The Center for Productive Longevity (CPL), which serves as the bridge between people 55 and older and opportunities that enable them to continue in productive activities, has just increased its maximum number of participants from 125 to 150 because the topic has such fundamental importance, with unemployment high and economic growth low for the foreseeable future.

“New-business creation is the backbone of the U.S. economy, as well as the engine for increased employment and economic growth,” said William Zinke, President of CPL.

The meeting at Babson College on September 14, titled “Spotlight on Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Baby Boomers,” has an outstanding line-up of speakers:

• Leonard Schlesinger, the 12th President of Babson College since July 1, 2008; previously in executive positions with Limited Brands from 1999-2007, most recently as Vice Chairman & CEO; Executive Vice President & COO at An Bon Pain from 1985-1988; previously at Harvard Business School for 20 years, where he served as the George Fisher Baker, Jr. Professor of Business Administration.

• Ralph Sorenson, President Emeritus of Babson College (1974 to 1981) and founder of its Center for Entrepreneurship in 1978; Professor Emeritus and former Dean, University of Colorado Business School (1992-present); former Chairman & CEO, Barry Wright Company (1981-1989); Director of Whole Foods Market, Inc. since 1994.

• Douglas Rauch, a founder of Trader Joe’s and with the company for 31 years, primarily as President & CEO of a nationally-acclaimed retail success story; senior fellow at Harvard in the school’s Advanced Leadership Initiative; executive partner at AptaCapital; chair of the WBUR Board of Overseers and works with a number of entrepreneurial startups.

• David Egan, business founder and turnaround strategist. He co-founded THINQ Learning Solutions, an e-learning management software company that achieved a peak market valuation of $250 million and was later successfully sold. He then co-founded LanguageCorps, a specialty seminar company that trains, certifies, places and supports English teachers in Asian and Central American schools. He has also spent 20 years starting and turning around publications in the communications and computer markets for major companies like McGraw-Hill and Ziff Davis Publishing.

• Irene Costello, co-founder of Effie’s Homemade, which has created and marketed since 2007 a line of all-natural rustic baked goods. Effie’s Homemade products are made in the USA and sold in specialty stores nationwide.

There will be two breakout sessions focused on how to become an entrepreneur, with topics ranging from the risks and rewards to developing strategies for recognizing potential business opportunities to developing a business plan.

With 30 years added to longevity during the 20^th century and the average age of retirement at 62, new-business creation is an important path to consider for older people who either want or need to continue working. It provides an opportunity for people with experience, expertise, seasoned judgment, proven performance and some accumulated wisdom to be their own boss and “march to their own drummer.”

Additional meetings will be held at Northwestern University/Kellogg School of Management in Chicago on October 11, and the University of Denver-University College on November 15. One goal of these four meetings in different parts of the country is to contribute to the growing wave of entrepreneurship throughout the U.S. For more information on CPL and the senior entrepreneurship meetings, visit www.ctrpl.org or Facebook at www.facebook.com/CTRPL.