Local Executive Completes Incubator Management Certificate Program

FRISCO, TX - February 26, 2009  ---  The North Texas Enterprise Center for Medical Technology (NTEC), a business accelerator for medical device and healthcare related technology firms, announced today Larry W. Calton, Executive Director of NTEC for Technology, Inc. ("NTEC"), in Frisco, Texas, recently completed the National Business Incubation Association's Incubator Management Certificate Program.

            NBIA launched its certificate program in February 2007 to provide incubator executives with a comprehensive and practical overview of the tasks and responsibilities of managing a business incubation program. The program is designed to enhance managers' skills and to provide them with opportunities to gain ideas for building stronger relationships with key constituents, providing effective client services, ensuring incubator sustainability and more. 

            Although the certificate program is not a professional designation, NBIA officials say that receiving a certificate is a mark of distinction verifying mastery of incubator governance, services and policies. "We thought it would be helpful for NBIA to establish a base of knowledge that every incubator manager should know, regardless of the type of incubator they run," said Tom Strodtbeck, NBIA director of events and training. "The certificate program is a way for people to track their progress in gaining that knowledge."

To receive a certificate, incubator managers must complete a total of 24 hours of training, including three full-day workshops designed specifically for the program and five elective 75-minute sessions offered at NBIA's annual conference. Workshops and sessions cover a range of topics, including incubator finances, strategic planning, graduation policies and procedures, client selection, and facilities management.

            Business incubation programs, such as NTEC, catalyze the process of starting and growing companies by providing entrepreneurs with the expertise, networks and tools they need to make their ventures successful. NBIA estimates that in 2005 alone, North American incubators assisted more than 27,000 start-up companies that provided full-time employment for more than 100,000 workers and generated annual revenue of more than $17 billion.

About NTEC

The North Texas Enterprise Center for Medical Technology (NTEC), a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization based in Frisco, Texas, was founded to assist entrepreneurs with the challenging task of starting and growing a new medical technology company that will add economic value, technology jobs and breakthrough healthcare product innovations to the area.  Founded in 2002, the Center provides a broad base of support to entrepreneurs both internally and through an extensive support network.  Operating as a business accelerator, NTEC's core mission is to identify, mentor and grow promising entrepreneurial medical technology companies, with special emphasis in the medical device and healthcare related information technology (IT) industries.  For more information visit NTEC at www.ntec-inc.org.

About National Business Incubation Association

The National Business Incubation Association is the world's leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship. It provides thousands of professionals with information, education, advocacy and networking resources to bring excellence to the process of assisting early-stage companies.

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