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E. Lawrence Kersten, PhD, to be Keynote Speaker at Venture Forum's 2010 Greater Richmond Companies to Watch |  |
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For Immediate Release Richmond, VA – August 27, 2009 – E. Lawrence Kersten, PhD, founder of Despair, Inc. and the creative mind behind products such as the Demotivators calendar and the Pessimist’s Mug, which cheerfully mock the motivational posters frequently seen on break room walls, will bring his signature brand of business humor to the Venture Forum’s 2010 Greater Richmond Companies to Watch on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at the Capital Ale House in downtown Richmond. Kersten, who holds a doctorate in organizational communication, started Despair in 1998. The company has grown into a global brand by spreading nervous laughter and guffaws throughout the business world. “People use our products as a form of subtle rebellion against institutional hypocrisy,” said Kersten in an interview with the Harvard Business Review. Troutman Sanders, LLP will again be the Presenting Sponsor; CIT Gap Fund and Cherry Bekaert & Holland, LLP have also signed on as event sponsors. The Venture Forum has a number of additional levels of event sponsorship available. For information on sponsorship, or to nominate your company or a client, visit the GRCTW website. ### |