What is CBEID? The Center for Business Education, Innovation and Development
(CBEID) is a not for profit entity formed to foster economic well-being in the
Fox River Valley area (Northern Illinois). Initiated and organized
by local citizens, the Center is a proactive response to the challenges and
changes rendered by an intensely competitive global economy. The Center
aims to promote economic viability and growth through public education, focusing
particularly on small and start-up businesses with innovative business ideas.
Why Was CBEID Formed?
For approximately 75 years prior to the extraordinary rise of global competition in the last two decades of the 20th century, Fox River Valley communities enjoyed general prosperity as home to a variety of manufacturing businesses. These businesses provided relatively secure well-paying employment opportunities, support for community services and improvements, a thriving retail trade and loci for manufacturing innovation. That prosperity has been threatened by obsolescence, job relocation to regions where labor standards and in turn labor costs are far below acceptable US standards, and lack of new enterprise creation. Although the Fox River Valley communities have maintained levels of traditional prosperity somewhat more successfully than have other communities in the Midwest, their ability to withstand sharp decline in the future appears not to be sustainable long term without infusion of new business. CBEID was organized by local citizens hoping to mount a proactive response to these losses of local industry. The Center will focus its efforts principally on small and start-up businesses with innovative business ideas. CBEID's plan to confront the issue is based on encouraging educational programs that will result in establishment of a creative business entrepreneurial culture by identifying and overcoming existing barriers to same within these communities.
CBEID's Mission, Vision and Core Values
Mission: CBEID is an all-volunteer initiative promoting
new business formation business innovation in the Fox River Valley (Illinois).
Vision: CBEID will be a primary source of expertise,
support and connections to start and grow new businesses; an organization
fostering entrepreneurial collaboration among new and experienced business
professionals of all ages, monitoring our communities’ success at attracting and
retaining new business and recommending steps for improvement, and advocating
for a civic environment that encourages business creativity. CBEID will be an
acknowledged contributor to the Fox River Valley as an important center for
developing new businesses.
Core Values:
- To welcome new ideas.
- To contribute to wealth-creation and employment opportunities locally.
- To hold strong and sustainable growth expectations for the businesses we
support.
- To collaborate and cooperate; to share and promote information freely at events
and through publications and networking.
CBEID's Strategic Plan
How Will CBEID Achieve Its Objectives?
Primarily through collaborations, CBEID will help to provide educational and networking opportunities via the following approaches:
- Mentoring
- Forums
- Advisory Councils
- Brainstorming
- Research
- Publications and Repository of Informative Resources
- Exchange of Success Stories/Best Practices
The following are officers of the Board of Directors of CBEID: Ernest Mahaffey, President; Jim Brannen, Treasurer; Robert E. Mann, Secretary.
Additionally, CBEID has a network of "Founders" with expertise and experience in business development who will contribute knowledge, energy, and support to the project, and act as an advisory board.
What was the inspiration for CBEID?
Read... |
