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Flagship Executive Director Completes Incubator Management Certification

DeWayne Landwehr, Executive Director of the Flagship Enterprise Center in Anderson, Indiana, recently completed the National Business Incubation Association’s Incubator Management Certificate Program.

NBIA launched its certificate program in February 2007 to provide incubator executives with a comprehensive and practical overview of the tasks and responsibilities of managing a business incubation program. The program is designed to enhance managers’ skills and to provide them with opportunities to gain ideas for building stronger relationships with key constituents, providing effective client services, ensuring incubator sustainability and more.

Although the certificate program is not a professional designation, NBIA officials say that receiving a certificate is a mark of distinction verifying mastery of incubator governance, services and policies. “We thought it would be helpful for NBIA to establish a base of knowledge that every incubator manager should know, regardless of the type of incubator they run,” said Tom Strodtbeck, NBIA director of events and training. “The certificate program is a way for people to track their progress in gaining that knowledge.”

To receive a certificate, incubator managers must complete a total of 24 hours of training, including three full-day workshops designed specifically for the program and five elective 75-minute sessions offered at NBIA’s annual conference. Workshops and sessions cover a range of topics, including incubator finances, strategic planning, graduation policies and procedures, client selection, and facilities management.

According to Landwehr, “All the courses required for this certificate are taught by incubator professionals who are known to employ best practices in one or more areas of operation.  Just listening to all of those highly qualified people discuss their various topics has been a tremendous help to me.  The Flagship is already recognized as one of the best in the nation, and I want to ensure we continue to improve on the record that has already been established.  As we improve, our clients reap the benefits of better programs.  Having achieved certification is very nice, but secondary to that.”

Business incubation programs, such as the Flagship Enterprise Center, catalyze the process of starting and growing companies by providing entrepreneurs with the expertise, networks and tools they need to make their ventures successful. NBIA estimates that in 2005 alone, North American incubators assisted more than 27,000 start-up companies that provided full-time employment for more than 100,000 workers and generated annual revenue of more than $17 billion.

Created through a partnership between Anderson University and the City of Anderson, the Flagship Enterprise Center serves as a small business incubator and growth stage business accelerator. Through its client-specific Client Support Program, the FEC helps emerging companies to become independently viable. Located at I-69 and (exit 22) in Anderson, the FEC provides ongoing contact with management consultants, university researchers, student mentoring opportunities and access to capital. For more information, contact DeWayne Landwehr at (765) 622-0800 or visit the FEC Web site at www.flagshipenterprise.org.

The National Business Incubation Association is the world’s leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship. It provides thousands of professionals with information, education, advocacy and networking resources to bring excellence to the process of assisting early-stage companies.