This morning I had the opportunity to speak about 400 community college educators, administrators, and Presidents at the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship Annual Conference at the Disney Coronado Resort in Orlando.

The message I shared with the audience today is that innovation happens one person at a time--and that strong communities are critical to providing the conditions neccessary to create motivated, passionate, and driven individuals who can go on to create econonic vitality and in turn even stronger communities.

In the speech, I shared two of my core philisophical beliefs--beliefs in equality of oppportunity and the ability for anyone to create--two rights that are not at all guaranteed in most places of the world.

While equality of opportunity and the ability for anyone at any level to be able create as an artistic, commercial, or social entrepreneur aren't perfect here in the U.S., we are at least working toward those ideals--ideals that Community Colleges play a huge role in making possible.

Finally, I shared a personal story of going from a disillusioned fifteen year old with red hair to a motivated passionate individual at 18--to a job creating, community-engaged entrepreneur at 22. In telling this story I mentioned the many organizations that helped me along the way including Kiwanis, SBA, CEO, YEO, SCORE, NC SBTDC, Kenan-Flagler, CED, LeadAmerica, Junior Achievement, The Kauffman Foundation, and The Coleman Foundation.

Growing up the son of a priest who later became a Chaplain at Manatee Community College here in Florida, I know first hand the quality work community and technical colleges do within communities--and I'm glad to be with a group of people that is leading that work here today.