Thursday Dec 7 | 9:00-12:00PM 

Meet 1-on-1 w/ the Experts you need –
100% VIRTUAL Format

Innovate New Albany created Expert 😎 Office Hours to make it easy for business owners & aspiring entrepreneurs to get the answers they need.

Please set all your appointments by 12 Noon, Wednesday 12/6/23.

We will end registrations at Noon, so our Experts can plan their Thursday schedules.

STEPS

1. Review our roster of Experts, below
2. Click on the link below the Expert’s name to schedule an appointment
3. Make individual appointments w/ the experts you need – just ONE – or, up to a maximum of SIX
4. You’ll receive an email & a calendar invitation – w/ a Zoom link for each appointment
5. Thurs Dec 7: at time of each appointment, click on Zoom link to meet w/ your selected Expert

NOTES

1. For most of you, a personal computer will be the best means to access your Expert meetings via Zoom; no need to download software

2. Questions? Email Neil Collins at “neil@InnovateNewAlbany.org”

Schedule up to six 30-minute meeting(s) below:

Ryan Steele | Porter Wright
Startup & Emerging Business Law

At Porter Wright, Ryan Steele helps early stage entrepreneurs choose optimal business structures and complete the documentation needed to establish their business foundation, grow and expand, and ultimately exit on their own favorable terms.

Ryan also handles corporate contractual matters to bring mergers, acquisitions, financing, startup operations, and other general business transactions to fruition. Combining business operations knowledge with legal acumen, Ryan efficiently executes complex business contracts so that rapidly growing companies, business owners and early stage entrepreneurs can cost-effectively achieve their growth goals.

Ryan also brings great business savvy to his client relationships. Having managed an office of over 100 people, Ryan can apply his first-hand knowledge of everyday business functions including project management, employee management, and independent contracting, providing practical counsel to fast-growing entities so they can overcome challenges and achieve their business goals.

Great Questions for Ryan:

• Incorporating Your New Business – What forms are possible and the pros/cons of each
• Capital Tables – How to structure company ownership to ensure achieving my long term goals?
• Business Operating Agreements – What are these and when does my business need one?
• Liability – How do I protect myself and my business?
• Written Contracts – When and why should my business use them?
• Regulation & Red Tape – What docs must I file to comply with laws/rules for my industry?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Ryan.

Kaylee Willis | Porter Wright
Intellectual Property (Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights)

Kaylee is an intellectual property attorney who practices in the areas of patent, trademark, copyright, biotech and technology law. She works with clients on a wide variety of technologies, including food science, chemistry, biotechnology, medical devices, consumer products, product packaging, automotive technology and electrical appliance technology.

Kaylee drafts and prosecutes all stages of U.S. utility and design patent applications, as well as trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). She also manages, prosecutes and enforces foreign and international patent and trademark portfolios. Kaylee also handles intellectual property licensing issues and other technology transactions.

In addition, Kaylee is experienced with enforcement of intellectual property rights, including litigation in patent, trademark and copyright infringement matters. She counsels clients on patentability opinions, infringement analyses and validity inquiries, and also handles cease and desist issues.

Great Questions for Kaylee:

• What is the difference between patents, copyrights and trademarks?How do I protect my IP?
• What is the process like to get a patent?
• What is the process like to get a trademark?
• How much does it cost, on average, to get and obtain a patent?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Kaylee.

Scott Longnecker | Huntington National Bank
Loans & Banking Services for Startups & Small Businesses

Scott Longnecker has over 20 years of experience in the finance and banking industry. His role as a Business Development Officer Sr has allowed him to develop a deep understanding of his client’s financial situations and to come up with solutions to help business customers like you reach your financial goals. Scott helps clients walk through the steps on how to obtain commercial loans, real estate loans, lines of credit, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, and more.

Great questions for Scott:

• What can I do about kinks in the supply chain?
• What’s going on with the labor market?
• What should I be doing to keep my good people?
• How can I find the right clients and suppliers right now?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Scott.

Brad Griffith | Buckeye Innovation
Web Strategy & Engineering

Brad Griffith is President of Buckeye Innovation, the web strategy and engineering agency he started in 2009. Prior to starting Buckeye Innovation, 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?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Brad.

Satish Albert | E2 Infosystems
Custom Software & App Development

Satish Albert is Founder & CEO of E2 Infosystems. Satish offers a unique combination of experiences: enterprise software development and practical entrepreneurial a, the latter gained while bootstrapping and then selling his own successful SaaS startup. Satish has an advanced degree in computer science and deep experience leading development teams at premier tech companies including: AT&T, Lucent Technologies (Bell Labs), and Docomo Intertouch.

Satish launched E2 Infosystems to help emerging and scaling companies by engineering software solutions that meet their unique needs.

 

 

E2 Infosystems has developed software and mobile applications serving:

• SaaS startups
• Healthcare & Assisted Living businesses
• Travel, Manufacturing and Enterprise Legacy Systems

Great questions for Satish:

• How do I turn my idea into a software product or application?
• What factors influence the price of software or app development?
• What are the latest trends or best practices in software/nas/content/live/innovatena development?
• How can I make sure my software or app is built to grow as my business grows?
• What’s a realistic timeline & what milestones can I expect when developing my products?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Satish.

Ron Savoia | Stratus Innovations Group, LLC
IT Consulting, Azure PaaS Application Development

Ron Savoia has over 30 years of experience in IT consulting, starting with his first engagement with CompuServe in 1993 to help with their migration to WindowsNT and SQL Server for their new Email platform. He used this experience to join Microsoft’s new Enterprise Consulting Team, Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS), where he worked Nationwide, Limited and JPMC (BankOne at the time), and eventually running MCS’ Central Region Financial Services practice. He spent the last 3 years in MCS incubating the professional services needed to deploy the Microsoft offering that eventually became Office 365 and Azure.

Ron continued the focus on Cloud Services when he founded Stratus Innovations Group in 2010, working with local and global organizations to help develop their Cloud strategies, including Nationwide Childrens Hospital and Cardinal Health. Stratus Innovations Group now has a global reach of reach of working with Enterprise and Mid-Market companies in deploying Cloud Services for their IT infrastructure and line-of-business applications, including Ceridian, MKS/Spectra-Physics, Hexagon, PowerGrid Services, OrthopedicONE, BroadStreet Partners, and The Energy Cooperative.

Stratus Innovations Group’s vision is to become a software platform startup, where they recently released IT-Gig.com, which is a platform specifically for IT Service Providers.

Great questions for Ron:

• What is the best way to get your first IT services customer?
• Why do customers utilize IT contractors vs using FTEs?
• Is it possible to have an IT contracting side-job while having a full-time job?
• What is the difference between Azure and AWS from a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) applications, and why would you use one over the other?
• How do you differentiate the IT services you provide vs the many other providers in the market?
• How do you scale/grow a sole proprietor IT Services organization?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Ron.

Tushar Kulkarni | Big Kitty Labs
Software Solutions to Meet Your Needs

Tushar has over 25 years of experience managing small to large-scale projects & teams
& delivering innovative tech solutions. Tushar founded Big Kitty Labs to pursue his passion for innovative tech solutions and bringing them to different domains. Under Tushar’s
leadership, Big Kitty Labs has successfully designed & delivered 200+ software systems in domains ranging from the government sector, healthcare, education, automative, aviation, agtech and sports.

Great questions for Tushar:

• What were the initial challenges one faces when starting their tech company, and how can one overcome them?
• How does one validate their tech idea or solution in the market before diving into development?
• What were the key steps that one can take to build a talented and cohesive tech team
• What strategies can one employ to market and promote your tech product or solution
• Can you share any lessons learned or mistakes made during the early stages of your tech venture?
• How does one navigate the competitive landscape and differentiate your tech product from existing solutions?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Tushar.

Lora Brown | Bookkeeping Simplified By Lora
Bookkeeper/Quickbooks Online Pro

Lora Brown has over 25 years experience with QuickBooks and Bookkeeping. She offers professional bookkeeping services anywhere in the United States. Her company is called Bookkeeping Simplified By Lora. She is also a QuickBooks Online Pro Advisor. Lora has a Bachelor of Science from Ohio University.

Bookkeeping Simplified By Lora’s mission is to partner with small business owners and take the stress off of their company by taking care of the financial aspects so they can focus on what is most important – growing their business! Building relationships with clients is extremely important in this industry. She will always have your financial health up to date and accurate.

Great questions for Lora:

• I don’t have time to keep track of my expenses; can you get/keep them organized?
• What range of services does a Bookkeeper provide?
• What’s the best QuickBooks Online (QBO) Subscription for my business?
• What great new features have been added to QBO?
• Can I convert my QuickBooks Desktop version to QBO?
• How do I manually upload bank transactions to QBO if the bank connection is not working?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Lora.

Laura Sandstrom | Book + Street
Financial Modeling, Cash Flow Planning, Fractional CFO Services

Laura brings over 20 years of valuation consulting to the team; she has worked at both Big4 consulting firms and boutique valuation firms. In that capacity she worked with a variety of clients ranging from small start-ups to large multinational conglomerates assisting them in the evaluation of their businesses for purposes of meeting GAAP requirements, in preparation of audit and Mergers & Acquisitions. Laura left valuation consulting to join the corporate world with Paycor. She helped bring SaaS metrics to monthly board reports and created a robust competitive intelligence library.

She also partnered with product teams and created complex models for them before entering into a long-term partnership agreement. Most recently Laura was Senior Director of Finance at Belcan. She managed all M&A activities, from LOI through to full integration, including financial due diligence, deal modeling, synergy tracking, non-IT integration, reporting unit changes and annual goodwill impairment testing. She also managed the weekly cash forecast ,finance operations support and oversaw the credit department.

Laura holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Xavier University and majored in Finance and Marketing. She obtained a Mini MBA from Miami University and holds an active license as an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) with the American Society of Appraisers in Business Valuation. Laura serves as a Silent Board Member at Connetic Ventures.

Great questions for Laura:

• When do I need to graduate from a bookkeeper to a controller?
• I’m fundraising. What financial models should I have ready/
• Why do I need a CFO?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Laura.

Jen Meek | Book + Street
HR and Talent Solutions

Jennifer is a result-driven executive, guiding leaders in laying the foundational work of their talent strategy. Going beyond the everyday Human Resources issues, she aligns people strategy with the overall goals and objectives of an organization. This intentional and authentic approach leads to identifying areas where an organization can continue to develop and thrive.

Her vast experience in the talent solutions arena also makes her a sought out subject matter expert. She is knowledgeable in C Suite issues that impact workplace culture, team dynamics, and internal communications strategies. A dedicated and passionate leader, Jennifer can provide personalized service, create meaningful and lasting relationships, and achieve profitable results.

Prior to Book+Street, Jen has 25 years of senior leadership experience, she served as Vice President of HR for a multibillion-dollar private equity-owned company in the oil and gas industry, with 1500 employees in 22 countries. Additionally, Jen was the President, CEO, and member of the Board of Directors of an HR consulting organization for 12 years.

Jen’s undergraduate degree is in Marketing from Bowling Green State University, and her Master’s in Business Administration is from Miami University of Ohio. She has served on many boards over the years and is currently a member of the Board of Advisors for Modern Ice Equipment and Supply.

Great Questions for Jen:

• How do you build and sustain a conscious culture?
• What are strategies that you can deploy to attract, recruit and retain top talent?
• What are the keys to leading executive team communication?
• How can you effectively and efficiently hold your team accountable?
• Learn effective ways to articulate mission, vision and values for your company.

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Jen.

Manny Larcher | Stopwatch Creative
Growth Marketing & Branding

Manny Larcher is a first-generation American born in Columbus, Ohio, both of his parents are from St. Lucia. He serves as a Deal Flow associate with JumpStart Ventures, which combines capital, services, and connections to help entrepreneurs grow, researchers commercialize, and corporations innovate. As the co-founder and CEO of Stopwatch Creative, a boutique marketing/tech firm incubating platforms like CollaborateandElevate.com, which connects hundreds of businesses of all sizes with opportunities, Manny leads vision and growth.

Great questions for Manny:

• How can I maximize the efforts of my team?
• Are my marketing efforts really creating the action I want?
• Am I using the best and current tech stack or strategies for growth?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Manny.

Susan Fortner | BPR International
Public Relations & Marketing

Susan Fortner has 20+ years of experience in public relations and marketing. Her firm BPR International 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?
• How can I get my products featured on shopping channels like QVC and HSN?

Click here schedule 30 minutes with Susan.

Megan Neff | Rev1 Ventures
Venture Development

Megan is a driven professional with a primary focus on guiding Life Sciences entrepreneurs and founding teams from concept to product-market fit, funding and capital plans, business growth strategy, and ultimately scale and exit.

Her experience and vigorous thinking, as well as her strategic development and execution expertise, have enabled success of internal and external stakeholders in the healthcare industry.

She holds a bachelor’s degree, Strategic Communications from The Ohio State University and is pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Ventures and Entrepreneurship from Ohio University.

Great questions for Megan:

• I have an idea for a high-growth startup; can Rev1 help me determine if it’s
  worth pursuing?
• I’ve launched a startup; can Rev1 help me get funding to grow it?
• What other resources does Rev1 offer to help entrepreneurs?
• How does an entrepreneur get started with Rev1?
• I see that Rev1 works in corporate innovation; how can I learn more?
• Can you help me with my Life Science product ideas?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Megan.

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.

Great questions for Kevin:

• I have a business idea. What is my next step?
• How do I market my services and products?
• How can I take my business to the next level?
• How and where can I get money for my business?
• How do I keep track of my financial records and assure I’m tax compliant?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Kevin.

Please note: If you register and then don’t attend, your time slot will go unfilled, potentially preventing other business owners from accessing the expert advice they need. If you can’t keep your appointment, please email Neil Collins at info@InnovateNewAlbany.org .