Need business advice? Meet the experts.

When it comes to launching and growing your startup, there are always too many questions. That’s why Innovate New Albany created it’s monthly Expert Office Hours. We bring together expert service providers from varied disciplines who share their expertise at no cost to those who need answers.

Get answers to your toughest questions including:
– what incorporation form is right for me?
– how to protect my intellectual property?
– how to secure funds for expansion?
– can I get a professional website without investing a fortune?
– how to use digital marketing effectively?
– how to earn free publicity for my business?
– how to find the right workspace for my team?
– and many, many more

Schedule your 30-minute session below:

 

Martin Miller| Porter Wright
Intellectual Property and Technology Law

Marty has extensive experience in all facets of intellectual property law, as well as commercial transactions involving intellectual property and technology. He has represented clients ranging from multinational corporations to universities and individuals on a wide variety of intellectual property matters.

He has considerable experience in patent and trademark prosecution (U.S. and foreign), patent opinions (particularly, freedom-to-practice and validity), IP due diligence, drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, licensing of all forms of intellectual property (including software licensing) and competitive intelligence. His practice spans a wide range of technological areas including medical devices, chemistry and pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining Porter Wright, Marty was chief operating officer and in-house counsel for a technology company. His past experience includes working as a process engineer at a large oil refinery.

Great questions for Marty:

• What factors should I weigh in deciding whether to obtain a patent?
• What is the value of securing registrations for patents, trademarks, or copyright?
• How can I best protect my own or my business’s intellectual property on a limited budget?
• Do I own intellectual property rights for things I created while employed by another person/company?

Schedule 30 minutes with Marty using the form below.

 

Miglena Kotevski | Huntington National Bank
Business Banking

Miglena Kotevski is a Business Banking Relationship Manager/Vice President with the Huntington Business Banking Team in Central Ohio, located in Easton Oval 7. She has over 12 years of experience in banking (all with Huntington), 10 of them working with business clients of different industries and revenue size. Miglena loves assisting the Huntington clients with starting their own business, grow an existing business, and go through all stages of a business lifecycle. She works closely with the Huntington Retail banking offices in New Albany, Gahanna, and the surrounding areas to ensure that her clients are being assisted with all their banking/finance needs.

Great questions for Miglena:

• How should I finance a start-up?
• What kind of financing can I obtain to grow my business?
• What do I need to buy a building or to purchase an existing business?
• What kind of bank accounts does Huntington offer on the business banking side?
• How the bank can help a business with day-to-day operations?

Schedule 30 minutes with Miglena using the form below.

 

Susan Fortner | Bowers PR
Public Relations

Susan Fortner has 20+ years of experience in public relations and marketing. She opened her own public relations firm with a partner firm in Cleveland. Bowers PR manages accounts throughout the country specializing in health care, talent, banking, and packaged and soft goods. In addition the firm is recognized as a broker/partner with QVC, HSN, and Evine shopping networks.

 

Fortner has won awards and sits on the accreditation board to advance candidates in the Accreditation in Public Relations process. In 2013 Susan received special honors for her work in crisis management.

 

Great questions for Susan:

• How can I promote my company on a limited budget?
• How do I set Marketing & PR budgets that are sufficient to drive results?
• What simple steps can I take to improve my social media visibility rapidly?
• Which charities, like-minded businesses, and complementary companies should I partner with?
• How do I create and execute events that will differentiate my business in a crowded market?

Schedule 30 minutes with Susan using the form below.

 

Kevin Hammond | Ohio SBDC
Business Management Advice

Kevin Hammond has been a business management consultant for 13 years, mostly focused on small businesses and start-ups. Kevin has been on the SBDC team for almost ten years as a consultant. Prior to consulting, Kevin was in financial services at Chase Manhattan. Kevin has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Ohio Dominican University and an MBA from Capital University.

The Ohio SBDC is part of America’s SBDC national network comprised of over 1000 Centers across the U.S. including 28 in Ohio. The Ohio SBDC Network provides one-on-one advising, by Certified Business Advisors, at no cost and conduct no or low cost business training.

Schedule 30 minutes with Kevin using the form below.

 

Brad Griffith| Buckeye Interactive
Web Strategy and Engineering

Brad Griffith is President of Buckeye Interactive, the web strategy and engineering agency he started in 2009. Prior to starting Buckeye Interactive, Brad spent several years consulting and developing web applications in-house for a variety of companies including JPMorgan Chase, QUALCOMM, and the Go Big Network. Brad earned his Masters in Business Administration after completing his Bachelor’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering with honors, both at The Ohio State University. He has more than 20 years of web development experience and has worked from coast to coast with small and large companies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and government agencies to build innovative web solutions.

Great questions for Brad:

• • • What is the best way to get my website started?
    • How do I start planning an application for my business?
    • How can I improve my site for better SEO?
    • What different ways can I start building my company’s brand?
    • How can I refresh or redesign my website?

Schedule 30 minutes with Brad using the form below.

 

Christine Beckman | Classical Realty
Commercial Real Estate

Christine Beckman is the principal owner of Classical Realty, an Ohio-licensed Commercial Real Estate Company specializing in Commercial Leasing, Acquisitions, Divestitures, Lease vs. Purchase Analysis, and Capital Gain Tax-deferred Consultation. Named by Business First as One of 20 to Know in Commercial Real Estate and holding designations and memberships with the CCIM institute, IREM, National Association of Realtors, Ohio Associations of Realtors and Columbus Realtors, you can rest assured that your real estate needs will be addressed professionally. Classical Realty was founded by Christine Beckman in response to a need she perceived for more innovative real estate solutions that not only exceed clients’ expectations, but also save them significant sums of money.

 

Great topics for Christine:

• • • Leasing vs. buying?
    • How to calculate the amount of space you need?
    • What type of space you need for your individual business?
    • Investment strategies in real estate and types of investments?
    • What options for deferment of taxes do you have if divesting in brick and mortar?

Schedule 30 minutes with Christine using the form below.

 

Brett Thornton | Porter Wright
Business Law

Brett Thornton counsels public and private companies of all sizes through multi-million dollar mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and other corporate and securities transactions, facilitating growth strategies and operational objectives for clients around the world.

As chair of the firm’s Oil and Gas, Biotech and Emerging Business practice groups, Brett counsels clients regarding ongoing securities compliance and general corporate and contracting matters.

Brett advises national and foreign clients in general business matters, for-profit and nonprofit entity formation, regulatory issues and heavy industry projects, as well as international debt, equity and complex financing transactions. He has worked as lead counsel for global corporate clients in a wide range of industries, including energy and natural resources, manufacturing, telecommunications, finance, and food and beverage. His experience includes advising Fortune 100 companies and private equity groups in the acquisition, divestment and relocation of assets, such as heavy construction vehicles and equipment for use in municipal infrastructure projects. Brett also advises on compensation issues and agreements, including incentive plans, to help companies attract and retain executive talent.

A resourceful facilitator for emerging businesses, Brett helps young entrepreneurs with the multitude of formation, growth and business operational issues confronting early stage companies, such as capitalization, fundraising, third-party vendor relationships, contractual agreement review, securities law and due diligence. Assisting clients through all stages, Brett connects entrepreneurs with proven industry leaders to help establish their business profile, advises as companies expand and works to ensure owners exit on their own terms.

Brett counsels oil and gas clients on corporate and financing issues related to the operation of pipeline systems for petroleum product transportation, and the development, production and transportation of energy resources. He assists power generation companies with out-of-state operations, helping them acquire assets and complete financing transactions in multiple locations.

Brett serves as co-editor of the firm’s Oil & Gas Law Report blog.

Schedule 30 minutes with Brett using the form below.

 

*Please note that if you register and don’t attend, that time slot doesn’t get filled, keeping other entrepreneurs from getting expert advice. If you have registered and need to cancel, please email Neil Collins at info@innovatenewalbany.org.

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