SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
(INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev.) – Sierra Nevada College served as host and education center for 6 African business people participating in a one-week leadership academy in early October. This exchange is an evolution from the Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) previously funded by a United States State Department and continues to build on the partnership with the Northern Nevada International Center (NNIC), Evo Media and IBA Global of South Africa. Over the past two years, over 25 aspiring entrepreneurs from South Africa have taken coursework through the college and completed six-week internships with local businesses in the Reno-Tahoe area. Upon returning to Africa, participants have expanded or started new businesses creating 6,824 new jobs throughout the country.
Business Department Chair and Continuing Education Dean, Rick Normington stated, “Several nations from sub-Saharan Africa have designated funding to continue, expand and enhance our joint program because they have seen such measurable success.” In addition to continuing the original YEP program, which will hold its third cohort in Spring 2012, the expanded program includes a leadership boot camp and sponsorship for 10 International Business Academy graduates to continue intensive business study for a semester at the college. The first leadership boot camp was held October 10-14, 2011. The college plans to hold these seminar-based training sessions on a quarterly basis. The next exchange cohort begins utilizing the college online classes in November and will arrive at the Lake Tahoe campus in February 2012 to begin their six-week internship and seminar program.
While the college provides opportunities and educational resources here and online, the funds and applications are administered by the International Business Academy (IBA Global) in South Africa lead by Emiley Vollmer. Vollmer reported that IBA Global received over 19,000 applications for the Spring YEP Cohort. “The YEP program has some amazing statistics we are proudly sharing with the world based on (our) survey. 6,824 jobs created, R76 million funds ($ 9.62 million USD) secured for YEP candidates, 14 business contracts and agreements signed with YEP candidates. This is what the country is so proud of and the exposure for the program is massive. The US contribution to the growth of the economy is enormous and our government organizations would like to honor the United States State Department.” Vollmer herself is a respected entrepreneur having received the International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge Award in 2010, and the African Woman Leadership Award in 2011.
For more information on the program, please contact Sierra Nevada College Professor Rick Normington or IBA Global President Emiley Vollmer.
Sierra Nevada College is a private liberal arts college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees with locations in Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, Reno and online. The interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizes entrepreneurial thinking, professional preparedness and sustainability. To learn more about Sierra Nevada College, call 775.831.1314 or visit www.sierranevada.edu
