Ideas, as the saying goes, are a dime a dozen. But entrepreneurs who have already established a business are truly poised for success.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why the Digicel \u201cEntrepreneur of the Year\u201d program, which helps Haitian entrepreneurs, had a particular focus for 2014: the telecommunications operator sought to provide intellectual resources to entrepreneurs who are in the second<\/em> stage of building stable corporations.<\/p>\n Once again, the College of Business at Florida International University (FIU) was selected to host the three-day Haiti Retreat, held from November 19- 21, 2014. This year\u2019s program was titled: \u201cGrowth from Take-Off to Corporation.\u201d<\/p>\n Twenty-four Haitian CEOs and entrepreneurs selected as finalists for the title of 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year and three former winners traveled to FIU for the event. The program was conducted by FIU\u2019s Office of Executive and Professional Education (EPE),<\/a> which also hosted the program in 2010, 2011 and 2012.<\/p>\n The business person who has earned the title of 2014 Digicel Entrepreneur of the Year will be announced in mid-December.<\/p>\n Program gives entrepreneurs information and encouragement.<\/em><\/p>\n Entrepreneurs attending the program included founders of a restaurant, a computer electronics school, a poultry business, a dance studio and other varied, successful businesses in Haiti.<\/p>\n \u201cThe program\u2019s emphasis was on growth — finding growth opportunities and designing growth strategies,\u201d said Natalie Dwarika, EPE program coordinator, International Programs. \u201cThe agenda was packed with motivation and practical knowledge for the entrepreneurs to take their company to its second stage.\u201d<\/p>\n Dileep Rao, clinical professor in FIU\u2019s Department of Management & International Business, served as faculty director and conducted workshops each day. In his class, Professor Stephen Barnett of the Department of Marketing discussed practical marketing strategies for growth.<\/p>\n College of Business Dean David Klock shared with attendees his own personal story as the former CEO for CompBenefits, one of the nation’s leading dental and vision benefits companies.<\/p>\n Also serving as program faculty was Haitian economist Kesner Pharel who discussed financial strategies right for Haiti and successful entrepreneur Lloyd Sigel, an instructor at various Minnesota universities.<\/p>\n \u201cThe participants have such passion for their businesses,\u201d said Dwarika. \u201cThey had abundant eagerness to gain as much knowledge as possible to grow their operations.\u201d<\/p>\n