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First Commerce presents $5,524 from new power forward speaker series to help FSU become “the entrepreneurial university”
(November 22, 2013) — First Commerce Credit Union helped usher E-Month (Entrepreneurship Month) out in much the same way it ushered it in – supporting entrepreneurship with the FSU College of Business.
First Commerce presented a check for $5,524 to the FSU College of Business from the proceeds of the first event in the Power Forward Speaker Series, which featured Barbara Corcoran of “Shark Tank” fame. Corcoran thrilled a sold-out crowd with the “rags to riches” story of her entrepreneurial journey at the event that helped kick-off E-Month on Nov. 6.
In his enthusiasm about the new speaker series and the goal for a portion of the proceeds, FSU President Eric Barron previously agreed to match the funds, bringing the total to $11,048. The check was presented at one of the last scheduled E-month events, The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship’s Progressive Luncheon at the University Center Club, where entrepreneurs shared firsthand knowledge and experience through intimate table discussions.
“As a local strong credit union for more than 70 years, we know small businesses are the backbone of our community,” said Cecilia Homison, CEO of First Commerce Credit Union. “As an emerging leader in business services, our goal for the Power Forward Speaker Series was to cultivate entrepreneurism in our community by keeping our business leaders inspired and generating funds to help develop our next generation of entrepreneurs.”
“We are pleased to partner with First Commerce on the Power Forward Speaker Series, which fits in perfectly with our mission to become The Entrepreneurial University,” said Caryn
L. Beck-Dudley, dean of the Florida State University College of Business. “We are particularly grateful to First Commerce for taking the series a step further by investing in the education of entrepreneurship students and providing this gift of encouragement to help bring their big ideas to light.”
FCCU presents FSU College of Business with check for proceeds of Power Forward event
The inaugural speaker of the series, Barbara Corcoran, parlayed a $1,000 loan to start The Corcoran Group into a $5-billion real estate business, which she sold in 2001 for $66 million. She is a star on ABC’s entrepreneurial reality hit, “Shark Tank,” and the real estate contributor for NBC’s “TODAY” Show. In the first four seasons of “Shark Tank,” Barbara invested in 31 young businesses that she’s shepherding to success. She has also written several national best-selling books including “Shark Tales,” and “If You Don’t Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons on Your Pigtails.”
Power Forward with Barbara Corcoran was presented by First Commerce Credit Union and the FSU College of Business. Other sponsors included The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, Proctor University, DeVoe L. Moore, Summit Group, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
GMC/Buick/Cadillac/Chevrolet, and Leon County Government.
For more information about the Power Forward Speaker Series and announcements about future speakers, visit www.FirstCommerceCU.org .
About First Commerce Credit Union
Headquartered in Tallahassee, First Commerce Credit Union has proudly supported its community for more than 70 years and currently serves more than 40,000 business and consumer members. First Commerce is a full-service financial institution with eight financial centers – six in Tallahassee, one office in Marianna, and one in Thomasville, Ga. Business products and services include SBA and 504 loans, lines of credit, commercial mortgages, vehicle and equipment loans, free business checking, business BillPay, real-time instant account alerts, and more. Consumer products include free checking, free interest-bearing checking, mortgages, auto loans, and much more. For more information, visit FirstCommerceCU.org/Business or call (850) 488-0035.
FCCU is federally insured by the NCUA and is an equal opportunity lender.
About the Florida State College of Business
Founded in 1950, the College of Business is one of the nation’s youngest business schools, yet it has become one of the 10 largest with more than 5,800 students. The college boasts a distinguished faculty of 133 full-time faculty members.
Accredited by the AACSB, the college offers nine undergraduate degrees with 13 majors, and the graduate program offers six master’s degree programs and seven majors at the doctoral level. These academic majors are available through the college’s seven departments, which include Accounting; Dedman School of Hospitality; Entrepreneurship, Strategy & Information Systems; Finance; Management; Marketing; and Risk Management/Insurance, Real Estate & Legal Studies.
The college also is home to 11 research institutes and centers. For more information, visit business.fsu.edu.