Lisboa, 25 e 26 de Maio
Chris Curtis
Português
Chris Curtis iniciou a sua carreira de empreendedor na década de 70
ao ajudar um amigo a abrir uma loja de roupa. Mordido pelo bichinho do
empreendorismo, pouco tempo depois abriu ele próprio um restaurante e dois
franchisings próprios de donuts. Após vender estas operações bem
sucedidas, virou o seu rumo para a consultoria ajudando outros a
empreender.
O Centro para o Ensino e Desenvolvimento do Empreendorismo (CEED) surgiu
em 1995 através do empenho de Chris e do Departamento de Educação da Nova
Scotia mantendo-se este hoje ainda em funções. Como Director de
Empreendorismo do CEED, Chris acentua a sua actividade no incutir do
espírito empreendedor actuando como catalizador das seguintes áreas:
Ensino do Empreendorismo, Investigação e Criação de Programas,
Desenvolvimento Profissional e Empreendorismo Comunitário.
English
Chris Curtis got his first taste of
entrepreneurship in the 1970s when he helped a friend launch a clothing
store. Bitten by the bug, he soon followed by opening a restaurant and two
donut franchises of his own. After selling these successful operations, he
turned to helping othersCas an entrepreneurship consultant.
As President and Director of Operations for Junior Achievement of Mainland
Nova Scotia (1989B1992), he launched the Entrepreneurship Mentoring
Program. He went on to become an Entrepreneurship Consultant with the Nova
Scotia Department of Education where he designed and implemented programs
to develop entrepreneurship for grades 3 to 12. More than 25,000 students
participate in these programs annually and Entrepreneurship 12 is the most
popular elective in the province.
The Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development (CEED) was born
in 1995 through Chris’s work within the Department of Education and
remains today within the mandate of this department. As Chief
Entrepreneurship Officer of CEED, Chris manages this organization, which
is dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurship in young people by acting as a
catalyst in the areas of: Entrepreneurship Education; Research and Program
Design; Professional Development and Community Entrepreneurship.
Chris is focused on fostering the entrepreneurial spirit. He has advanced
the entrepreneurial culture, not just in the Atlantic region, but across
the country and worldwide. CEED has hosted visitors from across Canada,
the US, Sweden, Finland, Northern Island, Africa, the Caribbean and more.
Chris has been invited to speak and work in Europe, South America and the
US. He has been recognized by numerous organizations, including Global
Television’s Leading Edge, Royal Bank of Canada, the Hungarian and Slovak
Women Entrepreneurship Program, the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers,
the Rotary Club, the Canadian Banker’s Association and the Entrepreneur of
the Year Awards program.
In the past five years, Chris has spearheaded CEED=s growth from a staff
of six to 50. Over 30 projects have been developed and implemented by
CEED. These include the award-winning Break Into Business Camp, which
instils the entrepreneurial spirit in kids aged nine to 15; Open for
Business (OFB), an international network of youth-friendly walk-in centres
where staff help with the “how to’s” and “next steps” for anyone who wants
to start, improve or expand a business; and the Spirit of Entrepreneurship
Conference that attracts 500 people annually. CEED’s professional
development programs have been attended by educators and economic
developers from across the globe.