Stonyfield Farm Entrepreneurship Institute
March 27th and 28th, 2008
The School of Community Economic Development at Southern New Hampshire University presents the Stonyfield Farm Entrepreneurship Institute, a "boot camp" for community-minded entrepreneurs. The event will be held on campus on Thursday, March 27 and Friday, March 28, 2008.
Click here to download the 2008 brochure.
The Stonyfield Farm Entrepreneurship Institute is an interactive, intimate venue for networking, storytelling and problem solving. A seasoned entrepreneur Gary Hirshberg, the CE-Yo of Stonyfield Farm, and Michael Swack, Dean of the School of Community Economic Development, will tell “tales from the trenches” Thursday night. Friday will feature the presentation of case studies in finance, marketing and organizational development. A few brave souls will be selected to sit on the “hot seat” to have cases they submitted ahead of time explored by professional respondents and fellow participants.
The Stonyfield Entrepreneurship Institute is a program conceived by Gary Hirshberg in 1998 based on his experience 
growing Stonyfield Farm, Inc., from its humble start as a 7-cow operation in 1983 to its current $210 MM annual sales level. The Institute has, in various forms, served hundreds of entrepreneurs by offering a safe, yet stimulating environment to learn about financing, marketing, managing change and the many other areas that are fundamental to growing an enterprise.
Southern New Hampshire University’s School of Community Economic Development (SCED) is internationally recognized as a center of excellence and a leader in education, training, public policy, research and institution-building. SCED is the only school in the country that offers masters and Ph.D. degrees in community economic development. The School’s mission is to provide education and training to a diverse group of community economic development (CED) practitioners, policy makers, community leaders and change agents, and equip them with the knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to have the greatest impact in improving the economic and social well-being of their communities.
The deadline for registration is Friday, March 21, 2008.The deadline to submit case studies is March 3, 2008.
register online .
Please indicate when you register, if you would like to submit our case study for consideration in the three theme areas: sales and marketing; raising capital; organizational management.
The cost of the Institute is $200 for both days including meals (dinner, continental breakfast and lunch). We have made some scholarship money available. Please contact Veronica Kamerman (v.kamerman@snhu.edu) if you would like to apply.
SNHU is easily accessible by car, plane or bus. It is centrally located in Manchester, NH, which has an excellent airport; it is a one hour drive from Boston, one hour from Portland, Maine, and four hours from New York City.
Thursday, March 27
5 p.m. Registration
6 p.m. Dinner and Participant Introductions
7:30 p.m. An Evening of Storytelling: "Tales from the Trenches"
Friday, March 28
8:30 a.m. Breakfast
9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Case Study Session I - Are You Properly Packaged? Overcoming Sales & Marketing Challenges
10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Case Study Session II -Raising Equity Capital
Lunch (12:30 p.m.)
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Case Study Session III - Management/Organization
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Case Study Session IV - Business Problem-Solving Breakouts
4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closing Session
Fridays Session Moderators & Panel Presenters
Session I: Marketing
Session II: Finance
Session III: Management/Organization
Session IV: Case Studies Selected Participants
Contact the Holiday Inn at the Manchester Airport (603.641.6466) and mention SNHU to get the special $85/night rate.
Contact Veronica Kamerman at v.kamerman@snhu.edu for more information.
"Please pass on my thanks to Gary, Michael and all those involved in the Institute. It was a great event. I felt a strong bond of community with my fellow participants. I came away inspired, relaxed and more focused on the vision for my company". – Steve Silverstein, Tree-Free Greetings
"It was a great program – so glad I attended – next time we want more WREN member to attend.". - Katy Curnyn, Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network
"I thoroughly enjoyed all the case studies and I believe I was enlightened a few times over. I’ll be very happy to participate again.” – Tom Trayer, Sunquam Tribute Co.
"Thank you for organizing and hosting a fun and informative event for us entrepreneurs! I enjoyed the opportunity to be case study! What a wealth of knowledge I gathered. Thanks again." – Jen Kovach, Garden Dreams.