FINE Meeting, 5/19, “Local News Goes Digital on the Huffington Post Media Group/AOL – Westport Patch”

6 05 2011

Our speakers for the May 19th FINE Business Networking meeting are Anthony Karge, local editor of Westport Patch, and Michael Dinan, regional editor for Patch in Fairfield County. Patch is a network of community-specific news and information websites dedicated to providing comprehensive local coverage for individual towns and communities. Patch is part of The Huffington Post Media Group/AOL.  
 
Anthony and Michael will talk about what Patch is, how it came about, the market for online news, the role it plays in the local community and how it can be of value to the business community.
 
Anthony Karge is a lifelong writer who worked as a reporter at the Westport News for two years. Prior to joining Patch, he interned for a film industry website based in Poland and also for a nonprofit organization which provided resources for journalists at community newspapers. Michael Dinan grew up in New Canaan and worked as a news reporter at The Advocate and Greenwich Time for five years prior to heading a group of Web editors at an online B2B that covered technology, eventually settling in at Patch.

The meeting takes place in the Smilow Lounge, second floor, at the Westport Country Playhouse. Doors open at 9AM.


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One–Stop Shop for Tech Entrepreneurs at CTech IncUBator in Bridgeport

4 05 2011

Gad Selig, our speaker in April, told us about the impressive extent of assistance offered to start-ups at the CTech Incubator at UB. He asked that we help spread the word and make FINE members, who may be able to benefit, aware of the offerings and the space available to full and part time tenants.   

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The CTech IncUBator@University of Bridgeport is an ideal home base for technology-oriented entrepreneurs in Fairfield County. Here they will receive assistance to accelerate the growth of their companies. Tenants benefit from:

 ·Pro bono and discounted business advice.

·Access to University of Bridgeport research facilities, faculty and student interns.

·Introduction to potential investors.

·Brown Bag lunch seminars on site.

·An entrepreneurial community where entrepreneurs can share ideas and solutions.

·Shared support services.

·Favorable rent rates.

The CTech IncUBator@University of Bridgeport, located at 250 Myrtle Avenue, is already home to three entrepreneurial ventures. There is space for two additional full-time tenants as well as 3-4 part-time tenants, or “associate members.”

We invite you to come meet the CTech IncUbator team at one of the upcoming, free Brown Bag seminars at UB:

May 17: “What you Need to Know about Valuing your Early Stage Company”

June 21: “Identifying, Protecting, & Maximizing the Value of Intellectual Property”

Did you know…?

Did you know that a UB School of Engineering assistant professor developed a patented technique that is incorporated into wireless capsule endoscopy reader software, such as MicroCamâ .This technique helps process images of the digestive system as a physician examines the small intestine. Did you know that a UB professor invented what is now General Electric’s electric blanket? These and other innovations have emerged from UB School of Engineering’s 12 research centers and laboratories. .

To learn more about CTech IncUBator@University of Bridgeport, please contact:

Dr. Gad J. Selig, PMP, COP 
Associate Dean, Business Development 
University of Bridgeport Connecticut Innovations
(203) 576-4870 or gadselig@bridgeport.edu
 www.ctech-ct.org/ubwww.ctinnovations.com

　


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“Accelerating Business Growth at the University of Bridgeport CTech IncUBator”

2 04 2011

Dr. Gad J. Selig, Associate Dean for Business Development at the University of Bridgeport, will be the guest speaker at the FINE Business Networking Group’s April 21st meeting at the Westport Country Playhouse. Dr. Selig will speak about The CTech IncUBator, a partnership between Connecticut Innovations and the University of Bridgeport. The IncUBator is Fairfield County’s first and only university based incubator for high-tech start-ups. Its mission is to create jobs and improve the economy of the region by developing markets for new technologies.

The IncUBator provides expertise in business, technology and University research and resources to enable the entrepreneur the opportunity to succeed at the very early stages. Additionally, fully furnished offices, shared support can be provided as well as pro-bono or discounted professional services such as legal, accounting, IP and technology are available.

The meeting is in the Lucille Lortel Barn at the Westport Country Playhouse on April 21, 2011 from 9 – 11am with time before and after Dr. Selig’s talk for networking. There is no admission fee, but a donation is requested, and the meeting is open to all those in business or hoping to be.

Dr. Selig has earned degrees in Economics, Business and Engineering and has authored five books and over 70 articles. He is a dynamic and popular speaker at industry conferences and corporate events. Dr. Selig has over 30 years of diversified executive, management and consulting experience with both Fortune 500 and smaller organizations.


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Interested in Franchising?

21 03 2011

FINE member, Luc Deslauriers, a consultant at FranNet, is hosting an afternoon and evening session called “Meet the Franchisors Workshop” on Wednesday, March 30th in Stamford. Contact Luc at (860) 986-4596 or via email lucd@frannet.com or for details,  go to   http://www.frannet.com/micro_events/meet_the_franchisors_workshop_afternoon_session/ .


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FINE Meeting, 3/17, “An Introduction to SCORE”

12 03 2011

Our speaker at the March 17th meeting, 9AM at the Westport Country Playhouse,  will be E. Michael O’Malley, Chapter Chair of Fairfield County SCORE. He will tell us about the services SCORE offers to entrepreneurs and business owners, give us examples of how others have used their services and tell us how we can benefit and take advantage of their offerings.

SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small business start, grow and succeed nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

SCORE offers free personal counseling and mentoring services as well as low cost or free workshops and seminars that provide useful, practical small business information on a variety of topics important to your business.

The Fairfield County Chapter has 50 volunteer professionals with a very broad mix of senior executive and small business experience. These dedicated men and women include both working and retired executives and business owners. They conduct more than 3,000 private sessions each year. SCORE volunteers use their expertise and energies to implement proven business practices in accomplishing your business objectives.

We will be meeting in the Barn, which is to the left of the stairway to the Playhouse. There is another event taking place in the Playhouse and the parking lot will be busy. There will be attendants assisting with parking. We’ve been advised to arrive early.

Coffee and tea will be available, as will Bette Lynn’s famous soda bread along with green bagels, to celebrate the day.

The doors open at 9AM with the opportunity to network, followed by a welcome and each attendee giving their “30 second elevator pitch”. This is followed by the presentation and then additional time to network. The meeting concludes by 11AM.

Hope to see you there.


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Better Networking by Netweaving

28 02 2011

A big thanks to Gary Mullin for providing us with some practical tips on how we can improve our networking by netweaving. At the Feb meeting, Gary explained how we should focus on what we can do for others rather than what we can get for ourselves. He emphasized the importance of organizing and nurturing your network. 

Gary can be contacted via his web site at (www.ftgfinancial.com).


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Notice Regarding the Feb. 17th FINE Meeting

9 02 2011

There is an event taking place in the theater at the same time we meet on the 17th so we were asked to relocate from the Smilow Room to the Lucille Lortel Barn which is to the left of the main entrance.

It’s a great space, very open and large, some may remember it from the FINE anniversary meeting last Sept. 

We were also given a heads-up that the parking lot will be busy that day because of the other event. So you might want to give yourself some extra time to get to the meeting.


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“More Effective Networking by Netweaving” – Feb. 17th Meeting

8 02 2011

Gary Mullin will be the guest speaker at the FINE Business Networking Group’s February 17th meeting, 9AM, at the Westport Country Playhouse.

Gary’s presentation will be focused on networking or “netweaving”, as he calls it. He will take us through; having the proper mindset, breaking the ice, honing your “elevator speech”, and developing a plan. You will learn how to evaluate your networking and make adjustments based on the results. The care and feeding of your networks will also be covered.

Gary Mullin is the principal of FTG Financial, LLC. a consulting firm that advises business owners and their management on how to maximize their company’s performance. (www.ftgfinancial.com) Gary Mullin and his company has provided a wide range of clients with: planning, competitive positioning, sales and networking training, staff development, restructuring and re-engineering. Gary has over 35 years of experience in financing and growing companies in many industries including manufacturing, distribution, professional and personal services, real estate development and specialty finance.

Our coffee sponsor for the meeting is Elliott Fisher, President of Business Concierge Solutions.


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Mary-Jane Foster Hits a Home Run!

26 01 2011

Mary-Jane Foster, co-founder, former owner and CEO of the Bridgeport Bluefish and current VP of University Relations for the University of Bridgeport impressed the crowd at the FINE meeting last Thursday.

Ms. Foster talked about forming an investment/development company with her partners that resulted in the ballpark, arena and economic development in Bridgeport and about UB’s contribution to the economy in Bridgeport.

Comments from attendees included – “I was inspired by her determination and hard work to revitalize the economy of the City of Bridgeport”,  “She gave us a lesson in what can be achieved by the private sector working together with the public sector for a common goal.”

Ms. Foster pointed out the retail and residential development taking place downtown and encouraged us to take advantage of all that Bridgeport has to offer ….  special events and entertainment at the Arena at Harbor Yard and at UB, specifically mentioning the screening of  THREAD this coming Thursday and some great restaurants. 

She also talked about the economic contribution of UB students, in particular the large number of foreign students and the diversity they offer, as well as the start-up business development efforts being supported at the CTech Incubator at UB.

It was nice hearing something about baseball with all the snow on the ground outside. The suggestion was made that we just might do a FINE outing at a Bridgeport Bluefish game this summer.    

Thanks to Bette Lynn Paez for providing the coffee and baking her yummy lemon-blueberry poundcake (see below).

As the coffee sponsor, Bette Lynn got extra time to do her introduction and talked about joining Sammons Securities Company where she will be doing comprehensive financial planning and providing consulting services on an hourly basis for situations such as evaluating job offers or mortgage financing alternatives.

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The Passing of Harry Schaffer

22 01 2011

I’m sad to announce that Harry Schaffer passed away. Harry was one of the original members of FINE. For many years he was the voice of FINE, handling all of the publicity with the media for the FINE meetings.

When told of the passing, one of the comments was ”Harry was a great man—I’m sorry to hear of his passing”. I remember Harry being a gentle man, having a good sense of humor, and being committed to the success of FINE.

At the FINE meeting last Thursday, I read excerpts from his obituary highlighting Harry’s accomplishments, some of which I was not aware of, like him having a private pilot’s license. Here is a link to his obit -
http://www.westportnow.com/index.php?/v2/comments/harry_schaffer_83/

Harry will be missed.


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