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Prison Entrepreneurship Program Announces National Financial Expert Ryan Mack to Deliver Keynote Address at Graduation Ceremony

The author of "Living in the Village" will speak to a crowd of executives, entrepreneurs and former inmates this October

HOUSTON, Oct. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP), a business boot-camp that teaches qualified Texas prisoners real-world business skills, announces that national financial expert Ryan Mack, author of Living in the Village and President of Optimum Capital Management, will deliver the keynote address at the organization's 2012 eSchool Graduation Dinner, presented by Amerisource Funding.

"Mr. Mack brings a message that strongly complements PEP's mission to transform tax consumers into contributing members of society," says Jason Floyd, Managing Director of Amerisource Funding. "We are honored to bring him to Houston to help us celebrate the accomplishments of PEP's graduates."

Mr. Mack can be regularly viewed on television networks such as CNN, CNBC and BET discussing economic issues that impact American citizens. After his presentation, diplomas will be presented to over 30 graduates of PEP. These men are former inmates who began transforming their lives while still behind bars through PEP's in-prison business plan competition.

"After their release, these men reestablished their lives in the free world and dedicated themselves to continuing their education through our Entrepreneurship School that meets every Tuesday evening in Dallas and Houston," explains Bert Smith, CEO of PEP. "We are now celebrating their completion of this second step in their journey from inmate to entrepreneur."

The event will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at Houston's Downtown Club at Plaza.

ABOUT PRISON ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM:

Established in 2004, Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP) is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. PEP's mission is to transform inmates and executives by unlocking human potential through entrepreneurial passion, education and mentoring. PEP's groundbreaking results include a return-to-prison rate of less than 5% (compared to 50% national average), employment rate of 100% within 90 days of release from prison and over 100 businesses launched by graduates. www.PEP.org

About Amerisource Funding:
Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, Amerisource is one of the largest and fastest-growing independent commercial finance companies in the country.  Amerisource provides working capital financing and outsourced receivables management to small and middle market companies with financing needs from $50,000 to $10,000,000.  www.AmerisourceFunding.com

CONTACT:
Jeremy Gregg, Chief Development Officer, PEP
214.727.9829, JGregg@PEP.org

SOURCE Prison Entrepreneurship Program