TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship held its first full day of classes for the EBV Accelerate Program yesterday at the Jim Moran Building in downtown Tallahassee.

The day began with a brief introduction by Randy Blass, executive director of the Jim Moran Institute, before the class participated in the Growth Challenge facilitated by Doug Tatum, an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship. The Growth Challenge is an exercise designed to get the class to evaluate different decisions a company would face during the growth process. Participants were split into three groups and each were given a different company and scenario to examine before making a decision on how that company would pursue its growth trajectory. After sharing their decisions with their classmates, Tatum explained to the class how each scenario would turn out better or worse if the groups had made different decisions.

The class also participated in a CEO Peer2Peer Group facilitated by Mike Campbell, Director of North Florida Operations for the Jim Moran Institute. Peer2Peer Groups provide a structured and confidential environment for executives to share best practices and resolve their business challenges. The process is simple: a class member shares an issue they are facing in their business and the rest of the class can only respond if they have had the same issue. Only real life situations can be used, advice is strictly prohibited.

The day concluded with a dinner at the University Center Club in Doak Campbell Stadium. Class members were joined by industry experts throughout the evening who shared advice on managing growth, improving media relations and retaining top talent. EBV Accelerate will continue throughout the week and is schedule to end Friday, October 26.

For questions about EBV Accelerate please contact Lindsey Peppers, EBV program coordinator, at lpeppers@jimmoraninstitute.fsu.edu or at 850-644-7896.

About the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship
The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship cultivates, trains and inspires entrepreneurial leaders through world-class executive education, applied training, public recognition and leading-edge research. Jim Moran was an automotive pioneer and an entrepreneur at heart, who at the age of 7, sold soda pop at sandlot baseball games in Chicago. With a career that spanned more than six decades, he built an amazing chronicle of achievements in the automobile industry. His vision for the Jim Moran Institute was to provide opportunities that would help others become more successful business owners. A 1995 contribution from Jim and Jan Moran and JM Family Enterprises established the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at the Florida State University College of Business. Since 2011, further enhancements to the Jim Moran Institute and its outreach have been made possible by Jan Moran and The Jim Moran Foundation.

About the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans Accelerate (EBV Accelerate)
The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans Accelerate is a first-of-its-kind initiative that equips veteran business owners with the tools and coaching needed to sustain growth. Delivered by Florida State University and Louisiana State University, in partnership with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University, EBV Accelerate is among IVMF's Arsenal of programs designed to meet veterans wherever they are on their entrepreneurial journey. The program leverages the skills, resources and infrastructure of higher education to offer cutting-edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans and transitioning service members. Assistance from the US..S Small Business Administration (SBA), corporate partners and donors allows participants to attend the program at no cost. For more information, visit ebv.vets.syr.edu.