The 5th Corporate Partner Firm for Accelerator 2009: Nashville Chamber of Commerce

I'm happy to announce that the The 5th Corporate Partner Firm for Accelerator 2009 is the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.

Nashville is consistently ranked one of the most entrepreneurial cities by Entrepreneur Magazine. The reality is that the necessary resources are not readily available to entrepreneurial individuals and new firms – the city has a very informal network. There’s no real connecting place – to meet, to secure capital, to find resources, tools, etc. Outside of our immediate area, Nashville is not known as an “Entrepreneurial Hotbed” – which is an obstacle – particularly for technology companies who are looking to raise capital.

The Challenge for the Accelerator teams: How should one brand Nashville as a creative and entrepreneurial city and as an Entrepreneurial Leader (as it really is)? How do we develop this identity that leverages the “Music City” brand without harming the investment in the “music city” image?

About The Nashville Chamber of Commerce:

The Nashville Chamber is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating community leadership to create economic prosperity. The Nashville Area Chamber is Middle Tennessee's largest business federation, representing more than 2,500 businesses in 10 counties (Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery, Cheatham, Robertson, Wilson, Sumner, Williamson, Rutherford and Maury). Through a wide variety of programs and initiatives, the Chamber works to positively impact the economic vitality and enhance the quality of life in the region, while supporting the growth and prosperity of Chamber-member businesses.

Video Gaming Technologies to Partner with Accelerator 2009

The 4th Corporate Partner firm announced for the 2009 Summer Business Institute at Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Management is Video Gaming Technologies, Inc. We're delighted to have this outstanding company a part of Accelerator 2009.

VGT is providing an opportunity for our Accelerator participants to design an interactive game that would involve multi-site players and would potentially be integrated with a TV show or Movie. Expect this particular project to be a combination of creative design, engineering, consumer adoption, and competitive fun.

About VGT:

In business since 1991, VGT has more than twenty years experience and a proven track record to Class II gaming. Led by it’s founder, Jon Yarbrough, VGT has provided quality games in markets throughout the United States.

Driven by innovation, VGT’s accomplishments continue to set the standard in the competitive Class II and Skill-based markets. VGT has created exciting game titles that generate intense customer loyalty and record-setting gaming revenues.

3rd Corporate Partner for 2009 Announced: Arrington Vineyards

The 3rd Corporate Partner firm announced for the 2009 Summer Business Institute is Arrington Vineyards. This will be a fantastic opportunity for Accelerator participants to get an immersion in the business of wine production while helping develop a space and logistics plan for this rapidly growing enterprise.

About Arrington Vineyards:

Arrington Vineyards was founded in 2005 by country artist Kix Brooks, businessman Fred Mindermann and winemaker Kip Summers. The vineyards were expanded in 2005 and 2006 – meanwhile – Arrington Vineyards worked with Williamson County in creating a whole new class of county zoning that would allow the winery to have a retail store. The first two vintages of wine (2005 and 2006) were made by Kip at Beachaven Winery in Clarksville, TN where he was winemaker for 13 years. Construction on the Arrington winery began in late 2006.

By April 2007, the winery was officially licensed and the wine and equipment was moved in. Bottling of the first vintage began in June 2007. Arrington Vineyards opened for retail sales on July 1, 2007. A “Grand Opening” was held on August 14, 2007 - which included a concert by Pat McLaughlin. By the fall of 2007, it became apparent that Arrington Vineyards was quickly establishing itself as a first class operation – winning “Best of Show” at the Wines of the South competition for its Syrah and quickly selling out of most of its 2005 vintage wines in a few months.In 2008, Arrington Vineyards continued to expand its vineyards and distribution.

AV wines have been featured in NYC, New Orleans, and at fine wine shops in Oregon and Tennessee.

This summer, our Accelerator teams will complete a space and logistics plan for Arrington Vineyards for it’s next phase of growth.

Sony Music Entertainment to Partner with Accelerator 2009

The 2nd Corporate Partner firm announced for the 2009 Summer Business Institute at Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Management is Sony Music Entertainment. We're delighted to have this outstanding company a part of Accelerator 2009.

The Sony Music team has provided an opportunity for Accelerator participants to get an understanding of the "business" of music. Expect this particular project to be a combination of extreme learning, fun, an overall "wow" experience (in true Sony Style).

About Sony Music:

Sony Music is headquartered in New York, NY with a significant regional office in Nashville, TN. Sony’s focus is on recorded-music operations, and Sony Music’s relationship with artists is at the core of the company. Sony’s focus is on developing music talent, finding new repertoire, helping established artists branch out in new areas, and exploring new avenues to promote and market music. Sony Music builds music brands.Sony Music includes Arista Records, Bluebird Jazz, BNA Records, Burgundy Records, Columbia Records, Epic Records, J Records, Jive Records, LaFace Records, Legacy Recordings, Provident Label Group, RCA Records, RCA Victor, Masterworks, US Latin, Verity Records and Windham Hill.

Expect this particular project to be a combination of extreme learning, fun, an overall "wow" experience (in true Sony Style).

1st Corporate Partner for 2009 Announced: Coca-Cola Enterprises

The 1st Corporate Partner firm announced for 2009 Summer Business Institute is Coca-Cola Enterprises. First listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1986 (NYSE: CCE), the company’s roots go back to the birth of the Coca-Cola bottling business in the 19th century. Today, Coca-Cola Enterprises serve a population of 419 million, representing approximately 81percent of the people in North America and the entire populations of Belgium, continental France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Monaco and the Netherlands. In 2008, Coca-Cola distributed 2 billion physical cases, equivalent to 42 billion bottles and cans and representing over $21 billion in annual revenues.

Coca-Cola has taken steps to improve the company’s carbon footprint in an effort to make a positive impact on the community. Coca-Cola has developed a multi faceted Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CRS) program to address things like: education, balanced living, community, product innovation, recycling, water conservation, and climate protection. Coca-Cola has begun working with consumer advocate groups and the U.S. government to address the problem of childhood obesity in U.S. schools. The Coca-Cola system has worked with these groups and the government to remove full calorie soft drinks in favor of low calorie alternate beverages.

This summer, our Accelerator teams will complete a strategic analysis for Coca-Cola surrounding the company’s CSR program. Stay tuned…

Welcome to Accelerator 2009

Welcome to Accelerator 2009. This year’s Summer Business Institute will begin on Friday, May 29th and will run through Friday, June 26th. Accelerator is an intensive immersion in business designed exclusively for undergraduates and recent grads in all majors. In four fast-paced weeks at the Owen Graduate School of Management some of the top young minds from around the globe are immersed in real-world consulting roles for companies, helping to solve issues in marketing, logistics, finance, operations and branding. Within a competitive team structure and with a "grab it and go" education from world-class Vanderbilt faculty, these students are challenged to deliver the best solutions possible for these businesses, and in doing do, shape their careers in ways that a traditional internship simply cannot come close to replicating.

Students who choose Vanderbilt's Accelerator program get a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our 2009 Corporate Partners represent a diverse and expansive industry mix, propelling the students to learn business by doing business. You can learn more about Accelerator by visiting http://www.owen.vanderbilt.edu/accelerator.

Each day during the program, I will share our journey as these 80 young men and women are challenged to do more than they ever imagined.