Stevie Awards Makes Significant Contribution to University Entrepreneurship Program

Posted by Maggie Gallagher on Tue, Nov 01, 2016 @ 02:44 PM

The Stevie Awards have a made a significant multi-year financial contribution to the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the School of Business at George Mason University, the largest public university in the State of Virginia in the USA. 

Michael Gallagher, Stevie Awards president and a 1994 MBA graduate of the university, has been actively involved with Mason for more than 20 years. So much so that he was honored with the university’s 2015 Alumni Service Award.

In 2005, he worked closely with the School of Business Alumni Relations staff to create the first Annual Business Alumni Celebration, the School of Business' premiere alumni event. In 2009, he became active with the School of Business Alumni Chapter, serving as vice president of events and then led the group as president for the next two years. After completing his tenure as president, he served as an at-large member for another year and most recently led the chapter's fundraising committee.

innovation-lab-header.jpgGallagher regularly contributes time and money to the School of Business’ annual Deans’ Business Plan Competition and often serves as a mentor to student entrepreneurs.

Still, he wanted to do more.

“I feel strongly about encouraging people to become entrepreneurs,” said Gallagher.

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

“It’s important to ask people face-to-face to do something because it’s hard for them to say no,” explained Gallagher. That’s what happened to him when asked to be involved with Mason, and he’s had “a lot of fun doing it.”

Having already volunteered much of his time and financially supported several of the entrepreneurial activities the School of Business offered, Gallagher saw a natural alignment with his interests and the school’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

He learned through a conversation with David Miller, director of Mason’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, that the center didn’t lack for ideas and projects, it lacked time to properly run and grow the initiatives already created. Gallagher immediately pledged that the Stevie Awards would contribute $195,000 to give the center the gift of time, which comes in the form of a program manager that will help run the center’s programs.

“Entrepreneurs are the babies of the business world. If people don’t have babies there won’t be much of a human race,” he continued. “The same is true for the economy. If you don’t have entrepreneurs, you won’t have economic and job growth.”

With current opportunities for students ranging from field trips, mentor programs, a maker space, business plan competition, an innovation lab, student support groups, and more, Miller found it challenging to provide each initiative the attention it needed to fully serve students. The new program manager funded by the Stevie Awards will be fully dedicated to expanding and resourcing existing opportunities.

This will provide Miller more time to nurture student entrepreneurs and hopefully, increase their success.

“If you have 100 entrepreneurs, maybe one will be successful. That’s the reality of entrepreneurship. I’d like that to be five or six at Mason,” said Gallagher

“Everyone has an expertise in something, and I would like to see Mason, and the USA as a whole, to encourage people to start their own businesses. You don’t have to be Mark Zuckerberg or Sergey Brin. You just need to support yourself and be able to look at yourself in the mirror. You can be a company of one.”

Learn more about Mason’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship or contribute to its success by making a gift.

Topics: entrepreneurship, American business awards, entrepreneur awards, best entrepreneur, female entrepreneurs, donations

America Means Business Opens Tomorrow

Posted by Liz Dean on Tue, Jun 12, 2012 @ 12:20 PM

America Mean Business, the landmark new event about how to start, grow, and manage your own business, is on June 13-15 in New York City. America Means Business

Pre-registration is free through 11:59PM tonight. You can attend for all three days or any part of the event, it's entirely up to you. (Registration at the door is just $10.)

Here are some of Wednesday's sessions and events at Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th Street in Manhattan, you can learn from with your free pre-registration:

  • An Informative Keynote Presentation with David Weber of Rickshaw Dumplings, Voted New York's #1 Food Truck
  • Sessions About How to Get Started, How to Pick the Right Business, How to Use Social Media and Email to Grow Your Business, and More
  • Presentations by Successful Entrepreneurs About "How They Did It" Including a Retailer, a Video Game Developer, and More
  • 1-to-1 Counseling with Experienced Small Business Mentors from SCORE
  • An Expo of Products and Services to Help You Bring Your Dreams to Life

See the complete schedule online.

Help us spread the world about this great new event. Tell your friends, family, and co-workers that today is the last day for free online pre-registration, and that registration at the door will be $10.

If you can attend for only an hour, or for all three days, America Means Business will help you to make your dream a reality!

Topics: America Means Business, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, starting a business, small business, home business, grow a business, franchise

One Week to America Means Business

Posted by Liz Dean on Wed, Jun 06, 2012 @ 10:10 AM

America Means Business, a landmark event about how to start, grow, and manage a business, is only one week  away! To take place in New York City on June 13 - 15, 2012, America Means Business will feature dozens of events about how to start and grow your own business, and everything in between, from how to finance and staff your business to how to develop your products and services, how to market them, and how to service your customers.

If you haven't yet registered, you can pre-register for free here(Registration at the door is just $10 and the first 2,000 AMB registrants will be entered into a drawing for a free iPad.)America Means Business

Among the sessions you can learn from with your free registration are:

and so many others. You can also schedule a free 30-minute consultation with an experienced small business consultant, learn from vendors in the America Means Business expo, and network. See the complete schedule online.

Want more ways to get involved? Watch our video, "How to Participate in America Means Business" to learn how your organization can participate in America Means Business as a speaker, exhibitor, and/or sponsor. Watch the video now.

Topics: America Means Business, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, starting a business, small business, home business, grow a business, franchise

One Month to America Means Business

Posted by Liz Dean on Mon, May 14, 2012 @ 10:17 AM

America Means Business, a new event about how to start, grow, and manage a business, will take place June 13-15 in New York City. If you haven't yet registered, you can register for free through May 25 hereAmerica Means Business

As we get closer to this landmark event about entrepreneurship, we want to take this opportunity to inform you of the new and exciting opportunities available for small business owners and entrepreneurs alike.

  • FREE registration through May 25
    Share FREE registration with your friends and family.  Registration for America Means Business is free through May 25 and just $10 thereafter. Don't forget, the first 2,000 AMB registrants will be entered into a drawing for a free iPad.
  • Additional events added
    We've added several new events about how to start and grow your own business, and everything in between to The America Means Business Calendar of Events. AMB events include "How to Get Started" and "Which Business is Right for You," presented by SCORE, "How to Be a Pro at Hiring," presented by Joanna Shows of ActionCOACH, "Sales Fundamentals for the New Economy," presented by Julie Thomas of ValueSelling Associates, a  1-to-1 Counseling Lounge by SCORE’s small business professionals, and an exhibition, among others.
  • More ways to get involved
    Watch our video, "How to Participate in America Means Business" to learn how your organization can participate in America Means Business as a speaker, exhibitor, and/or sponsor. Watch the video now.
  • New ways to spread the word
    We've created several promotional materials to help you inform your coworkers, friends, students, employees, subscribers, and others about America Mean Business, its free registration and benefits of attending. Download America Means Business logos and flyers here.

America Means Business is presented by the Stevie® Awards, the organizer of the annual American Business Awards. America Means Business will culminate with the presentation of the 10th annual ABAs on June 18. Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to get up to the minute news about the program.

Topics: America Means Business, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, starting a business, small business, home business, grow a business, franchise, opportunities for entrepreneurs, stevie awards

America Means Business Announces Preliminary Schedule of Events

Posted by Liz Dean on Thu, Apr 12, 2012 @ 09:46 AM

The Stevie® Awards, organizer of the world’s premier business awards, today announced the preliminary schedule of events for America Means Business, a landmark three-day event about entrepreneurship, taking place in New York City on June 13, 14, and 15.America Means Business

Headquartered at the Metropolitan Pavilion at 125 West 18th Street, with events taking place there and at other locations throughout New York City, America Means Business will feature informative panel discussions, “How I Did It” case studies, an exposition of products and services that can help aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners, and many other events about how to start and grow a business.  Highlights from the current schedule include:

  • How to Get Started and Which Business is Right for You, presented by SCORE
  • Social Media and Email Marketing: How to Leverage the Power, presented by small business marketing experts of  VerticalResponse
  • How to Be a Pro at Hiring, presented by Joanna Shows of ActionCOACH, the world’s top business coaching firm
  • How to Be a Master of Time Management, presented by Tony Signorelli, president and author of New Rules of Self Employment
  • Sales Fundamentals for the New Economy, presented by Julie Thomas, president of ValueSelling Associates
  • Is Network Marketing Right for You?, presented by Barbara McCollough and Deanna Clarance, the entrepreneurs behind the Appreneur Lab
  • 1-to-1 Counseling Lounge providing immediate small business feedback by SCORE’s small business professionals

For a full calendar of events scheduled thus far, visit: www.AmericaMeansBusiness-NYC.com/calendar.

“Since announcing America Means Business in February, we have received a huge response from entrepreneurs and business experts around the country seeking to participate through speaking, sponsoring, exhibiting, and attending,” said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards. “We are very pleased to announce our preliminary schedule, and are looking forward to adding even more events to the program that will benefit and inspire future and current entrepreneurs.”

America Means Business still has openings for those interested in speaking or staging an event related to entrepreneurship and business management. There is no cost to participate and proposals are being accepted online until June 13. Attendee registration for America Means Business is free through May 25, and just $10 thereafter.  Details on creating an event and registration are available at www.AmericaMeansBusiness-NYC.com

About America Means Business
America Means Business is a landmark event about entrepreneurship - about how to start, grow and manage your own business. To take place in New York City on June 13 - 15, 2012, America Means Business will be packed with educational, networking and social events that will show you how to bring your dream to life.  For more information visit www.AmericaMeansBusiness-NYC.com.

About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.  Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.  Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.stevieawards.com/, and follow the Stevie Awards on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.  

Topics: America Means Business, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, starting a business, small business, home business, grow a business, franchise, opportunities for entrepreneurs, stevie awards

New Events Announced at America Means Business

Posted by Liz Dean on Tue, Apr 03, 2012 @ 08:35 AM

The Stevie® Awards, organizer of the world’s premier business awards, announced several scheduling details for America Means Business,  its landmark new event about how to start, grow, and manage a business. To take place in New York City on June 13 - 15, 2012, America Means Business will be packed with educational, networking, and social events that will show entrepreneurs how to bring their dreams to life.

America Means Business is being crowdsourced, meaning that dozens of organizations across the nation are contributing to its programming. Anyone who wants to hold an event related to entrepreneurship and business creation is invited to become an Event Partner. While most events will be held at our headquarters, Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th Street, New York, NY, our Event Partners can choose to hold their event anywhere in New York City. America Means Business will promote events from all partners equally, regardless of location.

America Means Business events will cover topics including:

  • Getting Started
  • FinanceAmerica Means Business
  • Hiring
  • Management
  • Technology
  • Web/Interactive
  • Marketing
  • Public Relations
  • Sales
  • Customer Service
  • Product Development

There is no fee to participate, and our structure allows all of our partners to maintain creative control while being a part of the overall event. Watch this recording of our March 13 webinar to learn how your organization can participate.

The Stevie Awards has published several new events to the AMB calendar of events including inspirational keynotes, basic startup education by SCORE, networking opportunities, an exposition, and many other events about how to start and grow a business and everything in between. Click here to view the America Means Business calendar.

We will continue to add to and update the AMB calendar of events so we suggest periodically checking to learn about new opportunities for entrepreneurs at America Means Business.

Registration for America Means Business is free through May 25, and just $10 thereafter. Registration details are available at http://www.AmericaMeansBusiness-NYC.com.

America Means Business is presented by the Stevie Awards, the organizer of the annual American Business Awards. America Means Business will culminate with the presentation of the 10th annual ABAs on June 18.

Get updates from America Means Business.
Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to get up to the minute news about the program.

Topics: business creation, SCORE, America Means Business, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, starting a business, small business, home business, grow a business, franchise, opportunities for entrepreneurs, stevie awards

Watch the Video "How to Participate in America Means Business"

Posted by Liz Dean on Fri, Mar 16, 2012 @ 10:53 AM

We've created a video called "How to Participate in America Means Business." You can watch it here.

The video is a recording of our March 13 webinar of the same name. America Means Business is a new event by the Stevie Awards about how to start and create a business. It will take place in New York June 13-15, and there are opportunities for your organization to speak, exhibit, and sponsor.


We're particularly looking for speakers on topics such as:

  • Getting started in business, and all that that entails
  • How to raise money to start a business
  • How and when to hire staff
  • Management issues related to business start-ups and growth
  • Technology issues that should concern entrepreneurs
  • How to use social media and other web media to grow a business and a brand
  • The importance of branding and marketing and how to develop a marketing plan
  • Why public relations and publicity should be on a start-up’s priority list
  • How to develop a sales plan and supercharge a sales effort
  • How and why startups should excel in customer service
  • How to develop and follow a product development and management plan

Watch the video to learn how to participate.

Topics: speaking opportunities, entrepreneurs, growing a business, America Means Business, entrepreneurship, starting a business, American business awards, stevie awards

America Means Business, First Citywide Event About Entrepreneurship, to Launch in June

Posted by Liz Dean on Mon, Feb 06, 2012 @ 09:47 AM

The Stevie Awards to stage inaugural three-day event in New York City on starting, growing and managing a business -- June 13 - 15, 2012.

The Stevie® Awards, organizer of the world’s premier business awards, today announced that it will stage a landmark three-day event about entrepreneurship throughout New York City on June 13, 14, and 15.

America Means BusinessAmerica Means Business will feature dozens of inspirational keynotes, informative panel discussions, “How I Did It” case studies, basic startup education by SCORE, networking opportunities, an exposition, and many other events about how to start and grow a business and everything in between.

Registration for America Means Business is free through May 25, and just $10 thereafter. Registration details are available at http://www.AmericaMeansBusiness-NYC.com.

Those interested in staging an event related to entrepreneurship and business management during America Means Business are invited to become Event Partners. There is no cost to participate.

“By creating America Means Business, we hope to help spark an entrepreneurial revolution in the U.S.A.,” said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards, which are celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2012. “Small businesses are the building blocks and the hiring engines for widespread economic well-being, and we want to enable many more people to realize their dreams of growing their own businesses.”

According to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total number of self-employed Americans with incorporated and non-incorporated businesses declined 2% in 2011. The 27 million small businesses in America represent 99.7% of all employers and employ 49.2% of the private sector workforce, according to the Small Business Administration’s latest small business profile. Recognizing the importance of small business to the sustainability of the economy, America Means Business will aim to address the needs of entrepreneurs and assist and inspire those who have the dream of opening their own business.

America Means Business will be headquartered at the Metropolitan Pavilion at 125 West 18th Street, with events taking place there and at other locations throughout New York City.

About America Means Business
America Means Business is a landmark event about entrepreneurship - about how to start, grow and manage your own business. To take place in New York City on June 13 - 15, 2012, America Means Business will be packed with educational, networking and social events that will show you how to bring your dream to life. For more information visit http://www.AmericaMeansBusiness-NYC.com.

About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.stevieawards.com/, and follow the Stevie Awards on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Topics: America Means Business, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, starting a business, small business, home business, grow a business, franchise, business awards, stevie awards