BusinessWeek Editor Bruce Nussbaum to Co-Host Gathering of Nation's Top Innovation Talent

PROVIDENCE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Join BusinessWeek Assistant Managing Editor Bruce Nussbaum on October 15-16, 2008 in Providence, Rhode Island for the Business Innovation Factory’s BIF-4 Collaborative Innovation Summit. Nussbaum will be joined by co-host Bill Taylor, author of the New York Times bestseller Maverick’s at Work for a two-day session with more than two dozen innovators who bucked the system and found their own way to innovate.

Now in its fourth year, the BIF Summit has earned a national reputation for its unique storytelling approach to an event often described as more conversation than conference. BIF-4 storytellers have only 15 minutes on stage to share a personal story about how they turned an idea into an innovation. BIF doesn’t pay storytellers or hosts to participate—they come because they see the value in this unique convergence.

This year’s line-up includes:

• John Abele, leader of the Grunion expedition and the founder of Boston Scientific Corporation.
• Steve Bendt and Gary Koelling, founders of Best Buy’s Blue Shirt Nation
• Ruby Bridges, educator and activist and first African American child to desegregate an elementary school.
• Deborah Brooks, co-founder of the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
• Cathy Cloninger, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA
• Curt Columbus, Artistic Director of Trinity Rep
• Joseph F. Coughlin, founder of the MIT AgeLab.
• Marc Ecko, who heads a global lifestyle and entertainment empire.
• Jason Fried, founder and CEO of 37signals.
• Jeffrey Hollender, president and chief inspired protagonist of Seventh Generation.
• Tony Hsieh, CEO of online retailer Zappos.com.
• Cat Laine, Deputy Director of the Appropriate Infrastructure Group helps developing countries get affordable access to energy, sanitation and clean water.
• Jacqueline Novogratz, founder of Acumen Fund, uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve problems of global poverty.
• Lewis Gordon Pugh, explorer, environmentalist and first person to undertake a long distance swim at the North Pole.
• Richard Satava, visionary surgeon who co-developed the first surgical robot.
• Clay Shirky, writer on the social and economic effects of Internet technologies.
• John Wolpert, former head of IBM’s Extreme Blue business innovation incubator.
• Richard Saul Wurman, Author and information architect now is working on “19.20.21”--an attempt to standardize information about 19 cities that will reach 20 million inhabitants in the 21st century.
• David R. Yaun, VP of Corporate Communications for IBM and director of IBM’s innovation and technology leadership programs.

“I’m looking forward to co-hosting BIF-4,” says Nussbaum. “The Collaborative Innovation Summit brings together a diverse line up of original thinkers to share stories in an intimate way – stories that are personal but have deep business value, too. BIF-4 will surely be memorable for all who attend — storytellers and participants alike.”

In 2007, the sold out BIF-3 Summit hosted participants from 174 organizations, 65 percent of whom were CEOs, presidents, founders or senior leaders within their organizations.

“The BIF Collaborative Innovation Summit is my favorite event of the year,” says Taylor, who is reprising his role as BIF Summit co-host. “By replacing canned presentations with something personal, the summit successfully weaves together multiple voices from very different disciplines in a very provocative way. It’s a pleasure to be part of this unique experience again.”

BIF-4 is limited to 300 participants, making the Summit one of the most intimate events of its kind.

Get the full list of storytellers, more information on registration and details at www.businessinnovationfactory.com/bif-4.