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Research Park at Florida Atlantic University’s Christine Burres Named One of 20 First Incubator Managers in the World BOCA RATON, FL — April 5, 2016 — Christine Burres, director of operations for the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University, has recently joined an exclusive group of certified incubation managers certified online — 20 to date in the world — by earning the International Business Innovation Association’s (InBIA) Business Incubation Management (BIM) Certificate. The online certification program is new to InBIA’s certificate curriculum, with Burres one of the first to receive certification with the new platform. “This is an important moment for the Research Park’s Technology Business Incubator (TBI). To have a trained and certified incubator manager on-site will add value to the services our companies receive and improve the outcomes for our regional economy,” said Andrew Duffell, president and CEO of the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University. The BIM program is specifically designed for managers and professional staff of incubators, accelerators, co-working spaces, maker spaces and other entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs). The curriculum incorporates hands-on development and coaching with experiences of members who have built sustainable programs, case studies of diverse ESO models and emerging trends in the field. Specifically, the curriculum covers best practices in selecting and serving client companies, budgeting, sustainable revenue generation, facilities management and more. “The training gave a global perspective on how communities all over the world are building and growing environments that support innovation and entrepreneurship. I learned strategies on leveraging resources to assist companies, how to build my community, and how to conduct market analysis and feasibility studies when establishing or redesigning a program. In addition, the course also focused on finance and operations for successful programs, as well as facility design, safety and management,” said Burres. The Technology Business Incubator is designed to assist companies in the early stages of development. Currently, there are 19 tenants in the TBI at the Research Park. “Our recent company graduates demonstrate the success of the TBI program and of the enhancements that we continue to make. One of the key points I took away from this course is that each program must be unique to its environment in order to be successful. We continue to look for ways to improve the services and resources we provide to the companies in both the Research Park and the TBI in a customized way,” said Burres. InBIA is a leading global organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship. With more than 2,000 members across 60 nations, InBIA provides its members with information, education, policy recommendations, advocacy and networking resources to bring excellence to the process of assisting early-stage companies. Burres plans on taking what she learned to develop better support programs for the Research Park companies. One of the ideas being discussed is how to better identify opportunities for businesses in the Research Park to collaborate with TBI companies — whether it be that they have similar interests and can work together in a mutually beneficial relationship, or perhaps on a B2B service basis depending on their needs.