Opportunity: Free Co-Working . . . and Cake

Co-working, the idea of sharing office space, has been around since, well, before Office Space. It comes in various forms and flavors, from incubators offering virtual incubation that includes use of a conference room and by-the-day office or cubicle, to Regus and Laptop Lane offering shared facilities around the country to its members.

In the Tri-Cities region (the NC-TN-VA border area where are live) there are several government or not-for-profit incubators offering this option, and two for-profit co-working spaces.

Spark Plaza, one of those for-profit co-working spaces is celebrating its birthday next week, October 2. More precisely, its half-birthday.  Below are the basics, with more details on the Launchpin.com calendar:

"We're always looking for an excuse for a party - and Spark Plaza has a great reason to celebrate.

On Friday, October 2nd, Spark Plaza marks its 6 month anniversary, so we throwing a 0.5 Birthday Party!

Join us for First Friday Free co-working  from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. then grab some dinner in downtown and come back for some  cake and ice cream from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Jose and Shannon Castillo"

Opportunity: Greenville (SC) Alliance for Excellence Ethics Conf

A conference for those interested in ethical business.

The Forum on Biblical Business Ethics, sponsored by Alliance for Excellence, will take place Oct. 15–17 on the campus of Bob Jones University. Visit www.allforexcellence.org for details on registration, hotels, transportation and conference activities.

Topics that Affect You Today

The conference is designed to help and encourage Christian men and women in business as well as Christians who own their own businesses. High-level speakers from companies such as Hines, Tucker Advisory Group, CF Capital, Jiffy Lube, Federal Express and Michelin North America will address topics such as:

• How a Christian can commit to biblical ethics and maintain a clear Christian testimony in the business world
• How to operate a business by biblical principles
• The interaction of Christian business people with government
• The changing role of the U.S. in the global economy
• The status of the economy

Extra Benefits

Conference attendees will have the opportunity to network with other Christians in business and with Christian college students preparing for business careers.

10 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) units are available and can be requested in advance of registration.

Registration

Register online or by mail. Registration fee is $150. $50 off registrations received on or before Sept. 28.

Opportunity: TechStar 2009 - We Become What We Celebrate

While a board member, I was involved in several of the early TechStar awards for the Northeast Tennessee Tech Council (NETTC.org). I have been delighted to see the awards ceremonies continue, accompanied by a tech symposium that was also started during my tenure on the board.

Below is an excerpt with details on the 2009 TechStar awards and symposium:


If you are a business or a non-profit and have used or developed technology to reduce costs, assist with daily operations or improved a process or outcome, then you are eligible to apply for a 2009 TechStar Award this year!  There are 9 categories for consideration and we will be honoring the 2009 TechStar award recipients at a luncheon to be held on October 15, 2009 at 11:30 am at the Millennium Centre, in Johnson City, TN. 

Applications can be emailed (dboggs@nettc.org) or faxed (423.279.9066) to the NETTC office no later than 4pm on Friday, September 25. For additional information, please contact the NETTC office at 423.863.3216 prior to the deadline.


Download the application at www.techstarawards.com or click here for a PDF version. Details on the Tech Star awards and symposium have also been added to the LaunchPin calendar.

Opportunity: 40 Under 40 Awards

Catching up on news after returning from IBC 2009 in Amsterdam, and here's a good piece of news: the 17th Annual 40 Under 40 Awards will be presented on September 25, 2009.

This information from The Business Journal of Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia (yes, the longest Business Journal name this side of the Mississippi):


The Business Journal of Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia will honor 40 of the region’s top business professionals September 25, at the 17th annual 40 Under Forty awards ceremony at the Millennium Centre, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with a social hour to begin at 6:30.


Keynote speaker Dr. Phil Roe, United States Congressman representing Tennessee’s First Congressional District will speak to this year’s class of 40 Under Forty honorees, inducting them into a highly-respected group that includes preceding winners David Davis, Ron Ramsey, Jason Mumpower, Steve Smith, Tommy Greer, Miles Burdine, Vance Cheek, Jr., April Eads, Robert Feagins, Jeff Fleming, Jon Lundberg, Ben Mallicote, Sam Messimer, Timothy Siglin, David Temple and Tony Treadway, to name a few.


More information is available at www.40under.com/gala.shtm

Luxembourg

Casemates, fortifications, bridges and bulwarks: Luxembourg is as much a study in small niches and hide-a-ways as it is in modern banking and the Grey List.




It is also a city of normality, with a market on Saturday that brings out the ladies dressed for market.




iPhoned

We're not in business to . . .

This phrase is often heard, followed by either a truism or a myth.

I've often let these pontifications, or even stereotypes, blow right by; a recent discussion, however, struck me as odd enough to reflect on these sayings - and respond appropriately.

"We're not in business to be altruistic"

This sentence, if uttered in my native New York, would be a truism, except for the philanthropic few that support the arts or their favorite charity.

Yet it was uttered in my adopted home in Tennessee, in a conversation between two ex-pat New Yorkers discussing the local business climate. I agree, in principle, with the sentiment, and will be counted among those who will work hard, logging the hours and miles, to see a project through to fruition and profit.

Yet the profit motivator is a good scorecard, bit it's not the only - or most important - one.

Knowing about, and playing against, the other scorecards, which require both philanthropy and altruism, is highly important in the parts of the US that aren't New York or LA. Especially in parts of the burgeoning yet reserved Southeast.

Otherwise, industrial meets suburban or rural in yet another round of misunderstanding, necessitating the translation of phrases and values to make each relevant to the other.


iPhoned

Will This Float?

A new business pitch competition, Will This Float, is being launched in the Tri-Cities this month. Contestants from each of the cities - Bristol, Johnson City and Kingsport - will participate in pitching very short business ideas. Attended a few of the planning sessions, and hope to make it to this inaugural event.

See details below, or visit www.willthisfloat.com

Regional Leaders to Host Will This Float?

Where Business Ideas Sink or Swim

Will this Sink? Or Will this Float?

JOHNSON CITY, TENN. — Have you ever had an idea you thought could fundamentally change the way people live? Could your idea make you the next Mark Zuckerberg (creator of Facebook), Steve Jobs or Steve Wozniak (creators of Apple)?

All aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals are invited to attend this event on Thursday, November 20, 2008, to help decide who has the best business idea, or elevator pitch.

Ten competitors will be selected to compete in the challenge, to be held at the Carnegie Hotel Ballroom, from 5:30 p.m., to 11 p.m. Presenters will have no more than five minutes to pitch his or her idea to the audience and a panel of three judges, all to find out … Will This Float?

Presenters will be pre-screened and judged based on the following criteria: few or no direct competitors; low adoption/switching costs for users; on-time (timely entry to market, considering environmental factors and market maturity); addresses unfilled need or want/solves a real problem (useful); and target market is identified and large.

The event will also showcase existing entrepreneurs and the regional technology-based group geeksouth to feature some of its most unique technologies happening right now. Local companies will provide services including online, live voting technology and streaming video of the event online.

Participants will be able to vote on their favorite pitch and prizes will be awarded at the end of the night.

Tickets are just $25, or $15 for students. Tickets include heavy hors d’œuvres and a chance to mix and mingle with some of the best minds in our area.