Innovate New Albany

The Web3 Vision: Building a Collaborative Future for Businesses and Customers
2024-11-13 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Innovate New Albany’s NEW LOCATION:
7775 Walton Pkwy, 3rd Floor, New Albany, OH 43054
Wed 11/13/24, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Be ready to interact with our featured speaker, Shaun Pannell, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
Take your business into the future with Web3 technologies.
In this TIGER Talk, Shaun Pannell will cover:
– How decentralized systems, blockchain, and digital assets work
– Tools and methods that businesses and customers can use to collaborate like never before
– Transforming traditional business models with Web3
– Real-world examples of innovative strategies
– Creating new opportunities for shared success
Explore how Web3 can open doors to a future of product innovation and win-win business opportunities!
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Shaun Pannell is a marketing, business development, and technology professional at the law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP.
His proficiency in leveraging digital marketing techniques, creative design, data analytics, and data visualization has consistently driven tangible business growth. Shaun’s passion for exploring emerging technologies and their potential impact across diverse sectors is a testament to his forward-thinking approach.
Shaun’s understanding of innovative technologies and their transformative potential is evident through his certifications in blockchain, digital assets, and product management. This knowledge equips him to navigate today’s evolving business landscape with confidence and adaptability.
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Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Shaun
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

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So You Want To ... Buy a Business?
2024-11-13 18:00 - 20:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
NEW! EVENING EVENT
WED 11/13/24, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Innovate New Albany’s NEW LOCATION:
7775 Walton Pkwy, 3rd Floor, New Albany, OH 43054
Be ready to interact with our panel members & your fellow participants. Enjoy light bites & making new connections, starting at 6:00 pm.
“So You Want To … ?” is a new event series designed especially for people with an interest in exploring new professional opportunities, including new gigs, new side hustles, investor roles, board roles, or or any other innovative new pathways.
Each event will focus on one potential pathway that attendees may be curious about, with the focus especially on roles that involve technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, business investment, and other avenues to business ownership.
This is the FIRST event in this new series and its specific theme is:
“So You Want to … Buy a Business.”
Maybe you have a friend who’s interested in best practices for finding a great existing business that could be acquired and then acquiring it?
If so, do them a favor and forward this email to them!
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Panel Moderator:
Michael Butler, Senior Director at Columbus-based Footprint Capital. Michael is also a Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA), Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) and has deep experience as a venture capitalist.
Panelists:
Jordan Campbell, VP & SBA Product Specialist Senior at Huntington National Bank. Jordan has deep experience helping prospective business owners buy existing businesses thru the smart deployment of borrowed capital.
Matt Starkey, CEO of CRDN of Greater Columbus, a franchisee of a network of disaster restoration companies in the US, Canada, and the UK. Also, Managing Partner of Union Station Capital Partners.
Ryan J. Vonderbrink, Chief ‘Treat’ Officer and Owner of Barkley HQ. Barkley HQ is business management platform that enables Pet Grooming businesses to be more efficient in their business operations, creating more enterprise value.
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This event is FREE, but please register to help plan food quantities and the right number of seats.
Timeline:
6:00 – Light Bites / Informal Connecting
6:30 – Panel Discussion Begins
7:30 – 7:40 – Panel Ends & Connecting Resumes
8:00 – Event Concludes
This event has passed so registration is closed.

Ordinary, But Extra - How Seemingly Little Things Make A Big Difference in Business
2024-11-20 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Join us at:
7775 Walton Pkwy, 3rd Floor, New Albany, OH 43054
Be ready to interact with our workshop leader, Neal Bell, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
To the untrained eye, there is very little difference between the business that is spinning its wheels and one that is making steady progress towards its longer-term goals. Similar to physical fitness, organizational fitness requires businesses to honor a few basic truths day in and day out.
Our workshop leader, Neal Bell, will share how businesses can use the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to preserve time and energy for long-term planning, translating those plans into small daily steps that advance them toward their long-term goals.
Attending this TIGER Tools Workshop will help you understand the difference between being ordinary and extraordinary, and take your organization to a higher level.
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An entrepreneur since 1999, Neal Bell has learned a great deal about what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to running businesses. He holds a degree in Accounting and an MBA (both from The Ohio State University), but it is his real-world operating experience that Neal wants to share with today’s business leaders.
In his early years as an entrepreneur, Neal fell into the trap of thinking he had to do everything himself, and inventing every business process from scratch. Experience eventually taught him otherwise, and he wants to save you some of the aggravation that he experienced.
Neal discovered EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) in the early 2000s, and immediately recognized it for the game-changer that it is for the entrepreneurial community.
Neal is now a Professional EOS Implementer, helping entrepreneurs and their leadership teams get more out of their businesses by implementing EOS tools and disciplines.
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Like all TIGER Events, this TIGER Tools Workshop is FREE
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Neal
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

Resilience in Action: Turning Stress into Strength through Emotional Mastery
2024-12-04 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Part of the TIGER Events “Healthy Habits for Innovators” Series — in collaboration with Healthy New Albany
SPECIAL LOCATION: Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany, 150 W. Main St., New Albany, OH 43054
Wednesday 12/4, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Be ready to interact with our workshop leader, Dr. Sandra Solano, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
Our perception of stress stems from our past experiences and how we define what matters most, influencing our responses to protect and achieve those values.
Changing from a stress reaction to a more masterful response is a trainable skill!
In this interactive TIGER Tools Workshop, based on 30 years of peer-reviewed research, you’ll discover how your body instinctively and automatically reacts to stressors, how to recognize, interrupt, and reprogram these emotional reactions, and how to create a plan to change your stress reaction to a more effective and optimal response.
This session offers big benefits for hard-charging business innovators, including startup founders, tech creators, goal-chasers, and those in many other stressful business roles!
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Our workshop leader, Dr. Sandra Solano, MD, MS, is originally from Bogota, Colombia. She is a healthcare professional with 30 years of experience as a healthcare executive and consultant.
Dr. Solano practices in New Albany where she promotes integrative health and wellness, merging her extensive background in public health with holistic approaches to empower individuals, teams, and organizations to manage stress, conflict, and challenges through emotional self-regulation.
As a certified HeartMath master trainer, Dr. Solano has coached and trained community leaders, professionals, and executives of Fortune 500 companies, social services organizations, and some of the largest healthcare systems in the United States.
To learn more about Dr. Solano’s practice, go to https://www.integro-restore.com
For a free consultation for your personal or organizational needs, please go to https://www.integro-restore.com/heartmath-resilience-advantagetm/
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Like all TIGER Events, this TIGER Tools Workshop is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Dr. Solano
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing
This event has passed so registration is closed.

Expert Office Hours: December 5
2024-12-05 09:00 - 11:30 | OH
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, Weds 12/4/24.
We will end registrations at Noon, so our Experts can plan their Thursday schedules.
STEPS
1. Review our roster of Experts
2. For each Expert you choose, click link below the Expert’s name to schedule appointment
3. Make individual appointments w/ the Experts you need – just ONE – or up to FIVE
4. You’ll receive an email & a calendar invitation – w/ a Zoom link for each appointment
5. Thurs Dec. 5: at time of each appointment, click on Zoom link to meet w/ your selected Expert
Questions? Email Neil Collins: neil@InnovateNewAlbany.org

Schedule up to FIVE 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.
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.

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.
Brian Thomas | Impact-Social
Go-to-Market Strategy & Execution
For the past 12 years, Brian has implemented go-to-market strategies for small businesses and startups. He has assisted small businesses across numerous sectors in identifying, developing, and implementing growth strategies. From local beverage distribution, to international commodity markets, and IoT to Web3, businesses have used these go-to-market systems to find success or pivot into a welcoming niche. Whether it’s growing a social media page to 1 million followers, building a local customer base to 50+ customers, or reaching into international markets to diversify importers, the fundamentals of market-fit, sales, and marketing are the foundation for any business to grow. At Impact Social, our business is to accelerate your business.

Great questions for Brian:

Who will buy my product or service?
How do I price my product or service?
What is the most effective distribution channel to reach my market?
How do I sell my product or service?
Why have my sales plateaued?
What systems do I put into place to grow my business?

Click here schedule 30 minutes with Brian.
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.

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 need to cancel your appointment, please email Neil Collins at info@InnovateNewAlbany.org .

Expert Office Hours: December 6, 2024
2024-12-06 09:00 - 23:30 | OH
Meet 1-on-1 w/ the Experts you need.
100% VIRTUAL Format
Please set all your appointments by 8 pm, Thurs 12/5/24.
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 FIVE
4. You’ll receive an email & a calendar invitation – w/ a Zoom link for each appointment
5. Thurs Dec. 5: 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 FIVE 30-minute meeting(s) below:
Roberto Tosti | Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP
Tax, Fund Formation
Roberto is an associate in the firm’s Corporate Department serving clients in the areas of tax and securities. He focuses his practice on U.S. federal income taxation, including corporate taxation, partnership taxation, and the taxation of international transactions.

Great questions for Roberto:

How do I legally raise capital, and what does that process look like?
What kind of entity should I form for my new venture?
What corporate governance documents do I need for my business and how will they protect me?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Roberto.

Brett Rosenstein | Build Accounting
Accounting and Taxes for Startups

With 15 years of experience in the accounting industry, Brett is a highly skilled Certified Public Accountant dedicated to helping tech startups and SaaS businesses navigate the complexities of accounting and taxes.
Brett previously worked for Plante and Moran, a large public accounting firm in downtown Columbus. Having the entrepreneur “bug”, Brett started Build Accounting in 2019. Over the years, Build Accounting has grown to a team of five and today provides tax filing, accounting, and advisory services for tech startups and SaaS business. Build Accounting’s mission is to make the accounting and tax process as easy, simple, and headache-free for founders as possible. Build uses cloud-based accounting systems and current technologies to help founders understand their numbers and make informed decisions that will benefit their company.
During the day, Brett can be found working out of the Innovate New Albany offices. While, in his free time he enjoys running, spending time with his wife and daughter, and trying new pizza places around Columbus. Between 2011 and 2013, he tried 100+ pizza places in the Columbus area.
Great questions for Brett:

What is the best entity structure for my business?
What are the tax compliance requirements that I should be aware of?
What are the bare minimum OR best practice accounting and tax requirements I should be taking to ensure I stay out of trouble with the IRS.
How can I ensure I am picking up all available deductions for my business?
What else should I know about that I may not be thinking about when it comes to the accounting and taxes for my business?

Click here schedule 30 minutes with Brett.
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.

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.
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.

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 .

Top 5 HR Mistakes + How To Avoid Them
2024-12-11 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Innovate New Albany’s NEW LOCATION:
7775 Walton Pkwy, 3rd Floor, New Albany, OH 43054
Wed 12/11/24, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Be ready to interact with our speaker, Jennifer Meek, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
They say ‘more people, more problems.’
Ain’t that the truth? That’s where Jennifer Meek, comes in!
Please join Jennifer for this TIGER Talk as she breaks down the 5 biggest HR mistakes that startups just can’t afford to make. DO NOT miss this one!
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Jennifer Meek is the CHRO of Book+Street.
Book+Street’s People Solutions experts support your business so you don’t make costly mistakes that could impact your team. From generalist human resource needs to specialty areas such as compensation benchmarking, benefits administration, staffing plans and recruitment, Book+Street’s People Solutions team will support your company’s biggest line item: your people!
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 had 25 years of senior leadership experience, including serving 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.
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Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Jennifer
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

This event has passed so registration is closed.

Expert Office Hours: December 12, 2024
2024-12-12 09:00 - 11:30 | OH
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, Weds 12/11/24.
We will end registrations at Noon, so our Experts can plan their Thursday schedules.
STEPS
1. Review our roster of Experts
2. For each Expert you choose, click link below the Expert’s name to schedule appointment
3. Make individual appointments w/ the Experts you need – just ONE – or up to SIX
4. You’ll receive an email & a calendar invitation – w/ a Zoom link for each appointment
5. Thurs Dec. 12: at time of each appointment, click on Zoom link to meet w/ your selected Expert
Questions? Email Neil Collins: neil@InnovateNewAlbany.org

Schedule up to FIVE 30-minute meeting(s) below:
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.
JR Kunkle | Kunkle Consulting
IT Security, Regulations, and Frameworks
JR has knowledge of both IT and business with 20+ years of in-depth IT experience, primarily in IT management, Project Management, Consulting, and IT Risk and Assurance. His current primary area of focus is Cybersecurity and of course Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Industry experience includes: Manufacturing, Retail, Industrials, Financials, Utilities, and Governments. Recently, he’s been working with Healthcare, FinTechs, and E-Commerce companies (Cloud applications).
JR has a Masters Degree in MIS & Finance (University of Dayton) and a Bachelor Degree in Accounting and Economics (Wittenberg University). In addition, the Certified Information Systems Auditor (“CISA”) certification was obtained. He developed the syllabus and has been an adjunct instructor at Wright State University for graduate level Accounting Classes.
Passionate about life, business, and information technology. Of course, none of this means anything without his role as a father to his son.
Great questions for JR:

What is considered reasonable security for small and medium sized businesses?
How do I know my business information is protected?
What IT regulations and laws apply to my business?
What IT frameworks can help protect the information and my business?
What is an IT Audit?
What is Ransomware and could it happen to my business?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with JR.
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.
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.
Brian Thomas | Impact-Social
Go-to-Market Strategy & Execution
For the past 12 years, Brian has implemented go-to-market strategies for small businesses and startups. He has assisted small businesses across numerous sectors in identifying, developing, and implementing growth strategies. From local beverage distribution, to international commodity markets, and IoT to Web3, businesses have used these go-to-market systems to find success or pivot into a welcoming niche. Whether it’s growing a social media page to 1 million followers, building a local customer base to 50+ customers, or reaching into international markets to diversify importers, the fundamentals of market-fit, sales, and marketing are the foundation for any business to grow. At Impact Social, our business is to accelerate your business.
Great questions for Brian:

Who will buy my product or service?
How do I price my product or service?
What is the most effective distribution channel to reach my market?
How do I sell my product or service?
Why have my sales plateaued?
What systems do I put into place to grow my business?

Click here schedule 30 minutes with Brian.
Eric Pace | Book + Street
Accounting, Treasury, and Financial Modeling
Eric has worked over 15 years in Corporate Treasury and Finance roles for financial services companies including KeyBank, Huntington, and JP Morgan Chase. Eric played an important role in managing through the 2008 financial crisis and the additional governance, regulation, and risk management practices. He developed complex financial models to improve capital, liquidity, and credit risk management and has extensive experience in stakeholder interaction in the board room and with investors and rating agencies. He has experience leading the finance function at Konzortia Capital, a SaaS startup specializing in AI/ML technology to improve deal flow management for venture capital and private equity.
Eric earned a bachelor’s in management from Case Western Reserve University with a finance concentration, as well as a bachelors in accounting and has held a Certified Treasury Profession designation (inactive).
Great Questions for Eric:

What are my options for raising capital? What is better, debt, preferred, equity, etc?
What are the benefits of having a disciplined financial process and system in place?
What is the role of a CFO in my business? What can I expect and how is it different from a standard accountant or bookkeeper?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Eric.

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 need to cancel your appointment, please email Neil Collins at info@InnovateNewAlbany.org .

Innovate New Albany 10th Annual Holiday “Celebration of Innovation”
2024-12-17 17:30 - 20:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Enjoy food & beverages from local entrepreneurs.
Hang with other cool people.
Make new friends.
Eat. Drink. Be Merry!!
Door prizes between 7:00 & 7:30. (Must be present at time of drawing to win.)
Questions? Contact Neil Collins at neil@innovatenewalbany.org

This event has passed so registration is closed.

Expert Office Hours: December 19, 2024
2024-12-19 09:00 - 11:30 | OH
Thursday Dec 19 | 9:00-11:30AM
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 12/18/24.
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 FIVE
4. You’ll receive an email & a calendar invitation – w/ a Zoom link for each appointment
5. Thurs Dec 19: 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 five 30-minute meeting(s) below:
Jordan Campbell l Huntington National Bank
Funding Businesses thru SBA Programs
Jordan began her career at Huntington in 2016 as a relationship banker at the German Village, OH branch. She then moved into business banking as a treasury management advisor, supporting the Central and Southern, OH branches.
In 2019 she joined the Dedicated Business Relationship Manager team and managed a portfolio of 200 business banking clients in the Cincinnati area. She transitioned to a Business Development Officer in Central, OH working to find new business banking clients to bring to Huntington Bank and most recently has become an SBA Product Specialist focusing on SBA lending for Central, OH business owners.
Great questions for Jordan:

SBA Loan Options: What types of SBA loans are available, and how can I determine which one is the best fit for my business?
Eligibility Requirements: What are the key qualifications for obtaining an SBA loan, and how can I determine if my business meets them?
Business Expansion: How can SBA financing help with growing my business, such as acquiring new equipment, opening a second location, or purchasing inventory?
Preparing a Strong Application: What are the most common mistakes business owners make when applying for SBA loans, and how can I avoid them?
Understanding Loan Terms: How do SBA loan terms compare to traditional loans, and what should I consider when evaluating repayment terms?
Improving Financial Position: What steps can I take to strengthen my financial position and increase my chances of getting approved for an SBA loan?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Jordan.
Evan Marsh l WynHouse
Innovation Consulting & Corporate Venture

Evan Marsh and the WynHouse team support entrepreneurs and organization by solving process inefficiencies through technology.
Evan is passionate about M&A, consulting, business development, corporate venture capital and innovation. Outside of his role as Managing Partner, he is an active angel investor and advisor to early-stage organizations.
Great questions for Evan:

How do I find innovation projects at my day job?
How do I know if my business is a good fit for investment from a corporate venture fund (CVF)?
I’m a seasoned entrepreneur looking for my next project, how do I find commercialization opportunities?
Where do I go to learn more about process innovation?
How do I identify areas for improvement in my organization?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Evan.
Matt Cynkar | Rev1 Ventures
Resources for High Growth Startups
Matt Cynkar serves as Managing Director at Rev1 Ventures. In that role, Matt leads the team that serves as the first touch point for the more than 700 entrepreneurs who reach out to Rev1 each year. That team connects entrepreneurs quickly with the startup resources available within Rev1 and throughout Ohio’s startup communities.
Matt manages exploratory meetings between qualified entrepreneurs and the Rev1 team members. Matt ensures seamless handoffs for entrepreneurs between their early contact with Rev1 and the next steps on their journey, which may be Rev1’s Customer Learning Lab, client engagement planning, or referrals to other support organizations or programs.
Before joining Rev1, Matt played key roles in Market Research and Customer Insights at Alliance Data and Bath & Body Works. Matt is a graduate of Miami University.
Great questions for Matt:

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?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Matt.
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.
Brett Rosenstein | Build Accounting
Accounting & Taxes for Startups

With 15 years of experience in the accounting industry, Brett is a highly skilled Certified Public Accountant dedicated to helping tech startups and SaaS businesses navigate the complexities of accounting and taxes.
Brett previously worked for Plante and Moran, a large public accounting firm in downtown Columbus. Having the entrepreneur “bug”, Brett started Build Accounting in 2019. Over the years, Build Accounting has grown to a team of five and today provides tax filing, accounting, and advisory services for tech startups and SaaS business. Build Accounting’s mission is to make the accounting and tax process as easy, simple, and headache-free for founders as possible. Build uses cloud-based accounting systems and current technologies to help founders understand their numbers and make informed decisions that will benefit their company.
During the day, Brett can be found working out of the Innovate New Albany offices. While, in his free time he enjoys running, spending time with his wife and daughter, and trying new pizza places around Columbus. Between 2011 and 2013, he tried 100+ pizza places in the Columbus area.
Great questions for Brett:

What is the best entity structure for my business?
What are the tax compliance requirements that I should be aware of?
What are the bare minimum OR best practice accounting and tax requirements I should be taking to ensure I stay out of trouble with the IRS.
How can I ensure I am picking up all available deductions for my business?
What else should I know about that I may not be thinking about when it comes to the accounting and taxes for my business?

Click here schedule 30 minutes with Brett.
Arthi Rathi | Book + Street
Financial Modeling, Cash Flow, Pricing Model, & Equity Compensation
Arthi Rathi is a CFO at Book+Street, a financial services firm working with startup businesses in Ohio and the Midwest. A CPA by background, Arthi climbed the ladder in Big 4 consulting and at a Fortune 25 company and has over 15 years of financial, operational and management experience. She is a strategic problem solver delivering financial value through a deep understanding of business and collaboration.
Arthi enjoys helping clients weave their stories through numbers to help business partners craft new ventures, grow businesses and showcase their value. Through her work, she has gained advanced skills in technical accounting, revenue recognition, deal modeling, and strategic finance. She loves working with startups because it allows her to solve problems creatively by rolling up her sleeves, diving into data and learning through cross-functional teamwork.
Great questions for Arthi:

What is my Burn rate and how long will my cash last and what do I need to raise?
How do I develop a revenue forecast? How do I determine ARR. What are the key financial metrics to analyze my business
What type of financial information do potential investors expect when considering an investment?
Do I need to give my employees equity? How do I set up my cap table and model scenarios for equity considerations?
Economics to consider for pricing my service / product

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Arthi.
Neal Bell | EOS Worldwide
Coach for Leadership Teams of Early Stage Companies
An entrepreneur since 1999, Neal Bell has learned a great deal about what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to running businesses. He holds a degree in Accounting and an MBA (both from The Ohio State University), but it is his real-world operating experience that Neal wants to share with today’s business leaders.
In his early years as an entrepreneur, Neal fell into the trap of thinking he had to do everything himself, and inventing every business process from scratch. Experience eventually taught him otherwise, and he wants to save you some of the aggravation that he experienced.
Neal discovered EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) in the early 2000s, and immediately recognized it for the game-changer that it is for the entrepreneurial community. Neal is now a Professional EOS Implementer, helping entrepreneurs and their leadership teams get more out of their businesses by implementing EOS tools and disciplines.
Great questions for Neal:

Overcoming Entrepreneurial Challenges: What are the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make trying to do everything themselves, & how can I avoid them?
Streamlining Business Processes: How can I quickly find & implement proven business processes instead of reinventing them from scratch?
Introducing EOS: What is the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), & how can it help my business operate more efficiently & effectively?
Is EOS all or nothing? Does my company need to implement the entire EOS framework all at once, or can my team implement it in stages, one piece at a time?
Leadership Team Alignment: What are best practices for getting my leadership team aligned & focused on achieving our goals?
Implementing EOS Tools: Which EOS tools or disciplines would you recommend starting with to make an immediate impact on my business?

Click here schedule 30 minutes with Neal.
Javi Cuadrado | Get Coaching To Grow
Leading Business Growth
Javi Cuadrado is a former Fortune 500 R&D and HR executive who is passionate about helping business leaders shatter constraints and unlock growth. He is the owner of Get Coaching To Grow, a business and leadership coaching firm.
As a trained engineer, he spent the last 2 decades building world-class organizations and driving innovation at Procter & Gamble and Owens Corning, delivering hundreds of millions in revenue through new-to-market technologies and products.
Now as a certified Business Coach, he shares proven frameworks that will help you demystify, simplify, and implement your strategy so that you can transform your leadership, grow your business, and free up valuable time.
Great questions for Javi:

How can I create a clear, memorable mission statement that my team can rally around
What frameworks can I implement to professionalize my operations and prepare my business for growth?
What steps should I take to clarify my message and increase my brand’s visibility and customer trust?
What’s the best way to identify whether new products will be profitable and meet market demand?
What strategies can help me align my team with key economic objectives to boost productivity and engagement?

Click here schedule 30 minutes with Javi.

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 .

The AI Labyrinth: The Paths Keep Changing
2025-01-17 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
7775 Walton Pkwy, 3rd Floor, New Albany, OH 43054
Friday 1/17/25, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Be ready to interact with our featured speaker, Michael Compton, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
We’re excited to kick off 2025 by welcoming back one of our most popular speakers on the subject of Generative AI — Michael Compton.
Join Compton as he threads through the winding, ever-changing passages of AI’s transformative impact across five critical domains:

writing and research
multimedia content creation
education & training
relationship management
knowledge systems

Each domain will be illuminated through real-world demonstrations, current headlines, and compelling use cases that reveal both practical applications and emerging possibilities. The presentation will weave together technical insights with thought-provoking questions about sociologic, economic, and environmental implications of AI adoption. Unexpected connections will be revealed at every turn.
Throughout this journey, Compton will bring his signature “Hot Takes” and his enthusiasm for navigating AI’s ethical ambiguities.
As in the past, Compton will make complex technological paths accessible & engaging for all who join us.
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Michael Compton is a Senior International Program Consultant for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), working towards financially sustainable incubator programs across fragile economies.
He combines his expertise in product and service design, human learning and artificial intelligence in both international and local development contexts.
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Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Michael
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

This event has passed so registration is closed.

Scale & Grow Your Business | Influencer Marketing
2025-01-22 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Innovate New Albany
7775 Walton Pkwy, 3rd Floor, New Albany, OH 43054
Wednesday 1/22//25, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Be ready to interact with our featured speaker, Maileah McMullen, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
Influencer Marketing is one of the most innovative and fastest growing marketing tactics that brands and businesses are using to scale and grow.
The Influencer industry was recently projected to be valued at $24 Billion by the end of 2024.
In this TIGER Talk, Maileah McMullen will share insights, statistics, and considerations about this exciting, rapidly expanding industry.
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Maileah McMullen is an enthusiastic marketing professional and leader.
Mailleah’s education in Anthropology/Sociology and Communication at Denison University has shaped her early career. She has dedicated her time and expertise to developing marketing strategies and campaigns that break barriers for clients, impact culture, and build relationships with communities. With her expertise in uncovering data to build brands and businesses, she now runs her own agency, Reverence Talent Management, a relationship-driven agency dedicated to growing Gen Z & Millennial creators’ brands and business opportunities. Reverence Talent Management was created to fill an important marketplace need, especially among these youth-focused businesses.
Maileah is also an instructor for Denison Edge, a program from Denison University that offers skill-building educational programs for both college students and professionals in a variety of business disciplines. Maileah is teaching a new program in Influencer Marketing, starting Wednesday February 19. This program is currently open for registrations.
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Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Maileah
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

This event has passed so registration is closed.

The EQ and Career Connection
2025-01-24 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Friday 1/24/25, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Be ready to interact with our featured speaker, Eric Pennington, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
Did you know that emotional intelligence (EQ) is a greater predictor of success than IQ?
What if EQ is the missing link to greater success in career. All of us are confronted with what decisions to make in our career path every day. Some of those are simple and straightforward, others are monumental. When leaders make EQ a practice, they find decision-making to be a strategic resource to move the needle in career and life.
Who should come:

Anyone who finds themselves at a crossroads between career advancement and legacy
Senior leaders and decision makers who want higher performing teams
Individual contributors just beginning the career journey

What you’ll learn:

The connection between EQ and decision-making
How to start building a practice around EQ
Powerful EQ hacks that can be started immediately

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Our presenter is Eric Pennington, the managing partner at Spirit of EQ and a certified practitioner in varied emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence, and neuroscience tools. Spirit of EQ is an emotional intelligence data and people development company based in Columbus. The company helps individuals and organizations be smarter with emotions in-order to create stronger results and satisfaction. He has designed and delivered learning experiences for organizations across the spectrum of public and private domains. The experiences include coaching, group workshops and ongoing learning cohorts.
Eric has over 15 years of practical entrepreneurship and leadership experience inside of small and large organizations. He has advised multiple entrepreneurs and senior leaders through coaching and group facilitation. He is the author of the eye-opening book, The Well-Being Guide: Making the Most of Life and Work, based on personal experiences and as a follow-up to his earlier book, Waking Up in Corporate America.
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Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Eric
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

This event has passed so registration is closed.

Responsible AI: A Balance of Trust and Knowledge
2025-01-29 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Be ready to interact with our featured speaker, Damian Synadinos, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
Everything starts with trust. And often, trust is enough. However, misplaced trust—trusting the wrong thing, the wrong amount, or at the wrong time — can have significant, negative consequences. But how can we know when trust is enough? And what do we do when it is not? By practicing skepticism!
Healthy skepticism is a neutral stance that suspends belief until justified evidence is available. And it can help us avoid negative consequences and move forward when trust is not enough.
Practicing skepticism involves fact-checking, being aware of biases, asking good questions, and much more. And it is all especially relevant with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, a powerful yet complex technology. Understanding AI and practicing skepticism can help us use it responsibly, effectively, and safely.
Join Damian Synadinos for this TIGER Talk as he explores these topics, offers ways to develop a skeptical mindset, and shows how it all applies to AI by providing practical tips to better navigate today’s new world.
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Damian Synadinos is a person with a diverse set of great talents!
For over 30 years, he helped “build better software & build software better” through testing. Now, through his company Ineffable Solutions, he helps “build better people”.
As a full-time, international public speaker, he delivers entertaining and educational keynotes, talks, and training that are focused on people, based on experience, and supplemented with research.
Damian has helped organize the “QA or the Highway” testing conference, performs & teaches improv comedy, authored & illustrated a children’s book (HankAndStellaBooks.com), and draws strangers for fun (IDrawStrangers.com).
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Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Damian
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

This event has passed so registration is closed.

It’s Not About You: A Radical Approach to Marketing
2025-01-31 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Be ready to interact with our featured speaker, Dana Casto, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
Many businesses and organizations are fed up with spending money on marketing that doesn’t work. If they knew what to do differently, they would. Meanwhile, revenue is lagging and holding them back.
There is a better way.
You will walk away from this TIGER Talk knowing seven simple marketing principles that will transform your approach to marketing.
These principles are based on Donald Miller’s best-selling book “Building A StoryBrand” and have been proven to positively impact any organization or business regardless of industry.
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Our speaker, Dana Casto, has contributed his marketing expertise to for-profit, non-profit, and higher education businesses for over twenty years.
In 2020, Dana founded Whispr Strategic Marketing to help service-based small businesses and non-profits align their marketing goals with business objectives to drive sustainable revenue. At Whispr, marketing services offered include website redesigns, content marketing planning, full-service marketing implementation, and strategic advising.
***************
Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Dana
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

This event has passed so registration is closed.

past event
2025-02-02 08:00 - 17:00 | OH

So You Want To … Be an Angel Investor?
2025-02-04 18:00 - 20:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Come at 6 pm to interact with our panel members & your fellow participants. Enjoy light bites & make new connections.
“So You Want To … ?” is a new event series designed for people eager to explore new professional opportunities, including new gigs, side hustles, investor roles, board roles, or other innovative pathways.
Each event will focus on one pathway that attendees may be curious about, focusing on technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, business investment, and varied avenues to business ownership.
This event – “So You Want to … Be an Angel Investor?” – is the SECOND in this series.
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What is an Angel Investor?
A simple answer: individuals who provide capital for business ventures and startups in need of funding.
Want to explore becoming an Angel Investor?
Then, this event is for you. Learn about the opportunities, risks, rules, and how to get started at this educational panel event.
Our panel features 4 highly respected Ohio professionals, all leading efforts to boost angel funding as a valuable resource to fuel early stage business growth.
Even if you won’t be ready to invest for a few years, please join us. This event can help you start preparing well in advance.
Have friends curious about angel investing? Do them a favor & invite them to join you.
***************
Moderator:
Parker MacDonell

Advisory Partner at Rev1 Ventures and member of the boards of two of their portfolio companies
Previously managed the Ohio TechAngel Funds
Has served on the boards of 14 for-profit companies, 7 of which had successful liquidity events (so far)
Served on the board of the US Angel Capital Association for 6 years; Treasurer for 2 years
Seasoned financial services executive (Bank One, CFBank) whose personal mission is to help others succeed in business
Side Gig: singer/songwriter who performs with a band & releases recordings of his original songs

Panelists:
Mandy Mallott

Director of the Ohio State Early Investor Network (OSEIN), a community of individual investors including alumni, parents, & friends of OSU, united by their passion for entrepreneurship & angel investing
Former Business Development Specialist for the City of Columbus Department of Development, focused on job creation thru site development & business expansion
Former roles with the U.S. Department of Commerce in international trade enforcement and federal economic development
Recognized as a 2024 Columbus Business First 40 Under 40 honoree
Additional current roles: President of Columbus Academy Alumni Board, Fundraising Chair for Fairy Goodmothers, Asst. Varsity Swim Coach @ Columbus Academy, owner of art & antiques business

Melinda Gloriosa

Managing Director, Investment Funds at Rev1 Ventures where, among other responsibilities, she manages angel funds and supports corporate innovation initiatives
Board Member and Board Observer for several for-profit technology businesses including HubiFi, Trace 3D, ConverSight.ai, & Enzee
Former Managing Director at WillowWorks, focused on B2B and SaaS technologies at the pre-seed and seed stage
Certifications earned include: PMP, Advanced Angel Investing thru Ann and Bill Payne ACA Angel University (2024), & VC University Online thru VC University (2021)
Former New Product Development Engineer at American Honda Motor Company

Mike Supeck

Founder of the Ohio Angel Collective, an angel syndicate investing in Ohio-based early stage tech companies
Past Founder of a med-tech radiology company and a social media sharing application
Passionate about helping early stage businesses succeed
Eager for the Ohio venture ecosystem thrive; aiming to play a key role in the connective tissue throughout the state!

***************
This event is FREE, but please register in advance.
Timeline:
6:00 – Light Bites / Socialize & Connect
6:30 – Panel Begins; Be Ready to Ask Questions
7:30-7:45 – Panel Ends & Connecting Resumes
8:00 – Event Concludes

This event has passed so registration is closed.

Innovation Amplified: How the OSU Battelle Center Sparks Growth Through Partnership
2025-02-07 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Be ready to interact with our featured speakers, Dan Kelley & Lisa Frazier, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
Description, as provided by our speakers:
What is the Ohio State Battelle Center for Science, Engineering, and Public Policy and why are we necessary? i.e., What’s the gap that we fill? What’s our value proposition?
The Battelle Center is the connection point at OSU between world class scientific research and education with public agencies, organizations, and employers. We will be of value to the innovative employers of Central Ohio by connecting them with the exact faculty and students who will help to drive their mission and achieve their goals.
How does the Battelle Center foster innovation in Central Ohio?
Through our mission-serving activities, Specifically: experiential learning, career pipelining, and applied research & development.
We help companies, agencies, and organizations in Central Ohio to best utilize the resource that exists in the form of a world-class research university with a mission toward improving the prosperity of the citizens of the state. To that end, we train students from a wide range of disciplines to work together to solve problems and contribute to the public good through an integrated, innovative, problem-solving approach. We then help those students and employers in the region to get connected for mutual benefit. Additionally, we connect research to the real world.
How can you/members of the Innovate New Albany network help your own organizations while also supporting the Battelle Center? Bring us your challenges and wicked problems. Tell us what the characteristics of your ideal hires are. Through a membership with the center, you can present to students, connect with research labs, and engage with student consulting teams.
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Dr. Dan Kelley is an academic leader and scholar with a proven ability to create impactful programs through strategic partnerships. With a career spanning world-class scientific research, technical education leadership, and teaching across all levels of higher education, Dan bridges the gap between academia and industry. He has driven workforce development initiatives that prepare Ohio’s talent for cutting-edge employers and delivered meaningful results at the intersection of science and policy. Known for fostering collaboration and innovation, Dan’s insights inspire action and progress. Join him to learn how he transforms challenges into opportunities that empower communities and drive lasting impact.
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Dr. Lisa Frazier is a Senior Researcher at the Battelle Center, tackling complex challenges at the intersection of technology and human health. With expertise in health policy and a focus on equity and social justice, she applies cutting-edge research methods to inform decision-making and drive meaningful change. A leader on impactful projects like the NIH-funded HEALing Communities Study, Dr. Frazier’s work spans opioid policy, Medicaid, reproductive health, and more. A dedicated educator and award-winning scholar, she empowers future leaders to solve society’s toughest problems through structural innovation and public policy.
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Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Dan & Lisa
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

Name*
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Company*

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By registering for & participating in this event, I am consenting to the recording of my image and/or voice. I am also authorizing Innovate New Albany to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing my image and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.

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Increased Customer Experience = Increased Profits!
2025-02-14 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Be ready to interact with our featured speaker, Andy Shockney, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
In this TIGER Talk, Andy Shockney will provide a plan for improving your customers’ experience when consuming or obtaining your products or services.
Who Should Come: self-challenging business owners and CEOs who are seeking to build the value of their businesses.
Please come prepared to:

discuss your business’s current performance
specify where you want performance to improve
make a commitment to an action plan to improve profitability

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Andy Shockney is President and Co-Founder of What Box Consulting Group. Andy’s focus in consulting is on strategic planning and customer experience. His passion is to discover and unlock growth in businesses and leaders.
Prior to starting his consulting firm, Andy was Director of Strategic Planning with Thirty-One Gifts. While at Thirty-One, he also led the customer experience team on a journey from forty million to seven-hundred million in sales.
Andy is also an adjunct lecturer at The Fisher School of Business at The Ohio State University where he teaches Marketing Projects 4204 – Marketing Capstone for Seniors.
Learn more about the capabilities of Andy’s consulting firm at www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com.
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Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Andy
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

Name*
FirstLast

Email*

Company*

Consent to Use My Image & Voice*
By registering for & participating in this event, I am consenting to the recording of my image and/or voice. I am also authorizing Innovate New Albany to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing my image and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.

I AGREE

Unlock the Secret to Making Products Customers Will Love
2025-02-19 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Be ready to interact with our featured speaker, Urko Wood, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
Wouldn’t it be great if there were a reliable way to differentiate your products and
services from the competition?
Actually, there is.
The key to successful differentiation lies in focusing on what truly
matters to your target customers. By asking the right questions, understanding what
they want to accomplish, and where their needs remain unmet, you can unlock new
opportunities for growth.
Jobs-to-Be-Done (JTBD) is a breakthrough approach that flips traditional market
research and the front end of innovation on its head. It’s uniquely effective at helping
entrepreneurs and business leaders uncover the key, hidden needs that drive customer
decisions, thereby enabling them to create differentiated growth strategies and products
with strong market fit. Due to the complexity and cost of full JTBD consulting projects,
however, it has been out of reach for most small and mid-sized companies.
In this TIGER Talk, Urko Wood will introduce you to “Lean JTBD,” a practical evolution
of the proven JTBD framework, designed to help entrepreneurs and business leaders:
— Find and capitalize on the customers’ unmet needs
— Boost employee engagement and productivity
— Foster a culture of innovation
…by applying the mindset and key concepts of JTBD – without the complexity or cost of
traditional consulting.
If you want to build products and services that stand out, command premium pricing,
and deliver sustainable growth, this talk is for you!
***************
Urko Wood is an accomplished innovation leader and the founder of Reveal Growth Consultants, where he helps companies drive innovation and growth by uncovering their customers’ hidden unmet needs.
With over 18 years of expertise in the Jobs-to-Be-Done (JTBD) innovation approach, Urko has enabled companies of all sizes – including startups and Fortune 1000 leaders – to achieve revenue growth through unique customer insights. His passion lies in transforming innovation from a guessing game into a repeatable, customer needs-driven process.
Urko has worked with leading organizations such as Battelle Memorial Institute, NetJets, Can-Am Off-Road Vehicles, Franklin University, and GBQ Partners to uncover hidden customer needs that drive innovation and differentiation.
Before founding Reveal in 2012, Urko worked closely with Tony Ulwick, the chief pioneer of JTBD, at Strategyn Consulting. Urko had prior leadership roles at Deloitte, UnitedHealthcare, where he built top level skills in strategy, sales, and customer engagement.
Urko earned his MBA at The Wharton School and he’s a veteran of the US Navy.
Urko is an active writer and speaker on innovation and growth strategy. He has guest lectured at Denison University, OSU’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Otterbein University’s MBA Program. A lifelong learner, Urko is dedicated to helping leaders and entrepreneurs unlock their potential to build products and services customers truly love.
***************
Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Urko
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

Name*
FirstLast

Email*

Company*

Consent to Use My Image & Voice*
By registering for & participating in this event, I am consenting to the recording of my image and/or voice. I am also authorizing Innovate New Albany to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing my image and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.

I AGREE

Humans and Machines: The Automated Future of Work
2025-02-21 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Be ready to interact with our featured speaker, Ronak Patel, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
Automation is no longer something in the distant future; it’s a present reality that’s reshaping industries across the globe.
A common misconception, however, is that automation is solely about replacing humans.
But the reality is that the future of work is about creating a powerful synergy between human ingenuity and machine efficiency.
In this TIGER Talk, Ronak Patel will explore the rise of AI and automation, dispelling myths of job displacement, and unpacking the human-bot collaboration so we can all be better prepared for the future of work.
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Ronak Patel is CEO of Sunflower Lab, a fast-growing, award-winning digital product and innovations agency with offices across North America and India.
Ronak is an entrepreneur and technologist at heart. He truly believes technology can change the world for the better. That’s why for the past 17+ years, he has consistently invested time during his business days to be involved in day-to-day technology decisions.
He earned his Bachelor of Engineering, Information Technology from UVPCE. He currently resides in Columbus. He’s always happy to meet with other entrepreneurs and executives interested in technology.
***************
Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Ronak
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

Name*
FirstLast

Email*

Company*

Consent to Use My Image & Voice*
By registering for & participating in this event, I am consenting to the recording of my image and/or voice. I am also authorizing Innovate New Albany to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing my image and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.

I AGREE

CES 2025: Sustainability, Wellness Tech, and Real World AI
2025-02-28 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – 3rd Floor, 7775 Walton Pkwy, 3rd Floor, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Be ready to interact with our featured speakers, Brad Griffith & Melanie Muscolo, and your fellow participants.
CES (formerly known as the International Consumer Electronics Show) bills itself as “the most powerful tech event in the world” and “the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators.”
At this year’s event — in Las Vegas as usual, Jan 5-10 — CES continued fulfilling these promises, showcasing and shaping our technology future!
This year, the focus at CES was on sustainability, wellness and digital health tech, and AI applications that are moving beyond hype and search engine replacements into real-world impact.
From groundbreaking advancements in clean energy and biodegradable batteries to AI-driven solutions for retail point of sale, business efficiency, healthcare, and urban planning, CES 2025 showcased innovations that are reshaping industries and our daily lives.
Join our featured speakers Brad Griffith & Melanie Muscolo for a photo-filled recap and discussion about the most disruptive trends. From startups revolutionizing climate tech to major industries integrating AI for meaningful change, they’ll share a broad array of technologies and a concise set of insights.
They’ll discuss what’s next in consumer technology—what will empower us, what might distract us, and how we can use it intentionally to build a smarter, more sustainable future.
If you’re a leader navigating a rapidly evolving landscape, and you’re ready for technology that serves us better, this talk will give you the key insights you need to stay ahead.
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Brad Griffith is a technology innovator and a champion for equitable opportunity. His life’s mission is to close equity gaps by creatively applying software and design. He is the President of Buckeye Innovation, the web engineering and design team he started in 2009 to amplify the impact of innovative businesses and organizations. His team of 17 includes designers and developers who love building and supporting websites, web applications, and mobile applications.
Prior to starting Buckeye Innovation, Brad built web applications at JPMorgan Chase, QUALCOMM, and the Go Big Network. He earned his MBA and a BS in Engineering with honors from The Ohio State University. He lives in New Albany with his wife and two young daughters where he is an active Girl Scouts “Troop Cookie Dad” in addition to other community volunteer roles.
Brad was selected in 2020 to the inaugural class of the Columbus CEO Future 50 and was also a finalist for the 2019 and 2023 Small Business Leader Awards from the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. Buckeye Innovation was recognized in the 2022 and 2023 Inc 5000 as one of the country’s fastest-growing private companies and in 2023 was selected as one of Inc’s Best Workplaces.
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Melanie Muscolo is a dynamic business development leader with a passion for fostering relationships and solving the problems companies are facing. As the VP of Growth & Strategic Engagement at Buckeye Innovation, she has spent the past five years helping businesses and organizations expand their digital impact through innovative technology solutions.
Melanie’s career began in television, where she worked on game and award shows, honing her skills in high-energy, fast-paced environments. She brings that same enthusiasm and creativity to her role at Buckeye Innovation, where she focuses on building relationships, identifying new opportunities, and shaping strategies that fuel long-term success.
Outside of work, Melanie enjoys going to concerts, binge-watching the latest true crime documentaries on Netflix, and spending time with her fiancé and their beloved beagle, Hank.
***************
Like all TIGER Events, this one is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch + Mingling
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Brad & Melanie
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Mingling

Name*

First

Last

Email*

Company*Consent to Use My Image & Voice*By registering for & participating in this event, I am consenting to the recording of my image and/or voice. I am also authorizing Innovate New Albany to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing my image and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.

I AGREE

Δ

AI Agents – Separating Fact from Fiction
2025-03-07 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Be ready to interact with our featured speaker, Ron Savoia, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
In this TIGER Talk, Ron Savoia will discuss AI Agents, also known as Agentic AI, the latest craze in Generative AI!
Ron will cover the core aspects of AI Agents and their functionality. He’ll also present several platforms and tools that are great examples of AI Agents.
Ron will highlight how AI Agents are being used today, the workflows they’re automating, and the financial value they’re delivering, including:

reduced costs,
increased employee productivity
new revenue streams

Finally, Ron will cover what we call “API Workflow Managers” that are claiming to be AI Agents and why he believes they are NOT true examples of Agentic AI.
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Ron Savoia is the Co-founder and CEO of CopilotBuilder, which is a software platform that enables organizations to create their own custom Generative AI agents. This platform was the recipient of the Columbus Business First Biztech Award this past fall and was recently accepted into the Rev1 Customer to Capital program.
CopilotBuilder currently has several local organizations using this platform for various use cases in support of their business startup, which have been instrumental in advancing the platform in terms of additional functionality and new use cases that it supports. Ron also was the founder of Stratus Innovations Group, which is an IT services provider, and previously was the first Ohio-based Microsoft employee for their Microsoft Consulting Services Group.
***************
Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Ron
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

Name*

First

Last

Email*

Company*Consent to Use My Image & Voice*By registering for & participating in this event, I am consenting to the recording of my image and/or voice. I am also authorizing Innovate New Albany to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing my image and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.

I AGREE

Δ

The Meaning Gap in the Age of Automation: Navigating Work and Life with AI and Robots
2025-03-14 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Be ready to interact with our featured speaker, Ryan Frederick, and your fellow participants.
As AI and automation increasingly reshape the world of work, many people face a profound crisis of meaning in their personal and professional lives. Tasks once done by humans are rapidly becoming automated, raising existential questions about purpose, identity, and the future of work.

In this talk, Ryan Frederick will explore how the rise of AI and robots is impacting human purpose, the emotional and psychological challenges this brings, and ways to adapt and thrive in a landscape where work as we know it is dramatically changing. Join us to learn strategies for finding meaning and maintaining fulfillment in an automated world, beyond productivity and efficiency.

Key Takeaways:

The Changing Landscape of Work: Understand how AI and automation are transforming industries and jobs, leading to shifts in how we perceive work and its value.
The Crisis of Meaning: Learn about the psychological and existential challenges that arise as human work is replaced by machines and how it affects our sense of purpose and identity.
Redefining Purpose: Explore ways to find meaning beyond traditional work, focusing on creativity, connection, and human-centered values that machines cannot replicate.
Adapting to Change: Gain practical strategies for maintaining fulfillment in a world where jobs are increasingly automated, and discover new ways to integrate technology into a meaningful life.
The Human Advantage: Understand the unique human qualities—such as empathy, creativity, and moral decision-making—that remain vital in an automated world, and how to leverage these traits in future roles.

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Our featured speaker, Ryan Frederick, is an advisor, author, investor, and speaker. Ryan is a Principal at the technology advising firm Transform Labs.
Ryan blends a technical background with business acumen to provide a balanced perspective of company strategy and business model for the most value and impact. Ryan has been part of starting and growing several product and service companies, including from inception to exit and turnarounds, helping the companies to establish product market fit and long-term sustainability.
Ryan has written two books about starting and managing companies. The first, The Founders Manual, focuses on key insights for entrepreneurs around product, being a founder, and their companies. The second, Sell Naked, shares perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of managing and growing a professional services firm.
Ryan frequently speaks about the future of work, digital transformation, and leveraging technology for greater impact and value.
***************
Like all TIGER Events, this one is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch + Mingling
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Ryan
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Mingling

Name*

First

Last

Email*

Company*Consent to Use My Image & Voice*By registering for & participating in this event, I am consenting to the recording of my image and/or voice. I am also authorizing Innovate New Albany to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing my image and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.

I AGREE

Δ

AI and Workforce Development: What Small Businesses & Municipalities Need to Know
2025-03-21 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Be ready to interact with featured speakers, Mel McGee & New Albany Mayor Sloan Spalding, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am.
Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
New Albany Mayor Sloan Spalding will provide introductory remarks about Community Innovation Partnership and then tee up the conversation.
Community Innovation Partnership is a coalition of mayors committed to leveraging emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence to enhance city functions, strengthen workforce development, and shape policy. Mayor Spaulding will introduce Mel McGee.
Preview of Mel’s remarks below:
As AI continues to shape industries, small businesses have a unique opportunity to harness its potential for workforce development, efficiency, and growth. To stay competitive, it’s essential to understand how AI can enhance employee skills, ensure responsible use, and take advantage of funding opportunities.

AI for Workforce Development & Upskilling: AI-driven training tools can help employees build new skills, improve productivity, and adapt to changing job demands.
Developing Internal AI Policies: Establishing AI policies ensures responsible use, protects data security, and aligns AI adoption with business goals.
Ohio’s TechCred Program: Businesses can receive up to $180,000 per year in reimbursement for AI and tech-related training to upskill their workforce.

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Melanie McGee is a pioneering technologist, educator, and entrepreneur with nearly three decades of experience in software engineering, artificial intelligence, and workforce development. As the Co-founder of SkillSpout and Founder & CEO of We Can Code IT, she drives AI adoption and practical tech education for small to mid-sized organizations.
A recognized thought leader, Melanie has shaped the future of AI-driven learning and workforce transformation, with her work featured in books, media, and academic settings. Beyond tech, she’s an avid cyclist, trail runner, and lifelong learner passionate about innovation and problem-solving.
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Sloan Spalding is the Mayor of New Albany, Ohio. Sloan currently serves as Assistant Auditor for Ohio State Auditor Keith Faber. Prior professional appointments have included being selected as section chief for employment law for then Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, general counsel and deputy chancellor for the Ohio Board of Regents, chief legal counsel to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and labor relations director for The Ohio State University.
***************
Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Mayor Spalding & Mel McGee
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

Name*

First

Last

Email*

Company*Consent to Use My Image & Voice*By registering for & participating in this event, I am consenting to the recording of my image and/or voice. I am also authorizing Innovate New Albany to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing my image and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.

I AGREE

Δ

Beyond the Behemoths – How JobsOhio Supports Growth-Stage Companies & Innovators
2025-03-28 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Please arrive at 11:30 am, ready to interact with featured speaker, Josh Hoffman, and your fellow participants.
Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
Amgen. Anduril. Honda. Intel. You’ve heard all about these recent economic development wins for the State of Ohio, and the incentives provided by JobsOhio, One Columbus, and their local economic development partners. However, did you know JobsOhio has programs specifically for our growth-stage companies and innovators?
This TIGER Talk will explore opportunities available for early-stage companies to continue their growth story in Ohio.
Please join Josh Hoffman as he discusses how JobsOhio goes beyond the behemoth companies you’ve seen in the headlines to provide resources for your start-up, spin-out, or scale-up.
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Josh Hoffman is Director of Healthcare at JobsOhio,. Josh received his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Maryland. He continued his education with master’s degrees in biomedical engineering and business administration from The Ohio State University. Prior to JobsOhio, Josh spent ten years in clinical research and digital health at The Ohio State University, CoverMyMeds, and VPL. In his current role, Josh is responsible for strategy and investment in the state’s healthcare and life sciences sector. In addition, Josh drives strategy and business development for the Ohio Discovery Corridor. Josh lives with his wife and two children in Westerville, Ohio.
***************
Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Josh
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

Name*

First

Last

Email*

Company*Consent to Use My Image & Voice*By registering for & participating in this event, I am consenting to the recording of my image and/or voice. I am also authorizing Innovate New Albany to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing my image and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.

I AGREE

Δ

INVINCIBLE 2025: Three Key Insights To Master Today
2025-04-04 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Be ready to interact with featured speaker, Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am.
Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
With change being a constant, companies and individuals are undergoing a fundamental transformation in the way they live, work, and prosper.
In this exciting yet pragmatic and highly interactive TIGER Talk, Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva will show how the business reality is changing in 2025 – and how to take advantage of these changes to make you disruption-ready and turbulence-proof.
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Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva is the Founder and Chief Reinvention Officer, Reinvention Academy. She is also Co-founder of The Reinvention Summit.
Often called “The Reinvention Guru” and “The Queen of Reinvention,” Dr. Nadya is a scientist, entrepreneur, and author specializing in resilience and reinvention.
As a consultant and educator, she helped such companies as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Coca-Cola, IBM, Cisco, L’Oreal Group, Danone, Kohler, Erste Bank, Henkel, Knauf Insulation, and Vienna Insurance Group reinvent their products, leadership practices, and business models to meet new market demands and prepare for incoming disruptions.
As a speaker, Dr. Nadya has delivered keynotes and workshops to over 500,000 executives, and four TEDx Talks. As an author, she has written several award-winning books including “The Chief Reinvention Officer Handbook: How to Thrive in Chaos”. Dr. Nadya is a contributor to Forbes and Harvard Business Review, and her work has been featured in a variety of publications in the USA and internationally.
***************
Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Dr. Nadya
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

Name*

First

Last

Email*

Company*Consent to Use My Image & Voice*By registering for & participating in this event, I am consenting to the recording of my image and/or voice. I am also authorizing Innovate New Albany to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing my image and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.

I AGREE

Δ

More Than Content: How Experiences, Collaborations & Influencers Build Brands That Last
2025-04-11 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Be ready to interact with featured speaker, Sean Dupiano, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am.
Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
***************
Event Description in the words of our event leader, Sean Dupiano:
I run Fluff Studio, a social media agency built on digital strategy—but the more I’ve scaled, the clearer it’s become: your brand isn’t just what you post, it’s how people experience you in real life. AI can optimize content, but it can’t replace human connection—people remember conversations, moments, and the way a brand made them feel.
From launching Kape Coffee to hosting influencer activations, I’ve seen how in-person experiences turn followers into advocates. The strongest brands aren’t just seen online—they create real-world moments that get shared and remembered. This workshop is about bridging the gap between digital influence and real-world impact to build a brand that lasts.
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Sean Dupiano is building Fluff Studio, a media company, which just opened its newest 3,000+ sq. ft. retail/studio space.
On weekends, Sean swaps cameras for coffee beans at Kape Coffee, a pop-up his company hosts at Coppa Gelato, curating flavors from across the world, blending travel, culture, and caffeine into something tangible, something you can taste.
Seven years in the military taught Sean discipline, adaptability, and how to lead under pressure. Sean co-founded Fluff Studio and Kape Coffee to figure things out for himself—to learn by doing, failing, iterating. Along the way, he’s met Colombian coffee growers with stories as rich as their beans, built partnerships that crossed industries and continents, and worked with executives on the nuances of brand positioning.
More than anything, Sean has learned that the best ideas don’t just live on a screen. They live in rooms, in conversations, in the space between strangers who might not stay strangers for long. Sean is always eager talk about how to make that happen.
***************
Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Sean
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

Name*

First

Last

Email*

Company*Consent to Use My Image & Voice*By registering for & participating in this event, I am consenting to the recording of my image and/or voice. I am also authorizing Innovate New Albany to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing my image and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.

I AGREE

Δ

Expert Office Hours: April 17, 2025
2025-04-17 09:00 - 11:30 | OH
Meet 1-on-1 With 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, 04/16/25.
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 FIVE
4. You’ll receive an email & a calendar invitation – w/ a Zoom link for each appointment
5. Thurs April 17: 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 five 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.

Jordan Campbell | Huntington National Bank
Funding Businesses thru SBA Programs
Jordan began her career at Huntington in 2016 as a relationship banker at the German Village, OH branch. She then moved into business banking as a treasury management advisor, supporting the Central and Southern, OH branches.
In 2019 she joined the Dedicated Business Relationship Manager team and managed a portfolio of 200 business banking clients in the Cincinnati area. She transitioned to a Business Development Officer in Central, OH working to find new business banking clients to bring to Huntington Bank and most recently has become an SBA Product Specialist focusing on SBA lending for Central, OH business owners.
Great questions for Jordan:

SBA Loan Options: What types of SBA loans are available, and how can I determine which one is the best fit for my business?
Eligibility Requirements: What are the key qualifications for obtaining an SBA loan, and how can I determine if my business meets them?
Business Expansion: How can SBA financing help with growing my business, such as acquiring new equipment, opening a second location, or purchasing inventory?
Preparing a Strong Application: What are the most common mistakes business owners make when applying for SBA loans, and how can I avoid them?
Understanding Loan Terms: How do SBA loan terms compare to traditional loans, and what should I consider when evaluating repayment terms?
Improving Financial Position: What steps can I take to strengthen my financial position and increase my chances of getting approved for an SBA loan?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Jordan.

Arthi Rathi | Book + Street
Financial Modeling, Cash Flow, Pricing Model, & Equity Compensation
Arthi Rathi is a CFO at Book+Street, a financial services firm working with startup businesses in Ohio and the Midwest. A CPA by background, Arthi climbed the ladder in Big 4 consulting and at a Fortune 25 company and has over 15 years of financial, operational and management experience. She is a strategic problem solver delivering financial value through a deep understanding of business and collaboration.
Arthi enjoys helping clients weave their stories through numbers to help business partners craft new ventures, grow businesses and showcase their value. Through her work, she has gained advanced skills in technical accounting, revenue recognition, deal modeling, and strategic finance. She loves working with startups because it allows her to solve problems creatively by rolling up her sleeves, diving into data and learning through cross-functional teamwork.
Great questions for Arthi:

What is my Burn rate and how long will my cash last and what do I need to raise?
How do I develop a revenue forecast? How do I determine ARR. What are the key financial metrics to analyze my business
What type of financial information do potential investors expect when considering an investment?
Do I need to give my employees equity? How do I set up my cap table and model scenarios for equity considerations?
Economics to consider for pricing my service / product

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Arthi.

Brett Rosenstein | Build Accounting
Accounting and Taxes for Startups
With 15 years of experience in the accounting industry, Brett is a highly skilled Certified Public Accountant dedicated to helping tech startups and SaaS businesses navigate the complexities of accounting and taxes.
Brett previously worked for Plante and Moran, a large public accounting firm in downtown Columbus. Having the entrepreneur “bug”, Brett started Build Accounting in 2019. Over the years, Build Accounting has grown to a team of five and today provides tax filing, accounting, and advisory services for tech startups and SaaS business. Build Accounting’s mission is to make the accounting and tax process as easy, simple, and headache-free for founders as possible. Build uses cloud-based accounting systems and current technologies to help founders understand their numbers and make informed decisions that will benefit their company.
During the day, Brett can be found working out of the Innovate New Albany offices. While, in his free time he enjoys running, spending time with his wife and daughter, and trying new pizza places around Columbus. Between 2011 and 2013, he tried 100+ pizza places in the Columbus area.
Great questions for Brett:

What is the best entity structure for my business?
What are the tax compliance requirements that I should be aware of?
What are the bare minimum OR best practice accounting and tax requirements I should be taking to ensure I stay out of trouble with the IRS.
How can I ensure I am picking up all available deductions for my business?
What else should I know about that I may not be thinking about when it comes to the accounting and taxes for my business?

Click here schedule 30 minutes with Brett.

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.

Brian Thomas | Impact-Social
Go-to-Market Strategy & Execution
For the past 12 years, Brian has implemented go-to-market strategies for small businesses and startups. He has assisted small businesses across numerous sectors in identifying, developing, and implementing growth strategies. From local beverage distribution, to international commodity markets, and IoT to Web3, businesses have used these go-to-market systems to find success or pivot into a welcoming niche. Whether it’s growing a social media page to 1 million followers, building a local customer base to 50+ customers, or reaching into international markets to diversify importers, the fundamentals of market-fit, sales, and marketing are the foundation for any business to grow. At Impact Social, our business is to accelerate your business.
Great questions for Brian:

Who will buy my product or service?
How do I price my product or service?
What is the most effective distribution channel to reach my market?
How do I sell my product or service?
Why have my sales plateaued?
What systems do I put into place to grow my business?

Click here schedule 30 minutes with Brian.

Matt Cynkar | Rev1 Ventures
Resources for High Growth Startups
Matt Cynkar serves as Managing Director at Rev1 Ventures. In that role, Matt leads the team that serves as the first touch point for the more than 700 entrepreneurs who reach out to Rev1 each year. That team connects entrepreneurs quickly with the startup resources available within Rev1 and throughout Ohio’s startup communities.
Matt manages exploratory meetings between qualified entrepreneurs and the Rev1 team members. Matt ensures seamless handoffs for entrepreneurs between their early contact with Rev1 and the next steps on their journey, which may be Rev1’s Customer Learning Lab, client engagement planning, or referrals to other support organizations or programs.
Before joining Rev1, Matt played key roles in Market Research and Customer Insights at Alliance Data and Bath & Body Works. Matt is a graduate of Miami University.
Great questions for Matt:

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?

Click here to schedule 30 minutes with Matt.

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 .

Prepare or Fail: Driving Technology Transformations That Stick
2025-04-25 11:30 - 13:00 | INNOVATE NEW ALBANY – NEW LOCATION, 7775 Walton Pkwy, Suite 100, New Albany, OH, 43054, United States
Be ready to interact with our featured speaker, Shara Hutchinson, and your fellow participants.
Please arrive at 11:30 am. Eat. Mingle. Make new friends.
Resistance to change is the silent killer of innovation, often turning even the most advanced technologies into costly failures.
Digital transformation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a make-or-break opportunity for businesses. Yet too often, organizations fall short because their teams aren’t prepared to adopt new tools and processes.
Success hinges on more than just implementing AI, software, or other transformative technologies — it’s about ensuring they are embraced and utilized effectively. This session will equip you with the critical skills needed to prepare your organization for change, overcome resistance, and lead successful technology rollouts. You’ll walk away with actionable strategies to engage your teams, track adoption progress, and maximize the value of your investments.
Join our presenter, Shara Hutchinson, to turn resistance into readiness and ensure your digital transformation efforts achieve lasting success.
Who Should Attend:

Business Leaders and Decision-Makers: Those driving digital transformation efforts such as AI, automation, or software rollouts.
Software Providers and Consultants: Companies responsible for delivering solutions and ensuring client adoption to secure long-term success.
Change Leaders and Managers: Professionals tasked with overcoming resistance and managing organizational transformation.

Key Takeaways:

Why resistance to change is the biggest threat to your tech investment and how to address it.
Strategies to prepare your teams for change and ensure new technologies are embraced.
Data-driven methods to measure adoption and secure a strong return on investment.
How to build a change-ready culture that thrives in innovation and avoids disruption.

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Shara Hutchinson is the Founder and Chief Change Strategist at Xposeyour, an emerging tech startup dedicated to preparing leaders and teams for transformation. She is focused on partnering with organizations to minimize employee resistance during change, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.
Xposeyour’s B2B SaaS solution, Readiness Xchange, helps leaders navigate complex transformations by identifying risks early and driving successful adoption. Shara is a Qualified Education Professional (QEP) with training and workshops that earn you PDU credit hours towards the global CCMP certification.
Having experience leading at a high growth tech startup for nearly 10 years before becoming an entrepreneur, Shara is a TEDx speaker, a Forbes Contributor, and author of Barefoot in the Boardroom: Every Leader’s Guide to Navigating Change. What sets Shara apart is her ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, aligning initiatives with overarching business objectives. She is passionate about empowering teams through effective communication, training, and coaching, enabling them to embrace change and sustain desired outcomes. Shara has a proven track record of leading complex, multi-faceted change programs from planning to post-implementation review, delivering quantifiable results and long-term value.
Shara serves on the board of Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP Ohio) and National Association for Women Business Owners (NAWBO Columbus). She loves making an impact in the community. When Shara is not working, she spends time making memories with her husband and son.
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Like all TIGER Events, this talk is FREE.
Timeline:
11:30 am – Lunch / Socializing
11:50 am – Introduce yourself to our crowd (your “15 Seconds of Fame”)
12:05 pm – Hand-off to Shara
1:00 pm – Wrap / More Socializing

Name*

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Last

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Company*Consent to Use My Image & Voice*By registering for & participating in this event, I am consenting to the recording of my image and/or voice. I am also authorizing Innovate New Albany to use photographs, video, and audio recordings containing my image and/or voice in any medium for any purpose.

I AGREE

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