St. Thomas University Gathers Business Magnates on Global Entrepreneur Week

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Nov 07, 2011, 04:41 ET

MIAMI, Nov. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Global Entrepreneurship Week, November 14-18, 2011, is an international initiative that introduces entrepreneurship to youth on six continents. St. Thomas University's School of Business (www.stu.edu/business) has steadily gained a reputation for developing leaders in the business arena for 50 years.

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To demonstrate the school's emphasis on entrepreneurship, the university will host a number of events to mark Global Entrepreneurship Week, including the launch of Startup Florida, an outgrowth of the Startup America program, on Friday, November 18.

Startup Florida's goal is to spur the creation of new businesses which leverage technology in industries such as healthcare, renewable energy, and sports management; and to make Florida small business owners aware of an extensive network of state, federal and non-profit resources ready to assist them. Speakers include Maria Hernandez, who is director and STG Exec. Advocate for Ford Motor Co., and also for the IBM Systems & Technical Group for Development; local healthcare magnate and philanthropist Mike Fernandez, for whom the university's Fernandez Family Center For Leadership and Wellness is named; and Manny Medina, founder of the data-storage and cloud computing company Terremark and recipient of the prestigious Jay Malina Award from The Beacon Council economic development agency.

"It's so important for us to recognize and nurture the talented individuals we have in South Florida," said Ms. Hernandez, who serves in the Dean's Advisory Board at the School of Business. "This is the way we will recognize our global potential. St. Thomas University has always supported the entrepreneurial community, and this event is further evidence of that commitment."

Scott Case, CEO of Startup America and founder of Priceline; Marvin Wheeler, former Terremark COO; Claudia Munce, vice president of IBM's Venture Capital Group; Carecloud CEO Albert Santalo; Mark Wyllie, CEO of Flagship "Smart Stadium"; Jane Teague, CEO of Enterprise Development Corp., will also speak. Founding members of Startup Florida include Enterprise Development Corp., St. Thomas University School of Business, IBM Corp., InternetCoast, and The Launch Pad – University of Miami.

SOURCE St. Thomas University