“BIZ TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS”
Keynote Speakers:
John Lombardi, “How Football is like Business” - The Abundance Theory, Going Outside the Comfort Zone
John Lombardi, Grandson of Legendary Packer Coach Vince Lombardi and Service Division Manager for Optimech LLC in Hendersonville, TN, has had 11 years total experience in the mechanical contracting business. He was previously a contributing columnist to the Packer Report online, and a contributor to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel online NFL Draft Coverage. He also acted as a member of the advisory board for E-Hub from 2003-2008.
Mark Burwell, “The Evolutionary Entrepreneur"
Mark Burwell currently leads as the National Director for “E-Hub” (also known as the Urban Hope Entrepreneur Center) in Green Bay, WI, whereby he has built the successful business model. As a serial entrepreneur, business architect and non-profit leader, he has fostered innovative strategies to help empower and build communities through entrepreneurship. The U.S. Small Business Administration honored him as “Wisconsin’s Small Business Advocate of the Year.” The University of Wisconsin-Stout awarded him the “Distinguished Alumni Award” for his career, business and civic achievements.
Guest Speakers:
Kurt Heling, “Selecting the Right Business Structure”
Kurt Heling has been a CPA since 1991, and has managed the Fox Valley office of Alberts and Heling, CPA's LLC since its inception in 1998. His firm works closely with entrepreneurs to help ensure they get their business started on the right foot. His firm is also a proud sponsor of SCORE's BizTalk radio program, and Kurt is a regular guest speaker.
Kevin Eisman, “Top 10 Legal Mistakes Business Owners Make”
Kevin Eismann is the owner of Epiphany Law, LLC. He has been advising businesses and business owners for over a decade on legal and related business issues. In addition to advising businesses and business owners, Kevin has started or acquired more than 15 different businesses in a multitude of industries including construction, manufacturing, publishing, development and professional services. He is also a licensed real estate broker, member of Mensa and Master Shingler.
John Ingrisano, “Discovering your Competitive Advantage”
A prolific business journalist, John has written hundreds of articles about the perils, pitfalls, joys and sheer terror of being a business owner. Sometimes referred to as the “Voice of the Small Business Owner,” he writes a monthly business profile in “NEW North B2B Magazine,” published here in the Fox Valley. When not working with clients to help them sharpen their marketing strategies, he talks regularly to business groups on topics ranging from “How to Discover Your Competitive Advantage” to how to survive, thrive and prosper as a business owner.
Jeff Lindsay & Cheryl Perkins “Conquering Innovation Fatigue”
Jeff Lindsay is Director of Solution Development at Innovationedge (Neenah, Wisconsin) and the former Corporate Patent Strategist at Kimberly-Clark Corp. He is an innovation enthusiast with over 100 patents in numerous areas. Jeff’s combination of innovation experience in academia, a major corporation, and in consulting offers broad perspectives on the barriers faced by innovators and what it takes to overcome them or avoid them. Jeff frequently speaks and lectures on innovation, strategy, intellectual assets and technology.
Cheryl Perkins is a sought-after keynote speaker and innovation thought leader who has traveled the world for more than 25 years to present her expertise in innovation to executives and innovation leaders. Cheryl is the founder and President of Innovationedge, a strategic global innovation consultancy that helps executives define their strategy and deliver breakthrough innovations, and helps inventors create strategic corporate partnerships for commercial success.Before founding Innovationedge, Cheryl served as Kimberly-Clark’s Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer, where she led the global health and hygiene company’s innovation and enterprise growth organizations. Cheryl was named by BusinessWeek as one of the “Top 25 Champions of Innovation in the World.”
Local Entrepreneurial Speakers Include:
Linda Turner is a valley entrepreneur who opened up her hairstudio in Appleton after learning about the value of teamwork and how to grow a business. Her vision and passion is to share her talent and love for hair with the community of Appleton and the surrounding area. She will talk about her experience in a niche market, and how this affects the way her business is run.
Alpha Building Services/Aloha LLC (Entrepreneur Chuck Baxtrom talks about Staying power and overcoming the obstacles)
Since 1997 Chuck Baxtrom and Alpha Building Services/Aloha LLC have provided high quality professional janitorial service and carpet care to the Fox Cities and Northeast Wisconsin. A former Chicago Police Officer, Chuck Baxtrom has now been working in the janitorial business for 43 years, and is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau (with an A+ rating). Alpha Building Services/Aloha LLC are Green certified and IICRC certified.
Kerrigan Brothers Winery (Entrepreneur Troy Landwehr talks about doing your research and home work before start-up)
Troy Landwehr started out as a home brewer, making his own wine and beer. After 3 years of research and development, and with the gracious help of his parents, he started the Kerrigan Brothers Winery in 2000. Troy recently celebrated the 10th Anniversary of Kerrigan Brothers Winery.
LSJ Properties, LLC (Entrepreneur Lisa Sturgis talks about getting the business financing she needed with the help of SCORE)
Lisa is a member of the Fox Valley Apartment Association and the Fox Valley Real Estate Group, and is now a Broker, Owner, and Investor in her own Real Estate Company - LSJ Properties, LLC, which purchases residential Real Estate in the Fox Valley Area. Lisa is aware of her company's responsibility to the communities they do business in, and its role in the betterment of these communities