Ivy Tech opens BES Center

Saturday, July 21, 2012
Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray along with Executive Director of the Greencastle-Putnam County Development Center Bill Dory spoke during the opening celebration of the Ivy Tech Community College Business and Entrepreneurial Services Center on Friday morning. Both Murray and Dory believe this center will help create not only stronger entrepreneurs, but better business relationships in the community.

Ivy Tech Community College in Greencastle celebrated a major milestone on Friday morning as it officially opened its Business and Entrepreneurial Services Center (BES Center).

The morning began with a welcome from Ivy Tech Community College Wabash Valley Region Chancellor Dr. Ann Valentine, who congratulated not only her staff at Ivy Tech, but also everyone who was involved with the building process of the center.

Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray offered nothing but kind words about the school and where this center will take students.

"When you talk about entrepreneurship and Greencastle it's almost synonymous," Murray said. "Today's the beginning. This is the starting line."

Greencastle-Putnam County Development Center Executive Director Bill Dory also praised Ivy Tech for the opening of the center.

"It creates a landing place for small business activities," Dory said. "This center will create a foundation for a network for Putnam County as well as a region. This center will become an outstanding asset for Greencastle, Putnam County and the Wabash Valley."

The mission of the BES Center is to create a culture of innovation and success. The center hopes provide professional development and educational opportunities for new and existing businesses as well as its individuals.

Ivy Tech will now offer a full range of options from a career development certificate to an associate's degree.

"The BES Center is the culmination of economic development work over the years by several community partners including the work of Greencastle Project Ignition (GPI), which was launched in 2010," explained Director of Marketing and Communications Amy Metcalf.

"Today, GPI representatives have worked with Ivy Tech's BES Center team to focus in this new direction along with leadership from the City of Greencastle, the Greencastle Chamber of Commerce, the Greencastle-Putnam County Development Center, DePauw University and a number of other local business owners and community leaders."

Resources include a business resource library, business counseling, business incubation, speaker series, community outreach, custom training and a college credit curriculum.

The first speaker will be Dave Allen, founder of Famous Dave's restaurant. Allen will speak at the BES Center on Sept. 11. The event will be free and open to the public.

The BES Center will also provide workshops sponsored by Ivy Tech Corporate College, West Central ISBDC and the Greencastle Chamber of Commerce.

Workshops will include such topics as QuickBooks, employee development, Microsoft Office and more.

Most workshops will cost $65. However, partial scholarships are available for $65 sessions, reducing them to $35 per workshop.

Interested participants can enroll by calling 800-750-3007 ext. 5031 or visit www.ivytech.edu/bes.

For more information on the BES Center contact Melanie Boesen at 653-7410 ext. 5023 or mbosen@ivytech.edu.

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