Young Engineers Forum at Congress to be a two-day event

Whether you're an engineering student looking to improve your interviewing and resume-writing skills, or an engineer seeking information on the future of the profession or on how to start your own company, this year's Young Engineers Forum at the Congress will have what you're looking for.

Traditionally a one-day event, the YEF at the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition will be a two-day program this year. The forum will be held Nov. 5–6 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels in Orlando, Fla.

The Young Engineers Forum provides professionals and students an opportunity to learn from experienced entrepreneurs and financial experts.

The first day of the forum, Saturday, Nov. 5, will consist of a workshop on entrepreneurship, "Swing for the Fences: Seed Investing for Entrepreneurs," which will be presented by the National Association of Seed Venture Funds.

The workshop, to be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., is an intensive one-day seminar designed to teach engineers about the investment process. During the session, you will learn the basics of pricing and structuring seed investments, and have the chance to meet and work with other entrepreneurs, financial advisers and seasoned investors. The seminar, which will focus on team-based approaches for making and managing investments, also will teach you how to attract the interest of and work with seed investors.

Workshop participants will also receive a manual of essential due diligence questions, an annotated bibliography of resources on seed investing, and a collection of articles on business planning and entrepreneurship. Registration for this seminar is $195 for ASME members, $395 for nonmembers.

The YEF program on Sunday, Nov. 6, will be divided into two tracks.

The first will address "Tips for Career Success: Refine Your Skills and Present Yourself Professionally." This seminar, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., will provide you with an opportunity to talk to industry leaders and entrepreneurs about the future of their industries, learn about some of the "soft" skills you didn't learn in engineering school, get tips on interviewing and networking, and find out about the ins and outs of starting your own business.

Registration for "Tips for Career Success" is $45 in advance, $50 onsite. Registration for the track also includes admission to an industry breakfast at 7 a.m., which will feature Richard Seline, CEO & Principal of New Economy Strategies Inc., speaking on the topic "Beyond Borders: A Systems Approach to Engineering." The breakfast is sponsored by ASME Solutions.

A second Sunday track, on the subject of entrepreneurship, will comprise sessions examining three topics - securing funding for small businesses, successful entrepreneurship, and technology-based economic development.

The first portion of the track, "How to Secure Funding: Making Sense of Small Business Innovation Research Program," from 8 to 9:15 a.m., will demonstrate how to navigate the highly competitive Small Business Innovation Research Program, which encourages small businesses to bring new technologies to the marketplace.

A panel session, "Successful Entrepreneurs: Lessons Learned" featuring a panel of experienced business owners, will follow from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. The third part of the track, "What Is 'Technology-Based Economic Development' and Why Is It Vital to Your Success," from 11 a.m. to noon, will show you how to recognize and promote successful TBED programs in your community.

Registration for the Entrepreneur Track, which also includes admission to the industry breakfast, is $125.

To find out more about the Young Engineers Forum at the Congress, visit www.asme.org/yef/events.html, or contact Cheryl Hasan, (212) 591-8239; e-mail hasanc@asme.org.

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