The Immigrant Learning Center » Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Dinner FAQ
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Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards
Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Dinner?
A: The Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Dinner  is a reception, dinner and awards ceremony to honor outstanding immigrant entrepreneurs in Massachusetts. The evening is presented by The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. and the master of ceremonies is Richard A. Davey, Jr., ILC board trustee and secretary and CEO of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The  awards will honor outstanding Massachusetts immigrant entrepreneurs in three categories: outstanding business growth, neighborhood business, and science or technology business.

Q: When and where will the dinner be held?
A: The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. on May 9, 2012.
The event takes place at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, 40 Edwin Land Boulevard, Cambridge, MA 02142.

Q: Who can attend the Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Dinner?
A: Everyone is welcome to attend this special opportunity to honor Massachusetts’ outstanding immigrant entrepreneurs. To purchase tickets, click here.

Q: How much are tickets?
A: Individual tickets are $125 and a table of eight is $1,000. To purchase tickets, click here.

Q: What sponsorship opportunities are still available?
A: The sponsorship levels are as follows:

  • Dinner Sponsor, $10,000. Includes two tables of eight, full-page ad in the program book, reception, dinner, premium seating ($8,000 is tax-deductible).
  • Patron Sponsor, $5,000. Includes one table of eight, full-page ad in the program book, reception, dinner, premium seating ($4,000 is tax-deductible).
  • Gold Sponsor, $2,500. Includes four tickets, half-page ad in the program book, reception, dinner ($2,000 is tax-deductible).
  • Silver Sponsor, $1,000. Includes two tickets, half-page ad in the program book, reception, dinner ($750 is tax-deductible).
  • Friend of The ILC, any amount.  Includes a mention in the program book (100% is tax-deductible).

To sign-up to sponsor online, click here. Otherwise, contact Peggy Louden at plouden@ilctr.org.

 

Q: What is the nomination process?
A: Nomination forms are available in PDF form as follows:

Once completed, forms can be emailed to kglover@ilctr.org or printed and mailed to The ILC, 442 Main Street, Malden MA 02148.

Q: Who is eligible to be nominated?
A: For all award categories, nominees must:

  • Be a foreign-born founder of a business (for-profit corporation, partnership or proprietorship, not franchise or subsidiary) headquartered in Massachusetts.
  • Have founded the business in 2007 or earlier
  • Be actively involved in a senior management position or as a board member of said business.

For outstanding business growth  nominees:

  • Business must have achieved a minimum of $2 million in gross revenue in calendar year 2011.
  • Business must employ at least 10 full-time-equivalent employees.
  • Calendar year 2011 gross revenue must be at least 30 percent higher than calendar year 2009.

For outstanding neighborhood business nominees, the business must service neighborhood customers.  Businesses that also attract customers from outside their neighborhood are particularly desirable.

For outstanding science or technology business nominees:

  • Business must be in a science or technology industry.
  • Business must have achieved a minimum of $2 million in gross revenue in calendar year 2011 or have received a minimum of $2 million in outside investment in the past five years.
  • Business must employ at least 10 full-time-equivalent employees.

Q: What are full-time-equivalent employees?
A: The number of full-time-equivalent (or FTE) employees is equal to the equivalent number of full-time employees. One FTE is equivalent to one employee working full-time. For example, if you have 5 full-time employees and five part-time employees that work 20 hours a week each, you would have 7.5 FTE’s.

Q: What is gross revenue?
A: Gross revenue equals the all of the money received during a given time frame, before any deductions.

Q: Can I self nominate?
A: Absolutely! Self nominations are encouraged.

Q: Will my financial information be confidential?
A: Financial information will not be shared outside of the selection committee if the nominee requests confidentiality.

Q: What is the deadline for nominations?
A: Nomination forms must be received by email or postal mail by March 14, 2012.

Q: How are the awards judged?
A: A selection committee has been convened for each award category.  The committee will review each nomination and and select the winners among the nominees that meet the eligibility guidelines and are making the biggest impact.

The outstanding business growth award selection committee members are:

  • Marcia Hohn, Director, Public Education Institute at The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc.
  • Raymond Milano, Branch Manager, U.S. Small Business Administration
  • David Parker, Senior Program Manager, Merrimack Valley Sandbox
  • Andre Porter, Executive Director, Massachusetts Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Janet Strimaitis, Managing Director, Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, Babson College

The outstanding neighborhood business award selection committee members are:

  • Heather P. Boulger, Executive Director, Berkshire County Regional Employment Board, Inc.
  • Rodrigo Cerveira, Team Leader, ACCION USA New England
  • Marcia Hohn, Director, Public Education Institute at The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc.
  • Alison Moranta, Business Development Director, Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corp.
  • Theresa Park, Director of Economic Development, Lowell Office of Economic Development

The outstanding science or technology business award selection committee members are:

  • Abi Barrow, Director, Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center
  • George Donnelly, Editor, Boston Business Journal
  • Marcia Hohn, Director, Public Education Institute at The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc.
  • Tom Hopcroft, President & CEO, Mass Technology Leadership Council
  • Frank Hoy, Director, Collaborative for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Anna Voronova, Principal, AV Consulting, LLC (Biotech/Pharma Expert Consulting)

More questions? Contact info@ilctr.org.