Rutgers University’s Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development announced recently that it has created a Council of Urban Entrepreneurs to provide guidance, inspiration and educational opportunities for aspiring business owners focused on urban locations.
The council includes five founding members, all prominent names in the region’s business community:
- Marc Berson, chairman of Fidelco Realty Group;
- Antonio Ibarria, publisher of El Especialito newspaper and founder of Save Latin America;
- Sunny Kancherla, managing partner, The Digital Strategist;
- Marjorie Perry, CEO and president of MZM Construction;
- Randal Pinkett, co-founder, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners and a winner of “The Apprentice.”
The CUEED aims to integrate academia, the private sector, government and nonprofit partners to stimulate urban economic growth through entrepreneurship.
“Since its founding in 2008, CUEED has helped 370 New Jersey-area entrepreneurs to create 580 jobs in urban locales and generate over $137 million in revenue,” Executive Director Lyneir Richardson said in a prepared statement. “The formation of our Rutgers Council of Entrepreneurs will allow us to further our mission and increase our impact by sharing the success stories of the council members and making their support available to the entrepreneurs and students who will be participating in our various programs.”
It hopes to take advantage of council members’ track record of success in several ways, including sharing their experiences and journeys, as well as influences; demonstrating how they have built economic activity, created jobs and driven social change; and analyzing their careers as case studies and research projects.
“I’m honored to be a founding member of the council, and I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences and guidance so that others may thrive,” Perry said in a statement. “If my recommendations and advice help to raise someone’s business to the next level, then I’ll be extremely happy to have contributed to their success.”
The center said it hopes to expand the council in the coming months.
