The Council for Entrepreneurial Development's Venture 2007 Conference is an annual gathering for small companies seeking money and investors looking to hand it out.

This year's speakers include Marshall Phelps, deputy general counsel for intellectual property with Microsoft. A media panel, "Where is Venture Capital Headed?" will include Janet Babin, the Innovations Desk reporter with Marketplace; Michael Copeland, senior writer with Business 2.0; Joel Dreyfuss, editor-in-chief at Red Herring; and Tom Taulli, a columnist with Motley Fool and AOL.

The on-site registration fee is $700 for CED members and $850 for nonmembers. The conference begins Monday evening with an investor-only reception and dinner, with the main activities on Tuesday and Wednesday at Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, Duke University, Durham. For information, call 549-7500 or visit cednc.org/venture.

SEMINARS, CLASSES & EVENTS

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL FINANCIAL NETWORK BREAKFAST CLUB OF THE TRIANGLE: 7 to 9:30 a.m. today, RBC Center's Arena Club, Raleigh. Featuring Chief Richard Picciotto, the highest-ranking firefighter to survive the World Trade Center collapse, and author of "Last Man Down." For members and their guests. Contact: Penn Shore, 612-9458 or http://breakfastclubamerica.com.

UNC-CHAPEL HILL'S KENAN-FLAGLER BUSINESS SCHOOL: 3 p.m. today, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science, 111 Carroll Hall. Arthur Lipper III, investment banker, financier, management consultant, author and lecturer, will speak about "Royalties: The Better Way to Finance and Invest in Companies and Projects." Contact: http://sils.unc.edu/news/ releases/2007/03_lipper.htm or 962-8366.

PATHS TO CREATIVE RETIREMENT WORKSHOP: offered by the N.C. Center for Creative Retirement, today through Sunday, June 22-24 and Aug. 31-Sept. 2, NCCCR headquarters, Reuter Center, UNCA campus, Asheville. $750. Contact: www.pathstocreativeretirement.com or (828) 251-6140 or snodgras@unca.edu.

2007 SMALL BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS NOMINATIONS: Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations in three categories: fewer than 100 employees, one to five employees and nonprofit. Nominations are due today. More information is available at www.durhamchamber.org or call 682-2133.

CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER OF BETTERINVESTING: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Herbert Young Community Center, 101 Wilkinson Ave., Cary. Topic is "Update Portfolio Watch-List Stocks -- Ebay and BFAM." $5. Register: Sandy Caster, casters@mindspring.com.

4TH ANNUAL SOURCES UNVEILING CEREMONY AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM: 10 a.m. Saturday, Capital City Club, Raleigh. Panel discussion on business affairs, entrepreneurship and community development with presentations by Blue Cross Blue Shield and First Citizens Bank. Reservations required, 518-1414.

4TH ANNUAL MINORITY BUSINESS EXPO: offered by the Ivy Community Service Foundation, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, State Fairgrounds, Kerr Scott building, Raleigh. Free. Contact: www.icsfofcary.org.

LIFE/CAREER WORKSHOP: Saturday-Sunday, 131 Chimney Rise Drive, Cary. Clarify your career direction. Couples and partners $550, singles $375. Contact: Mike Thomas, www.lifecareerinstitute.com or 469-5775.

N.C. ACUPUNCTURE ASSOCIATION WORKSHOP: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Franklin Hotel, Chapel Hill. Ian Florian on "The Five Element Acupuncture View of the Causes of Disease and Strategies for Patient Care from The Classics." Members $200, nonmembers $275. Contact: Jillian Holmquist, 357-4824 or jill@quistassist.com.

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