Board member of Sierra Nevada College and has helped elevate the new campus to a Platinum LEED status through the use of Trex and other sustainable products.  Additionally, through the use of his own recycled insulation materials (COZA) in his sustainable housing development in Incline Village, Wittenberg was also able to lower heating costs for residents by 50 percent.

Currently, Wittenberg is working on transforming the aging Tahoe Biltmore Hotel into an example for sustainable resort development. Roger’s vision for the redevelopment of the Tahoe Biltmore, known as Boulder Bay, is to create a new model for the North Lake Tahoe resort experience that embraces innovative green technologies, provides a sense of place for visitors and locals with a focus on health and wellness programs and community partnerships.   Roger lives with his wife Beatrice in Incline Village.

For more information about the Boulder Bay project or Roger Wittenberg, go to:
www.boulderbayresort.com

Of course, we won’t turn away any attendees who forget their food. It’s just a real good opportunity for the business community to show its support for those in need. Cash contributions to the Food Bank will also be gratefully accepted.

Sierra Nevada College – Department of Entrepreneurship
Sierra Nevada College – Department of Computer Science
Sierra Nevada College – Computer Science Advisory Board
Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology
Nevada Small Business Administration
Nevada Small Business Development Center
American Marketing Associations – Reno Tahoe Chapter
eWomenNetwork – Reno Tahoe
North Tahoe Business Association
North Tahoe Chamber of Commerce
Reno Chamber of Commerce
SCORE
University of Nevada Reno – College of Business – Entrepreneurship Club
University of Nevada Reno – College of Engineering
University of Nevada Reno – School of Journalism
US BANK – Tahoe Incline Branch
ALICE HEIMAN LLC
BROWN + DUTCH PR
Nevada Microenterprise Initiative
Arts & Culture Council of Truckee-Tahoe
Food Bank of Northern Nevada

Interested in what is happening in other parts of the world, as far as Global Entrepreneurship Week is concerned? Take a look at this video which came in from the UK last week. Here is the link to the Worldwide effort – 50,000 activities in more than 60 countries.

Check it out!  UnleashingIdeas.org