30TH ANNIVERSARY PHOTO GALLERY
The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship (JMI) at Florida State University’s Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship commemorated its 30th anniversary on April 13, marking three decades of fostering entrepreneurial success across Florida and beyond.
Having learned the hard way what it meant to operate a business when he first opened his Sinclair gas station in Chicago in 1939, Jim Moran wanted to support small business owners who were just like him with free resources and opportunities. In 1995, with a $1 million contribution to Florida State from Jim and Jan Moran and JM Family Enterprises, along with the help of Melvin Stith, dean of the FSU College of Business at that time, the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship was successfully launched. Further enhancements to JMI and its outreach were made possible in 2011 by Jan Moran and The Jim Moran Foundation and again in 2015 with a transformational gift to establish the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we honor Jim Moran’s enduring legacy and our continued mission to support and inspire entrepreneurs,” said Susan Fiorito, dean of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship. “Our programs are designed to help small business owners and nonprofit leaders work on their business rather than in their business, equipping them with the tools to grow and sustain their operations.”
The mission of the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship is to cultivate, train and inspire entrepreneurial leaders through world-class executive education, applied training, public recognition and leading-edge research. JMI currently operates through regional offices located in Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale.
JMI offers a suite of no-cost programs designed to empower small business owners, nonprofit leaders, veterans and aspiring entrepreneurs nationwide. These programs are tailored to accommodate busy schedules while providing practical tools and strategies to foster growth and resilience. Its flagship programs, including the Small Business Executive Program (SBEP) and Nonprofit Executive Program (NPEP), have empowered thousands of business leaders in Florida.
Small Business Executive Program (SBEP)
The SBEP is ideal for CEOs, entrepreneurs, business owners and presidents of small businesses. Through learning the Business Model Canvas, graduates emerge as stronger leaders, ready to capitalize on business opportunities, implement best practice management, and turn challenges into strategic advantages.
Nonprofit Executive Program (NPEP)
The NPEP is a world-class learning experience designed for CEOs, presidents, executive directors, and nonprofit leaders. Through learning the Lean Organizations Model, graduates of the program emerge as stronger leaders, ready to capitalize on opportunities and turn challenges into strategic advantages.
CEO Peer2Peer Groups
Exclusive to presidents and owners of established businesses, the CEO Peer2Peer Groups provide an avenue for sharing insights about challenging situations, topical issues, and solutions to problems with peers. These very structured and strategic groups consist of like-type, non-competing businesses.
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV)
The EBV program is designed to provide veterans with the skills and tools necessary to launch and grow successful businesses. It covers various aspects of entrepreneurship, including business concept development, market understanding, profit modeling, operations setup, marketing strategies, and financial literacy. The program emphasizes entrepreneurial thinking and resourcefulness, particularly for those with limited resources.
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans’ Families (EBV-F)
The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veteran’s Families (EBV-F) program is designed to take advantage of the skills, resources and infrastructure of higher education to offer cutting-edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management. The program leverages the flexibility inherent in small business ownership to provide a vocational path forward for military family members. EBV-F integrates training in entrepreneurship with caregiver and family issues, positioning participants to launch and grow a small business in a way that is complementary or enhancing to other family responsibilities.
Leon Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program (LEAP)
LEAP aims to foster the creation of new, profitable ventures by individuals facing economic or other disadvantages. It assists existing small businesses owned by disadvantaged individuals in becoming sustainable and growing. The program focuses on developing both the person as an entrepreneur and the business as a successful venture, sharing best practices in poverty alleviation through entrepreneurship.
Jim Moran Scholars
The Jim Moran Foundation, in partnership with Florida State University (FSU), annually recognizes up to two Jim Moran Scholars from South Florida and North Florida who are role models and have received admission to FSU with an identified financial barrier. Both Scholars receive a four-year, needs-based scholarship with funding provided through the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship.
In addition to its educational initiatives, JMI hosts the annual JMI Conference, a premier event that offers professional development and networking opportunities for business leaders. The conference features over 20 workshop sessions, dynamic keynote presentations and veteran-specific sessions, all designed to ignite strategic growth among attendees.
For more information about JMI and its programs, please visit jimmoraninstitute.fsu.edu.
About the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship
The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, housed in the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship at Florida State University, cultivates, trains and inspires entrepreneurial leaders through world-class executive education, applied training, public recognition and leading-edge research. The Jim Moran Institute comprises a dedicated team of entrepreneurship professionals, academic scholars and staff who foster the entrepreneurial spirit by helping to organize, expand and promote the knowledge and practice of entrepreneurship to facilitate new business and further the goals of established businesses.