Why is this concept needed today? 

1. New Leaders:  The need for effective, ethical leaders is everywhere, in every organization and in every community.   We believe that the most significant leadership problem today is selfish, ego-centric thinking.  Our society has become very self-focused, too often cynical and convinced that winning is everything.  We disagree with those who say nothing can be done.  Entrepreneurs need character development as much as business planning.   The Institute picks-up where business schools leave off by helping people integrate head and heart. 
2. New Ventures:  It’s widely known that the majority of start-up businesses fail when going it on their own.  The Lab will help create a new kind of venture that diminishes many of the causes of failure through elements such as business coaching, leadership development, team building and personal development.   Also, these new ventures will have access to capital through the introduction to funding sources, including angel investors, venture capitalists and private investors, all needed by virtually every new business.
3. Economic Growth:  The Vail Valley’s economy is stagnant and needs diversification.    Small businesses will drive the creation of good jobs.  This in turn will allow young leaders to build families and homes that will create a vibrant community for the long term.  

What other incubators are you drawing from?
 

1. Our idea builds on the TechStars business model by blending successful people with good thinking and financial resources in a collaborative workspace.   But the Leaders Lab is differentiated from other incubator-accelerators by the addition of our proven, small group leadership development curriculum and process. 

Who will be involved?
 

1. Investors, Mentors & Speakers:  Experienced business and organizational leaders who make themselves available to speak and meet with entrepreneurs.   These people will represent specialties such as marketing and branding, legal, financial, insurance, and many others.   The engagement of these executives is a huge asset toward building successful businesses.
2. Leadership Coaches:  Experienced business and executive coaches trained and certified by the Institute will guide each group in weekly meetings.
3. Preferred Providers:  Sponsors of the Lab making their services available to participants at favorable rates.  This category will also include utilities, banks and other community-oriented organizations that benefit from economic expansion.

What is the curriculum?

1. Inside First™:  This thinking is the dimension that makes the Leaders Lab different.   The Institute has spent (15) years developing and improving a leadership and character development process that integrates head and heart – intelligence and emotion.
2. Character Development:  We define the Inside First framework as a process that starts within, clarifying purpose, values and beliefs that differentiate our character, and then emanates outward, advanced by the skills of visioning and planning to guide our actions and relationships.  Inside First leadership has resonance with many similar approaches, including values-based leadership, servant-leadership, and more.  This philosophy continues to evolve in a multiple thought-leader, open source fashion guided by our Board of Scholars.
3. Business Planning Curriculum:  Woven into the experience are various business planning modules from strategy to organizational structures to financial modeling and more, drawn in part from The Alignment Model.  This a collaborative leadership model aligning an organization from values and purpose through strategy, execution, metrics and action plans.  The Institute will also weave-in the business planning curriculum from the Kauffman Foundation called FastTrac.
4. Small Peer Group Format:  Participants in the Lab benefit from their small group of non-competing entrepreneurs who walk together through the RoundTable  program.  This peer learning approach draws much from YPO Forums and Vistage Groups. 

What kind of companies will be attracted to the Leaders Lab?
 

1. The Fund will attract applicants in high margin businesses in three industry disciplines determined by the Institute in conjunction with the investors.  The initial industries may include; Recreation & Tourism, Health & Wellness, and Education & Learning.   These are the categories that Eagle County has selected in its Economic Development Plan.  Other industry categories like CleanTech and Energy will also be considered, as well as selected high-potential non-profit social entrepreneurial concepts.  The Institute believes that technology will be a significant means of virtually every idea, and thus has planned for a significant technology infrastructure in the space.    

Who has been involved in the development of the Lab?

1. Bob Vanourek: Retired CEO – Sensormatic, Inc.; Chairman Emeritus – Vail Leadership Institute 
2. Tom Washing:  Senior Partner – Sequel Ventures Partners; Chairman – Vail Mountain School
3. Dick Gyde: Retired CEO – Cornerstone Brands, Inc.; Chairman – Vail Christian High School
4. Rob Sperberg:  Attorney at Law
5. Jack Hunn:  Construction Consultant; former Project Manager – Vail Resorts
6. Art Currier:  Principal – Currier Designs; Founder & Trustee – Vail Leadership Institute
7. John Hostetter: Regional President – Wells Fargo Bank – Avon, Colorado
8. Bob Nolan: Principal – Financial Horizons; former Ford Motor Company financial executive
9. David White: Principal – Creekside Capital, Inc.
10. Pete Frechette: Chairman – Patterson Companies, Inc.
11. Sara Fahrney: Owner – Vail Tax & Accounting
12. Mat Juechter:  Chairman – Vail Leadership Institute; former Presiden – Wilson Learning Corporation
13. Dustin Kelley:  Adjunct Faculty – Vail Leadership Institute

When will the Lab open?

1. The major start-up activity for the Leaders Lab will take place between October 2011 and March 2012.  The facility will open to the first groups in mid-2012.

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to call John Horan-Kates at 970-926-7800