Claflin University to Host International Conference on Entrepreneurship on April 11-13

Claflin University will host an International Conference on Environmentally Sustainable Entrepreneurship on April 11-13, in Ministers' Hall. The conference is a joint venture between Claflin and the University of Calcutta, one of India's oldest research universities.

The theme of this year's conference is "Women Eco-Entrepreneurs Across the World."  The conference is supported by a grant from the US-India 21st Century Knowledge Initiative (USIEF) awarded to Claflin and University of Calcutta, India. The sessions are free and open to the public. The purpose of the conference is promote research and public awareness about the environmentally friendly small and micro-business programs and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in the United States and internationally.

Mrs. Hema Patel, CEO, Courtesy Management Inc., will be the keynote speaker for the conference luncheon on April 12.  Courtesy Management Inc. is a hospitality company that manages and develops hotels in South Carolina.  Patel was named the 2013 South Carolina Hotelier of the Year by the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association.  Following a career first in biochemical research and later a 14-year teaching career, Patel began the pursuit of a lifelong passion for entrepreneurship with her husband. She soon established herself as one of the first leading female South Asian hoteliers in the United States.

Tickets to the luncheon are $15 per person and must be reserved by 4 p.m. on April 7.  Reservations can be made by contacting Dr. Harpal Grewal (803-479-8906/ hgrewal@claflin.edu). Harpal can also be contacted for more details on the conference.

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