As recession fears spread worldwide, Allegheny students will join millions of young entrepreneurs, business people, nonprofit leaders and government officials in the United States and abroad who will use Global Entrepreneurship Week, Nov. 17 to 23, to explore the power of entrepreneurship to create positive change.
“Small business and entrepreneurship drive business in America. As we seek to jumpstart our economy, creating an entrepreneurial environment is critical to both new and established enterprises,” said Chris Allison, Allegheny College class of '83, entrepreneur in residence with Allegheny's department of economics. “Our E-Week activities seek to celebrate that spirit among Alleghenians and our local community.”
Sam Moss, president of Gray Matters Capital, will give the keynote presentation of Allegheny's E-Week celebration. His talk — titled “Investing in the World's Poor: Can You Have High Social Impact and Financial Return?” — will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 4 p.m. in Henderson Auditorium of Quigley Hall and is free and open to the public.
At Gray Matters Capital, Moss focuses on creating a network of developers—skilled, seasoned professionals serving part time as investment underwriters on various initiatives in the firm's portfolio—as well as on the infrastructural needs of the microfinance industry. Working with GMC's sister enterprises, the Gray Ghost Microfinance Fund and the Rockdale Foundation, Moss also identifies opportunities that will advance the viability of microfinance as an investment option, bringing together like-minded individuals and entities to advance the development of the industry.
Moss is the board chair of the International Association of Microfinance Investors and serves on the Gray Ghost Fund Investment Committee, the Council of Microfinance Equity Funds and the boards of several Atlanta arts organizations. A graduate of Williams College, he spent 25 years in investment and commercial banking before moving to the microfinance business. His wife, Isabelle Moss, is an alumna and trustee of Allegheny College.
Allegheny E-Week Competition
Following Moss's presentation, winners of the “Gator Innovation Challenge ‘08” will be announced. Allegheny students were invited to develop and present proposals for innovative projects that could create wealth, address community problems or both. The first prize winner will receive $500, second receives $350 and third receives $150.
In addition to Chris Allison, judges for the student competition will include Gary Elliott, vice president for global branding at Hewlett Packard; Visiting Associate Professor of Economics John Golden; and Professor of Economics Don Goldstein.
E-Week is sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation, NYSE Euronext, IBM, Ernst and Young and Make Your Mark. The initiative is designed to stimulate ongoing interest among individuals and organizations in developing young people's entrepreneurial skills and as inspiration for young people to begin a journey to fulfill their potential as self-starters and entrepreneurs.
E-Week activities at Allegheny are sponsored by the Managerial Economics program and by the Center for Economic and Environmental Development. For more information, contact Tracy Stevenson, 814-332-2385.
