2019 Schedule.
Virtual
Description:
In the session we will dive into the 6 most popular morning habits from successful entrepreneurs, business owners, and CEO’s that help them make their day the most productive and how to implement them in your life!
Bio Christopher Rice is founder of RiceTech LLC, a technology
development company that specializes in creating innovative products that save Time and Money. His company was founded with the help of Merced’s Innovation Center in 2019 through their Fellowship program. He was born in Macon and grew up in central Georgia and Arizona. He is married to his amazing and beautiful wife, Teshia. He also has two wonderful daughters. In his free time he likes reading, being outdoors, and spending time with his family!
Virtual
Description:
Overview of the importance of trademarking your brand and protecting your business with contracts and agreements.
Speaker Bio:
Attorney Eden Jackson
was born and raised in Macon, Georgia. Being from a family of generations of Maconites. Eden obtained her undergraduate degree in Public Relations from Georgia State University located in Atlanta, Georgia. From Atlanta, she moved to Jacksonville, Florida where she attended law school at Florida Coastal School of Law. She later moved to London, UK and received her Legal Masters from Brunel University London.
Attorney Eden recently hung her shingle and started The Law Office of Eden A. Jackson, a trademark and business law firm. When Eden is not practicing law, she is taking care of her energetic infant son, Gabriel, gardening and traveling the world.
Eden’s personal motto is: Don’t work to die, Work to live!
Description:
Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur but how do you decide if you are? This session will help entrepreneurs in the making to determine if being an entrepreneur is their right path. Based on Gino Wickman’s book, Entrepreneurial Leap, this session will be an overview of the process of; Confirming if you are an entrepreneur, Glimpsing what your entrepreneurial life could look like and Begin to build out a path to achieve your dream life. Take an hour to challenge yourself and your plans to ensure you are really heading toward your dream and not a nightmare.
Speaker Bio:
Rob Betzel was founder and CEO of Infinity Network Solutions for over 19 years before selling to Hargray Communication to focus full time on helping other entrepreneurs and small business, get what they want from their business. Rob has founded Grit Consulting and is a Professional Implementor for the Entrepreneurial Operating System (ESO), a Judgement Index Certified Consultant, and angle investor.
Rob believes all entrepreneurs need 4 things; A Mentor/Coach, A Strategic System for operating their business, A group of peers to grow with, and a desire to growth their leadership team as they grow. Rob has been involved in the entrepreneurial community since taking part in the founding of SparkMacon, the first MakerSpace in Middle GA.
*Please bring your own lunch
Monday @ Spark Macon
600 Guy Paine Rd, Macon, GA 31206
Description:
Meet with the SparkMacon team and learn what you can create today!
SparkMacon is Central Georgia’s first makerspace and strives to be a catalyst for freelancers, startups and entrepreneurs, connecting, empowering and supporting them to build a stronger economy and community.
Designed to be a collaborative workspace for a wide range of creatives, SparkMacon meets every stage of entrepreneurship, from ideation to prototyping to manufacturing, by providing an adaptable space for innovation, in-house support, as well as connections to local resources that enable them to make a living doing what they love.
The space offers both classes and memberships to help with every step of the entrepreneurial journey. Think of the SparkMacon like a gym for your brain!
Description:
COVID-19 has changed life as we know it, and with any great change businesses must pivot. We will examine 4 primary shifts in consumer behavior and how your marketing strategy should adjust to match those shifts.
Speaker Bio:
Nick Rios is Co-Founder of M&R Marketing, a full-service marketing agency located in Macon, GA. Founded in 2008, M&R recently made the Inc. 5,000 list and is a previous recipient of the Greater Macon Chamber’s Small Business of the Year.
Nick is married and together they recently celebrated the birth of their first child!
Virtual
Description:
In this session the Executive Director of SparkMacon, Robert Grant will co-host a seminar entitled “Fire Your Boss” with SparkMacon Program Director, Sierra Martin.
Host: SparkMacon | Robert Grant & Sierra Martin
SparkMacon is a Macon Startup Week partner and local business incubator focused on helping small local businesses grow. In addition to providing mentorship, office and coworking space at their facility, SparkMacon is currently launching a new Entrepreneurs Academy focused on providing resources and tools to current and future entrepreneurs throughout Middle Georgia. In today's challenging work environment, many people find it difficult to achieve satisfaction through their job. The economic reality that employees can no longer rely on their current job for long-term financial security has many people considering entrepreneurship for the first time. For each story of entrepreneurial success that is shared—such as that of Facebook or Airbnb—there are even more lesser-known entrepreneurial success stories such as Zipline, a company that delivers medical supplies in Rwanda and Ghana by drone. These entrepreneurs faced the same dilemmas in pursuing their passion, or opportunities, which led them to their entrepreneurial destiny. They courageously stepped out of their comfort zones to explore the possibilities that lie ahead. What is the difference between entrepreneurs and you? The main difference is taking that first step.
In-Person: Just Tap'd | 488 First Street Macon, GA 31201
Join Macon Young Professionals & Macon Startup Week for a night of lights, lagers and leadership! Meet at Just Tap'd for pizza and beer.
Featured speaker: Local entrepreneur, Kaitlynn Kressin.
After, enjoy the Christmas light extravaganza.
To attend this mixer, please Register Here
Great question! We work hard to ensure the content for each session is applicable to everyone, regardless of the stage your business is in. We hope you’ll enjoy as many sessions as your schedule will allow, but you are welcome to come to whichever sessions you’d like. We just ask that you register to help us plan for attendance.
Hosted by Jessica White of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Description:
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides tools, training and resources to help small businesses grow and succeed. Designated as one of Georgia’s top providers of small business assistance, the SBDC has 17 offices ranging from Rome to Valdosta to serve the needs of Georgia’s business community.
In-Person: Just Tap'd | 488 First StreetMacon, GA 31201
Join Macon Young Professionals & Macon Startup Week for a night of lights, lagers and leadership! Meet at Just Tap'd for pizza and beer.
Featured speaker: Local entrepreneur, Kaitlynn Kressin.
After, enjoy the Christmas light extravaganza.
To attend this mixer, please Register Here
Hopin’s web app is now available on mobile devices for attendees! While still in beta, attendees can attend Macon Startup week from their phones and tablets with limited functionality. They can view the Stage, view Sessions, view Expo, chat, and use the Networking features. If this meets your needs then you can try to access via your mobile phone. Note that you cannot participate in Sessions or the Expo, on-camera but simply view them.
In all sections of the Hopin platform there are three tabs on your right-hand side.
The Chat tab allows you to send messages visible to all participants of the event. In the sessions and booths, you can switch to the chat visible only in the Session or Booth you are participating in. The Chat tab is also where you will see important messages from the organizers popping up.
The Polls tab is where we will be asking you for your feedback during the event using live polls.
The People tab lists all participants that have joined the event. You can send a direct message to any participant by clicking on their name.
When an attendee clicks the Ready button they are immediately matched with a random fellow attendee via face-to-face video, similar to chat. Meetings end automatically after 3 minutes unless you choose to speak longer by hitting the extend button. Attendees can leave at any time.
Conversation partners may decide to share contact information by clicking the Connect button. If both parties click Connect, the pair can find each other’s contact information (email address and social media) via the Connect section of their Hopin account.
September 27th
Keynote & Main Sessions
Georgia Sports
Hall of Fame