Overcoming Barriers to Growth Topic of Nov. 15 Meeting in Sheridan

November 4, 2011

Sheridan business owners and entrepreneurs can learn about overcoming barriers to growth at this month's StartWest meeting from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Sheridan Holiday Inn.

Nels Paine, managing director of Paine Pacific in Portland, Ore., will be the guest speaker at the event, hosted by the Wyoming Technology Business Center (WTBC). Paine will discuss "Overcoming Barriers: From Concept To Company."

The WTBC looks for high growth companies with an emphasis on technology-related firms. While a few clients are still in the development phase, the emphasis is on finding good entrepreneurs who have the potential to grow and develop their own companies and who are close to taking a product or service to market. The WTBC operates a 30,000-square foot technology business incubator at the University of Wyoming.

Paine has a local connection to Sheridan and Wyoming. His great grandparents (Nels A. Pearson, president of the state Senate in 1935), grandparents (Gen. George O. Pearson, Sheridan Armory adorned with his name and contains his memorabilia) and mother (Mary Pearson Paine) all lived in Sheridan.

"We are excited to hear what Nels has to say about his experiences developing businesses as well as working on start-ups and turnarounds across multiple industries," says John Dick, WTBC assistant director. "This is a great opportunity for Wyoming entrepreneurs, small business owners and community members to get together and learn about some of the issues related to starting and growing a business."

Following the successful launch and subsequent sale of several companies in the software and medical device industries, Paine launched Paine Pacific in 1998 to apply his experience in operations, management and fundraising on the underserved emerging growth and middle market companies.  Today, Paine Pacific has evolved into a broad suite of strategic services around company growth objectives and has engaged more than 150 clients in 30 industries.

StartWest is an educational networking program designed to improve the climate for the start-up and growth of entrepreneurial companies. Five meetings are held each year where entrepreneurs meet with other entrepreneurs and business service providers. Participants share ideas and plans and many partnerships are formed.

For more information about the event or to RSVP, call Dick at (307) 766-6384 or visit www.uwyo.edu/wtbc.

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