For the 6th consecutive year Babson welcomed entrepreneurs from the Ron Brown Program in business development on October 15 – 22, 2005. The Ron Brown Program was launched by the International Fund for Ireland in 1996. The program is named for the late U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown. This seven-day program was designed specifically to foster economic growth and small business development in Northern Ireland and the border countries of Ireland. The goal of the program is to provide entrepreneurs from small- and medium-size businesses in these two regions with a short course in business development. Professor Anne Donnellon designed and led the one week program. The group of eleven entrepreneurs experienced intensive training in managing their firms and we are looking forward to hosting a group of active Ron Brown Alumni for the Advanced Ron Brown Program at Babson next April. The feedback from the participants was very positive. Below is a sampling of their comments:

“Excellent program. Don’t want to go home! I hope to translate some of these issues to my own business. Got me to think out of the box”!

 “I don’t think you can ever stop learning. The opportunity to interact and learn from others’ business and experiences was invaluable”.