OrlandoiX sits at the intersection of creativity and technology, bringing together creators, investors, influential brands, and tech enthusiasts for four days of industry leading keynotes, speaker presentations, interactive exhibits, gameplay, and networking.
Info and registration: http://www.orlandoix.com/register
Founder’s Talk: Gregg Pollack
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Monday, August 28, 2017
to
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Canvs Co-working space
101 S. Garland Ave (1st floor of the Old Church Street Exchange), Orlando, FL (map)
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In this first Founder’s Talk kicking off the 8th class of Starter Studio Gregg will tell his entrepreneurial story while discussing 20 (or more) principles he wished he would have known from the get go.
Gregg built two failing startups before building Envy Labs, a successful web consultancy and Code School, offering programming courses online. A couple years ago Code School was acquired by Pluralsight for $36 Million.
Gregg is also a huge proponent of the Orlando tech ecosystem, starting the Orlando tech events newsletter, BarCamp Orlando, the Orlando Ruby Users Group, and the Orlando Ed Tech users group.
Mike Mason, VP of etouches (Founder & CEO of Zentila)
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Tuesday, August 29, 2017
6:00 PM
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Catalyst Spaces
1 South Orange Avenue Suite 502, Orlando, FL (map)
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Catalyst Spaces, is located at 1 South Orange Ave, Suite 502 (5th floor). Entrance to the building is on Central Blvd near the corner of Central and Orange, between Tier Nightclub and Eagles Pizza. Parking http://www.downtownorlando.com/
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THIS IS A PAID EVENT – PURCHASE YOUR TICKET HERE
Mike Mason, VP at etouches, Founder & CEO of Zentila
Mike joined etouches in 2016 as VP, Sourcing & Hospitality Solutions through the company’s acquisition of Zentila. His focus is on etouches’ innovative solutions to streamline the process of sourcing and booking venues and capturing data to save organizations time and increase event ROI.
Most recently serving as founder and CEO of strategic sourcing and booking solution Zentila, Mike is 30-year meeting and hospitality veteran. He is recognized by Successful Meetings magazine as one of the “Top 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry.” Mike is quoted regularly on meeting technology in major media outlets and is a frequent speaker on this topic at industry conferences nationwide.
Before Zentila, Mike led sales and marketing at leading hospitality companies (Gaylord Hotels, Marriott International, Wyndham Resorts). He has put that experience to use to build pioneering sourcing and booking solutions for meetings and events.
Mike has served on the Board of Directors of American Society of Association Executives and the Center for Association Leadership. He also has been a member of the Meeting Professionals International Marketing Committee.
Agenda
6:00 pm Networking and Food
7:00 pm Fireside Chat
8:00 pm Networking
Speaker
Mike Mason – etouches (VP)
Hosted By
Steve Alexander, Orlando Director
Steve Alexander is a serial entrepreneur, champion for the Orlando startup community, Co-Founder & CEO of Therewolf, and a veteran experiential technology consultant to Fortune 500 companies and global brands. Steve is also a graduate of the University of Central Florida, co-founder of Startup Orlando, and proud toddler dad.
Twitter: @steve_alexanderAubree Rider, Orlando Co-Director
Aubree Rider is the Co-Founder of Orlando-based accounting firm, The Heroes Group, and proud graduate of the University of Central Florida (UCF). The Heroes Group is a first of its kind accounting firm bringing a fresh approach to all things finance focused on supporting startups, small businesses and freelancers. Aubree loves traveling (especially to the beach) and a good book.
Twitter: @aubreeriderGlobal Partner
Google is committed to empowering entrepreneurs around the world through programs, partnerships, and our products.
Sponsors
Catalyst is a new 7,000 sq. ft. industrial-chic collaborative shared workspace for entrepreneurs, startups, freelancers, and independent creative class professionals on the 5th floor of the One South Orange Building at 1 South Orange Avenue in the heart of downtown Orlando. Designed to spark business innovation and growth, Catalyst’s diverse members have opportunities to network, exchange ideas and get input from investors and mentors, who can provide access to the talent, relationships, and capital needed to launch and scale up their careers and businesses. A top-to-bottom renovation on the fifth-floor of the building has created a light, airy space with 20-foot ceilings, exposed brick walls and sleek ergonomic furnishings. Amenities to foster networking and growth include: high-speed fiber-optic internet service; craft coffee bar; technology-enabled conference rooms; and a choice of open workspaces or glass-enclosed offices. Members benefit from being a short stroll from SunRail stops, parking, Lake Eola Park, restaurants, bars and entertainment.
The Heroes Group is an accounting firm with a passion for startups and small business owners. Our customers are our Heroes, and we are their Sidekicks, providing accounting, tax compliance and payroll services at an affordable rate. Our goal is to empower entrepreneurs so they can make proactive decisions for the growth of their business.
MVRK – an innovation collaborative. We’re creatives, inventors, innovators, developers, designers, marketers, producers, geeks. We’re the experts when it comes to experiential technologies and innovation. Let’s create something awesome together!
With so much activity in and around the tech industry in Orlando, it makes sense that members of the tech community should take an active role in supporting growing companies and promoting regional activity. That is the primary purpose of Orlando Tech. We’re connecting technology companies across the region through events, news, and an active network of individuals working to support industry growth. We believe that a welcoming environment with a vibrant, creative culture will attract talent and support innovation.
What is Startup Grind?
Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. We host monthly events in more than 200 cities and 98 countries featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Our monthly fireside chat interviews, startup mixers and annual conferences provide ample opportunities to connect with amazing startups and the people behind them, tap into a strong support network, form meaningful connections and gain inspiration for the startup journey ahead. For more information visit StartupGrind.com or follow us on twitter @StartupGrind.
Media Contact: Jeanne A. Becker
Becker Public Relations
Telephone 305-215-0220
jbecker@beckerpublicrelations.com
For Immediate Release
Miami Finance Forum Holds CEO Power Breakfast Program
‘Private Equity Limited Partners:
Global Perspectives from Florida Investors’
On September 12 from 7:30am-10am at the Conrad Hotel, Brickell
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Miami, Fl. – August 14, 2017 — The Miami Finance Forum is pleased to present a CEO Power Breakfast program entitled ‘Private Equity Limited Partners: Global Perspectives from Florida Investors’ on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 from 7:30am-10:00am at the Conrad Hotel, 1395 Brickell Avenue, Miami. Early registration is $35 per person for members and $75 per person for non-members by 9-8-17. Registration at the door is $55 per person for members and $95 per person for non-members. To register, please visit https://miamifinanceforum.com/events/ or call 1-877-336-4264 for more information.
The program will provide a unique perspective on what is driving investment in the private equity and venture capital space from local allocators of capital. The program is sponsored by Holland & Knight. The moderator and confirmed panelists to date include:
David A. Barkus, Partner, Holland & Knight (moderator)
Jennifer Dowden, Vice President, Third Lake Capital
Anna Nekoranec, CEO, Align Private Capital
Nayef Perry, Principal, Hamilton Lane
Peter Sheptak, Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, JM Family Enterprises
The Miami Finance Forum is a not-for-profit membership organization comprised of professionals and executives from the world of finance, investment management, banking, commercial real estate, capital markets, private equity, venture capital, legal, accounting and related fields. MFF creates programing that fosters and supports the continued growth of Miami and the rest of South Florida as the premier network of finance and investment professionals. It is dedicated to expanding the knowledge base and professional practices of its members, while ensuring that the region continues to attract and retain its top talent. The MFF community has grown to over 6,400 professionals in all sub-segments of finance and includes startups, high-growth companies and entrepreneurs. For information, visit www.miamifinanceforum.com.
Event Details
Presenter: Tony DiBenedetto, Tribridge chairman and CEO
Date Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Time: 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Cost: Free (but registration is requested)
Location: Microsoft, 5426 Bay Center Drive, Tampa, FL
Diary of an Entrepreneur
From Startup to Public Company: The Strategic Investments That Fueled the Growth of Tribridge
The September program will be presented by Tony DiBenedetto, Tribridge chairman and CEO. He will discuss leading Tampa-based Tribridge from a startup in 1998 to a $180 million software, services and cloud business before recently being acquired by DXC, the world’s leading independent, end-to-end IT services company. He will share his journey on growing Tribridge through outside capital as well as strategic investments in developing culture, talent and innovation.
Presented by Tampa Bay Innovation Center, TECH Talk is the area’s premier networking and educational event developed specifically to meet the interest of the local entrepreneurial community.
NOTE: PHOTO ID REQUIRED AT SIGN IN
Research Park Annual Awards & Entrepreneurship Celebration
Event Summary
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Join us in beautiful Tampa Bay for 7th annual Florida Companies to Watch at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. Join us on Saturday, October 14, 2017 as we award 50 growing second-stage companies headquartered in Florida. Companies to Watch was developed by the Edward Lowe Foundation as a unique way to recognize and honor second-stage companies that demonstrate high performance in the marketplace with innovative strategies and processes, making them “worth watching”. Presented by GrowFL, in association with Edward Lowe Foundation, Florida Companies to Watch is an awards program like no other. We all have a compelling story to tell. We encourage you to tell yours!
Waymon Armstrong is co‐founder and chief operating officer of Engineering & Computer Simulations Inc. (ECS) – an Orlando‐based firm that defines innovation in the leading‐edge field of modeling, simulation and training. Armstrong has more than 90 employees to help, but 18 years ago he started ECS with a vision, a lot of passion and his personal life savings. After three years, the company was not generating enough revenue to pay him even a small salary. Armstrong had remortgaged his home, invested the last of the life savings, and incurred $300,000 in credit card debt. His accountant encouraged filing for bankruptcy, but Armstrong continued and ultimately landed ECS’s firstlarge assignment for the U.S. military. 
Aleef Adam, founder of DirecLogix, credits his father with providing the nudge that was the tipping point in his decision to launch DirecLogix in 2005. “Our family has always been entrepreneurial,” Adam said. “My dad has his own businesses that he has operated. After I had worked for several large companies like Hewlett Packard and Lucent Technologies, he gave me the push I needed to consider starting something on my own. He’s been successful in business and management so when he suggested I take the leap, I paid attention.”
Chris Peterson, owner of Hell’s Bay Boatworks, has years of experience both on the water and in the office that he uses to guide his company alongside his wife, Wendi. Together, they lead their company, which is comprised of a number of highly skilled members dedicated to creating the finest skiffs available. Everyone at Hell’s Bay is passionate about the boats they create, and it shows in their finished skiffs.
JoAnn Elardo, founder of Wicked Dolphin Distillery, is a serial entrepreneur of broad and varied scope. Having worked in the film, video and finance space, Elardo owned and operated a large shoe distribution company in Europe until she sold the company and moved to Florida in 2008.
Joe Parris, co-founder of VALiNTRY Services, is a serial entrepreneur in the staffing space who started VALiNTRY for the chance to innovate again. “When we sold our travel therapy staffing company, we sold to a company that is owned by the largest IT staffing company in world and we stayed on to manage our division,” Parris said. “However, we lost all our resources and ability to innovate. We believe innovation is the lifeblood of any organization and you are either growing or dying as a company and because we were no longer able to innovate and grow, we decided to move on.” 
Thursday, October 26, 2017
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
FAU Tech Runway
901 NW 35th Street
Boca Raton, FL 33431-6410
For more information on becoming a sponsor, please contact:
Mary Katherine Morales
Director for Development and Economic Advancement
561-951-3450
mk.morales@fau.edu
For general information, please contact:
Jessica Beaver
Assistant Director
561-297-8000
techrunway@fau.edu
FAU Tech Runway Advisory Board:
Donald Kiselewski, Chairman
Lenny Chesal
Arnold Cohen
Lon Gorman
Marti La Tour
Connor Lynch
The portion of your payment that qualifies as a charitable contribution will be reflected on the receipt you receive from the FAU Foundation, Inc. The amount of your payment that exceeds the fair market value of any consideration your received in the form of privileges or other benefits will be the amount that may be deductible as a charitable contribution. Consult with your tax advisor for deductibility of your charitable gift.
