http://entrepreneurcenter.com/ en rss@entrepreneurcenter.com Copyright 2010 2010-07-28T15:51:39+00:00 http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/entrepreneur-center-at-the-nashville-flood-recovery-business-resource-fair/ http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/entrepreneur-center-at-the-nashville-flood-recovery-business-resource-fair/#When:15:51:39Z The Entrepreneur Center set up a booth at the Nashville Flood Recovery Business Resource Fair on July 27th at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds.  This free resource fair was designed to bring together experts from local, state, and federal governments as well as private industry, such as banks, legal, and marketing servies, to provide council for those businesses affected by the flood.  Events 2010-07-28T15:51:39+00:00 http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/a-conversation-with-michael-burcham/ http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/a-conversation-with-michael-burcham/#When:13:16:30Z A Conversation with Michael Burcham, Nashville Entrepreneur Center Nashville Business Journal by April Wortham May 28, 2010 Michael Burcham was recently named the first president of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, a joint project of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Nashville Technology Council that seeks to connect entrepreneurs with resources to start and grow their businesses. Burcham brings more than three decades of experience to the role, most of it in the health care industry. He currently serves as a clinical faculty member at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management, where he helped lead the Summer Business Institute and taught classes on entrepreneurship. What is the most outside-of-the-box idea you have ever had in your professional career? When I was 30, I’d just finished writing up a business concept for a new business idea. I’d met an early stage venture investor at a large health care conference earlier that year and had his business card in my Rolodex. I called the guy — Walter Channing of C.W. Group in New York — and asked him if I could fly up and present my business idea to him. I’d never been to New York. I’d never pitched a concept. I was scared out of my mind. He agreed to see me. What was the result? C.W. Group became the first investor in my first company: Theraphysics. Walter introduced me to Ted McCourtney, who was the managing partner of Venrock and George Soros. They both invested in my company. That began my entrepreneurial journey. What single thing makes your organization stand out? We are an organization created by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. We connect entrepreneurs with critical resources to accelerate business creation and growth. Nashville has amazing support and resource organizations for entrepreneurs, but for newcomers and new entrepreneurs, they’re not easy to find. We are currently working to create the “front door” of Nashville for all types of entrepreneurs, creating both a physical and virtual place for providing resources, making connections, seeking advice and launching a business. What word best describes your leadership style? I am a maximizer. I focus on how to bring out the best in a business, in people, in a situation. I strive for excellence, not average. I become fascinated by transforming something good into something superb. Goal yet to be achieved? I’d like to be an entrepreneurial “mensch.” It’s a Yiddish term that has three components: helping lots of people, doing what’s right and paying back society — simple concepts that are hard to implement. Professional pet peeve? Working with someone who is not living up to his or her true potential and not doing his or her best work. I tend to avoid these types of folks. What keeps you up at night? Unfinished work, tasks and discovery. I often get lost in working on a new business concept and will stay up most of the night working through a new idea. What do you do to relieve stress? I typically find my greatest stress relief in the gym or on a long run. I did try yoga once or twice, but found I couldn’t “turn off” my brain long enough to benefit from the experience. What is the simplest thing you never learned to do? Enjoy a movie. I get restless about 30 minutes into the show, or I just fall asleep. I keep thinking that once the Green Hills Cinema installs WiFi, it will be a whole new experience for me. Favorite hobbies? Collecting art and wines. I enjoy reading biographies. I also enjoy photography, and I love making pictures as I travel. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? A stepmother who came into my life when I was 9 years old and loved me as her own. She’s taught me what unconditional love really is. When faced with two equally qualified candidates, how do you determine whom to hire? I would likely take each candidate to lunch or dinner and observe how they treat the individuals who serve us along the way. I find that the true measure of a man or woman is how he or she treats someone who can do him or her absolutely no good. What would you like to cross off your “bucket list” next? I’d like to write a book. I’ve been keeping journals of my entrepreneurial adventures over the past 20 years. My life, like most everyone’s life, has been full of twists and turns — success and failure. I’d like to capture some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way. It could be an entertaining read. — Interview by April Wortham Background Name/age: Michael Burcham / 48 Title: President and CEO Company: Nashville Entrepreneur Center Address: 211 Commerce St. Nashville 37201 Web: michaelburcham.com; entrepreneurcenter.com Most recently read book: “Start-up Nation” by Dan Senor and Saul Singer Favorite music artist: Chris Botti Education: Bachelor’s from University of Mississippi; MBA from Belmont University; Doctoral degree from Medical University of South Carolina Community involvement: YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Oasis Center, Human Rights Campaign Interview by April Wortham. You can reach Wortham at awortham@bizjournals.com or 615-846-4276. © 2010 American City Business Journals, Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of bizjournals. News 2010-07-23T13:16:30+00:00 http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/new-ec-president-and-ceo-michael-burcham-speaks-to-nashville-rotary/ http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/new-ec-president-and-ceo-michael-burcham-speaks-to-nashville-rotary/#When:19:04:24Z Michael Burcham addressed the Nashville Rotary on Monday, during their weekly luncheon at the Wildhorse Saloon.  2010-07-20T19:04:24+00:00 http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/michael-burcham-to-speak-at-nashville-rotary/ http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/michael-burcham-to-speak-at-nashville-rotary/#When:20:28:33Z Rotary Club of Nashville ROTARY: Monday, July 19, 2010 at the Wildhorse Saloon, 120 Second Avenue North Michael Burcham President & CEO Nashville Entrepreneur Center A health care executive and entrepreneur, Michael has been named President & CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center.  A serial entrepreneur who began his career at Hospital Corporation of America, Michael has a passion for helping individuals organize and grow their businesses. Michael served as President of ParadigmHealth, a Specialty Care & Disease Management Firm from 2000-2007.  ParadigmHealth specialized in the management of life-limiting and life-threatening medical events and was sold to Inverness Medical Innovations in December, 2007. Prior to joining ParadigmHealth, Michael was President of Theraphysics, a venture-backed, specialty rehabilitation firm he founded in 1992. Theraphysics was acquired by Beverly Enterprises in 1998. Prior to Theraphysics, Burcham worked for HCA as Vice President of Managed Care for Centennial Medical Center. In addition to his work in the healthcare industry, Burcham teaches Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University.  He is also the Faculty Director and creative leader behind Vanderbilt’s Summer Business Institute, an intensive immersion in business designed exclusively for undergraduates and recent graduates in all majors. Michael is a member of the Nashville Capital Network (Angel Investor Fund) and a Board Member of Nashville’s Center for Entrepreneurship.  He is also a strategic advisor to a variety of healthcare firms and venture funds involved in healthcare start-ups. Michael received his undergraduate degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Mississippi Medical Center and his Masters Degree in Business Administration from Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee. He completed his Doctoral Degree in Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina. Michael has over 25 years experience in healthcare and is a frequent National speaker on strategy and entrepreneurial thinking.  He resides in Brentwood, TN. The Rotary Club of Nashville PO Box 110102 Nashville, TN 37204 (615) 781-2700 suzanne@nashvillerotary.org dana@nashvillerotary.org Content Copyright © 2005-2010 Rotary Club of Nashville, Tennessee USA. News 2010-07-16T20:28:33+00:00 http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/nashville-entrepreneur-center-names-michael-burcham-as-president/ http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/nashville-entrepreneur-center-names-michael-burcham-as-president/#When:13:30:00Z Nashville Entrepreneur Center names Michael Burcham as President The Tennessean By Bonna Johnson May 13, 2010 A local entrepreneur and former health-care executive who is now a faculty member at Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management has been named president of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. Michael R. Burcham will take over the reins of the new center on July 5, once his responsibilities at Vanderbilt wind down, said Joe Kustelski, spokesman for the center. Burcham, who has been on the group’s board, will lead the center as it assembles a staff and budget and works to find a physical location for the center. He also will be implementing a “100-day” plan, Kustelski said. “The creative energy and business talent in this city is just amazing,” Burcham said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the people of this great community to help turn ideas into successful businesses.” Burcham is a clinical faculty member at Owen, where he teaches entrepreneur classes and helps lead the Summer Business Institute, a month long program for college students and recent graduates. “Under his leadership, we are confident the Entrepreneur Center will be a strong catalyst for activity in our city,” said the Entrepreneur Center’s chairman, Clayton McWhorter, founder of Clayton Associates LLC. Formerly, Burcham was president of ParadigmHealth, an integrator of disease and care management solutions, from 2001 to 2007; professor of managerial studies at Vanderbilt University from 2003 to 2007; president of Theraphysics Corp. from 1993 to 2001; vice president of managed care at HCA Centennial Medical Center from 1987 to 1992; and a regional coordinator of physical therapy services at National HealthCorp LP from 1983 to 1987. He received a doctorate in health administration from the Medical University of South Carolina, a master’s in business administration from Belmont University and a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. “Michael’s experience and passion for entrepreneurship brings new energy and a credible voice to help lead this charge,” said board member Mike Shmerling, chairman of Choice Food Group and XMi Holdings Inc. Reach Bonna Johnson at 726-5990 or bjohnson@tennessean.com. Copyright © 2010 The Tennessean. All rights reserved. News 2010-07-04T13:30:00+00:00 http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/mayor-karl-dean/ http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/mayor-karl-dean/#When:00:11:46Z Karl Dean is the Mayor of Nashville, and a big advocate of entrepreneurship.  And NOT just because it’s part of his job.  Listen to his encouraging words on why Nashville is such a great place for entrepreneurs, not only now, but also heading into the future. Karl Dean from Nashville Entrepreneur Center on Vimeo. People 2010-06-29T00:11:46+00:00 http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/michael-burcham-president-ceo/ http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/michael-burcham-president-ceo/#When:16:28:44Z 2010-06-26T16:28:44+00:00 http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/arnie-malham-of-cj-advertising/ http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/arnie-malham-of-cj-advertising/#When:00:44:40Z Arnie Malham has grown his marketing and advertising agency CJ Advertising from a husband and wife “upstairs operation” to a 75 person company serving law firms all over the country.  Listen to Arnie’s entertaining story of how he started and built his thriving business in Nashville. Arnie Malham from Nashville Entrepreneur Center on Vimeo. 2010-06-26T00:44:40+00:00 http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/jason-moore-of-bigwebapps/ http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/jason-moore-of-bigwebapps/#When:01:16:39Z Jason Moore started a Blow Pop enterprise back in high school, and ran the company successfully until he was shut down by school authorities.  He wisely complied, avoiding suspension, and has gone on to start bigWebApps, a software company providing a friendly help desk solution.  Hear Jason’s take on why he decided to move his company, and family, to Nashville. Jason Moore from Nashville Entrepreneur Center on Vimeo. 2010-06-25T01:16:39+00:00 http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/ron-samuels-of-avenue-bank/ http://entrepreneurcenter.com/blog/ron-samuels-of-avenue-bank/#When:22:05:39Z What would you call an entrepreneur if they managed to successfully raise $75 Million to start a venture?  What if they successfully navigated the regulatory approval process required to open a new bank?  (Hint) Did you happen to notice that the word “success” is in both of the last two sentences?  Our featured entrepreneur of the week Ron Samuels has done both of these things, and is the Chairman, President & CEO of his successful 48 person company Avenue Bank.  Ron Samuels from Nashville Entrepreneur Center on Vimeo. People 2010-06-24T22:05:39+00:00