Galvanize, Denver Denver, CO
What the World's Best Social Entrepreneurs Do
Thursday, Jun. 26 6:30 p.m.
$15.00
USD/Ticket
Held on June 26, 2014.
Launching businesses to meet social and economic needs has grown in popularity in the last decade. But starting and growing a social enterprise is difficult – and often riddled with challenges.
What are the best practices in social entrepreneurship across the globe? What are the biggest challenges to starting and growing a social business? How is social entrepreneurship different abroad versus in the US? How can existing businesses become more responsive to the economic needs of their communities? What are the biggest needs in the world that entrepreneurs need to address? How can theology inform our view of entrepreneurship?
Contributors
Neil Bellefeuille is the Founder and CEO of The Paradigm Project, a social venture company working to create sustainable social, economic and environmental value within developing world communities." They have sold over 40,000 high efficiency cooking stoves in the developing world, with a goal of selling 5 million by 2020. Neil has more than 18 years of experience as a management and marketing consultant leading teams in the creation of brands and business units for Fortune 500 clients including Nike, PepsiCo, VF Brands, Conoco-Phillips and World Vision. In September of 2007 Neil relinquished his role as President and Senior Strategist at Bulldog Drummond, a highly successful brand consultancy, to pursue social enterprise design and development within the non-profit sector. As a co-founder, he has been actively involved in the strategic development of The Paradigm Project from its conception. Neil has a Master’s Degree in English and a BA in liberal arts with an emphasis in business communication.
Rich Hoops has dedicated his time to assisting area nonprofits in building operational/organizational capacity through strategic consulting, general business and executive coaching, training and lecturing. He has been a partner with Social Venture Partners Boulder County since 2001 and was board chair from 2004-2006. Rich is chairman of the board at Impact Hub - Boulder, is the board chair for Blood:Water Mission, and is an advisory board member of the Center for Education on Social Responsibility at the Leeds School of Business, at the University of Colorado. In addition, Rich is involved in a number of initiatives and activities in the area of social entrepreneurship/social ventures and impact investing in the Boulder community. Rich began his career in the personal computer industry in 1986 with the Business Products Division of Tandy Corporation. He joined Dell Computer Corporation in 1989 and held a variety of senior management and executive positions in sales, marketing and business development, nationally and internationally. Rich founded, and served as CEO of Outdoor Intelligence, a startup focused on delivering digital map information and data to the recreational fishing industry.
James Reiner joined Belay Enterprise as Executive Director in June of 1999 and continues to direct the organization. He offers an extensive background in entrepreneurship, social enterprise development, non-profit management, public relations, and marketing communications. While at Belay, James has overseen the introduction of four new social enterprise businesses: Baby Bud’s, the Good Neighbor Garage, Freedom Cleaning Services, New Beginnings Custom Woodworks and Purple Door Coffee. He has also continued to grow Bud's Warehouse, one of the nation’s first home improvement thrift stores and on-the-job training program for individuals with addictions or felony convictions. He is also currently assisting in the development of a mattress recycling business and a commercial kitchen business. James is passionate about working with Christian entrepreneurs interested in creating, resourcing and partnering with businesses that employ individuals rebuilding lives from addiction, homelessness, prison, or poverty. James graduated from the University of California at San Diego with degrees in Economics and Political Science.