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Council for Entrepreneurial Development turns 25 – Come join the party

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Note: The Skinny blog is written by Rick Smith, editor and co-founder of Local Tech Wire and business editor of WRAL.com.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Can it really be true that the Council for Entrepreneurial Development is turning 25?

Yes, indeed. And the CED is planning a big birthday party for Friday. The Skinny gives a well-deserved tip of the cap to the group.

Interestingly, as the N.C. Biotech Center, MCNC, the N.C. School for Science and Math, N.C. State’s Centennial Campus and other keys to North Carolina’s continuing economic transformation celebrate silver anniversaries, the CED does, too. Its role in helping our state grow as a center for the high-tech and life science industries should not be underestimated or overlooked.

One of the nation’s largest (5,500 members) and most highly regarded organizations devoted to helping new and small businesses grow and succeed will welcome current and prospective members to a celebration in Durham at the American Tobacco Historic District’s Bay 7. Festivities begin at 3 p.m. and will include food, beverages plus live music. (Tickets are $25.)

By the way, the music should be a real treat since CED members are among The Dune Dogs and The JazzTones.

Among the host committee members planning the event are some of CED’s earliest organizers such as attorney Fred Hutchison and dean of the Triangle venture capital industry Dennis Dougherty.

Monica Doss, the CED’s longtime president, is also among the committee.

Joan Siefert Rose, who followed Doss as CED president, is making many changes in CED as one would expect after a change in management. The party will give people a chance to find out what CED plans for the future while they discuss a lot of memories.

The Skinny first met Doss and the CED back in 1993 when helping to launch Interpath, an Internet Service Provider owned by Capitol Broadcasting. Bill Nussey, a successful entrepreneur from Raleigh who now runs Silverpop in Atlanta, convinced me to check out what was then a still fledgling organization.

As the Internet boom exploded, so did CED. Its venture capital conference is one of the best in the country. Other events such as one for biotech have helped bring international attention to the area. And a look at the list of “host committee” members for the event will disclose a goodly number of entrepreneurs who can say CED helped them become successful.

For the record, here’s the list:

Karen Adams, Ryan Allis, Alston & Bird, Peyton Anderson, Greg Anglum, The Aurora Funds, Jeff Barber, Randall Bennett, Michael Brader-Araje, Kirk Bradley, Patty Briguglio, Rich Brown, Chris Capel, Kent Christison.

Jeff Clark, Code Refinery, Mike & Lori Constantino, Walter & Linda Daniels, Dick Daugherty, Jim & Monica Doss, Dennis Dougherty, John Draper, Mike Elliott, David Finch, Kevin Flynn, John Fogg, Forma Life Science Marketing, Kip Frey, Vipin Garg.

JohnGlushik, Bill Greenlee, Tim Gupton, Brian Handly, Robbie Hardy, Rich Harris, Gary Hayes, Chris Hegele, Laura Hoke, Wayne Hunter, Fred Hutchison, I L S, Patrick Johnson, Byron Kirkland, Garheng Kong, Craig Landwehr, Rich Lee, Helga Leftwich, Karen LeVert, Chris Lynch, Brooks Malone, Merrill Mason, Chris Matton, Ed McCarthy.

Ray McMahon, Bill & Ann Meloche, April Mills, MMI Public Relations, Mitch Mumma, Mary Musacchia, NC IDEA, Steve Nelson, Rob Orr, Bill Pappas, Michael Parkerson, Bob Pickens, Anastasia Pucci, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, Larry Robbins, Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, PA, Dr. Thomas K. Rao, Joan Siefert Rose & Jim Rose, Christy Shaffer, Jack Sheffield, Southern Capitol Ventures, David Spitz,Robbie & Lori Spivey, Wright Steenrod,

Congratulations, CED, for 25 years of success.

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The Skinny

WRAL Local Tech Wire Publisher and Editor Rick Smith dishes out tidbits from the local technology sector. Read more articles…