Heartland Conference for Free Enterprise is Feb. 10

To celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2005, the Heartland Conference for Free Enterprise will offer three curricular tracks -- empowering small business growth and success, technology transfer and intellectual property licensing, and new venture creation and expansion.

The conference, an outreach program of the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship and the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will be presented Feb. 10 at the Cornhusker Convention Center, 333 S. 13th St. The conference also serves as a regional conference of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization for its Midwest university chapters and members.

The curriculum addition for 2005 is the "Research to Reality" track. It is aimed at inventors, university department heads, professors and research teams who have an interest in technology transfer and IP licensing. Conference faculty will present the basics of protecting and licensing intellectual property, and the alternative of making IP the foundation for a new venture start-up.

The "Good to Great" track is intended for small business owners who want to move their businesses to the next level and beyond. The curriculum will focus on creating more new customers, improving operating efficiency, leading the organization and maximizing human resources, and integrating e-commerce into the business plan.

The "Plan to Profitability" track is structured for entrepreneurs who want to create or refine a new venture plan. Participants are encouraged to bring their draft plans with them. They will receive guidance on identifying and qualifying their product, service or business concept, validating prospects and market potential, putting together the organization and systems for success, pro forma financials and financing.

Keynote speaker for the general assembly kick-off is Aaron Davis, author of "10 Minute Truths;" the conference luncheon speaker is Dale Jensen, co-founder of Information Technology; and the final speaker is Scott Kaufman, co-author of "Secrets of the Young and Successful." Break times and lunch will offer networking opportunities and time to visit sponsor exhibits.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with the program starting at 8:30. The conference is scheduled to end at 5 p.m. Sponsors support speaker costs and a reduced student rate of $24. The rate for business participants is $49. Registrations can be made by calling (402) 472-3353 or on the Web.

CONTACT: Glenn Friendt or Elaine Warren, Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship, (402) 472-3353