Hosted by Adam Wozniak and Darren Parkinson
Joey Ruse is a senior at Kennesaw State in the entrepreneurship program. He is the co-founder and host of the Lyfe Podcast and he speaks regularly on empowering and engaging millennials through the power of the entrepreneurial mindset. To schedule Joey to speak at your school, meeting, or conference, you can email him directly at joey.ruse@gmail.com
Christine Briggs/The Hormone Restoration Center
Christine was born in Orlando, FL, and grew up in Satellite Beach, FL. She received her Bachelors in Nursing from the University of Southern Mississippi and her Master’s Degree from the University of Colorado. Christine has 24 years of combined experience as a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner. For the last 10 years, Christine has specialized in bio-identical hormone therapy and currently holds certifications in endocrinology and bio-identical hormone pellet therapy. She has been a BioTE affiliate provider since 2013 and provides what we consider to be the best bio-identical hormones on the market today. Christine has been working with The Hormone Restoration Center since 2014 and is able to optimize vitality and wellbeing by treating hormones in both women and men.
Laurie Rodgers / Regional Executive Director
PACE Center for Girls Escambia – Santa Rosa
2017 Pursue Your Passion Conference
To celebrate National Business Women’s Week 2017, Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast proudly presents their 5th Annual Pursue Your Passion Conference, bringing together nearly 200 women to share their business skills and creativity during networking events and educational sessions.
Pursue Your Passion Conference is Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast’s annual fundraiser for Gulf Coast Kid’s House (GCKH), as 80% of the conference profits are donated to GCKH. This year’s funds will be used to upgrade current security at GCKH to better protect their clients, partner agencies and employees, allowing them to service children in the Pensacola area safely and securely. In 2016, PWGC donated $3456 to GCKH. The goal for 2017 is $5000.
Pensacola businesses can partner with Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast in raising funds for the Gulf Coast Kids House in the following ways: providing door prizes, being an event sponsor, signing up for a vendor table or purchasing a ticket in someone’s name so they have an opportunity to attend the Conference.
Highlights of the conference, which receive rave reviews each year, include Experience Hall, an interactive Speed Learning session, and relevant and engaging speakers featuring a national keynote speaker and 3 local community leaders. Ticket prices include lunch and am/pm snack breaks.
Pursue Your Passion Conference consists of 2 events:
1. Meet the Speaker and Sponsors Expo is held the evening prior to the conference. It creates opportunities for attendees to network with one another, engage with the featured speakers and learn more about the conference sponsors and vendors. It also provides sponsors and vendors additional face to face time with attendees to highlight their businesses and products. This event is open to both men and women. If you are interested in a vendor table, you can find details on vendor tables on our Sponsorship Opportunities flier.
Date: Wednesday, October 18th, Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Location: Sanders Beach Corinne Jones Resource Center, 913 South I Street Free to attend, open to women and men
2. 5th Annual Pursue Your Passion Conference Date: Thursday, October 19th Time: Registration opens at 9:00 AM. Conference from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Location: Sanders Beach Corinne Jones Resource Center, 913 South I Street Registration Website: www.powerfulwomengulfcoast.com Ticket Prices: Early Bird pricing $59
Emcee – Dr. Lusharon Wiley, Director of Culture, Innisfree Hotels. Dr. Wiley is the official “dot connector” of the conference, who motivates the attendees and helps them to focus on the key subjects they are learning.
Keynote Speaker – Maribeth Kuzmeski, PhD, Red Zone Marketing ● “Standing Up & Standing Out In Business: Critical Moves for Women to Gain Power & Influence.” Gain powerful strategies based on extensive research and case studies of women in business, that can be applied immediately to stand out, achieve the success deserved, and market and present with power and confidence.
● Keynote Bio – Maribeth Kuzmeski, PhD, President of Red Zone Marketing, is a marketing strategist, advisor to financial services companies, bestselling author of seven books, and a professional speaker rated as a Top 25 C-Suite Speaker as seen in Meetings & Conventions Magazine. She speaks on topics including marketing, sales, relationship development, and branding. More information on Maribeth can be found at: www.redzonemarketing.com/ or https://www.linkedin.com/in/maribethkuzmeski
PED Talks – Professional and Executive Development – PED Talks are short, power-packed presentations by local community leaders sharing their thoughts on subjects important to women in business. This year we are proud to present our PED Talk speakers:
PED Talk Speaker – Quint Studer, Founder and CEO, Studer Community Institute ● “Even High Performers Struggle with Change” ● Program description: Individuals who have always performed highly can sometimes underestimate the impact that change will have on them. Through Quint’s work with organizations over the decades he has found high performers struggle with change even more so than others. Quint will describe why this is and what can be done to help high performers manage change.
PED Talk Speaker – Sue Straughn, News Anchor and Senior Editor, WEAR TV, Channel 3 ● “Let Your Passion Find Your Purpose.” ● Program description: You give your best and you give your most when you’re giving from the heart. Is your heart in the work that you do; in the service that you give? We will take just a minute to think about some ways to get the most out of our time, our resources and our life.
PED Talk Speaker – Andrea Krieger, Executive Director of Institutional Development. Pensacola State College Foundation ● “You CHOOSE (Motivated by Fear/Inspired by Excellence) No one can be a better YOU!” ● Program description: Is fear negative and inspiration positive? If you get sweaty palms each time you have to present to an audience… if you get butterflies when you have to pitch an idea or make a sale… if you spend additional hours ensuring work is “perfect” before you hand it in… are these indications of fear or inspiration? Is one good and the other bad? Both fear and inspiration can reap excellence, but there can be diverse consequences on individuals depending on how the motivation is viewed. This presentation will discuss whether it is better to strive for excellence or fear failure? When inspiration is founded in a belief that No one can be a better YOU, possibilities are limitless.
Tax Status – PWGC is a recognized Florida NOT for profit. We are not a 501c or similar but we are still recognized as a not-for-profit. Sponsorships are recorded by the donor as business expenses, professional development, or other category depending on their own internal financial regulations.
About Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast Based in Pensacola, Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast was organized by Kathleen Shoop, Natasha Parvey, and Kolleen Edwards Chesley to provide a venue for women in business to come together to share ideas, information and networking contacts to help each other be more successful in business. In the Fall of 2013, they reorganized and the organization took on the name “Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast.” A recognized Florida not-for-profit organization, the mission of PWGC is to promote, advance
and improve women in business. Their monthly networking meetings and the Pursue Your Passion Conference are their two signature events.
About Gulf Coast Kid’s House Gulf Coast Kid’s House is a children’s advocacy center serving Escambia County. As a children’s advocacy center, GCKS combines all of the professionals and resources needed for the intervention, investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases under one child-friendly facility. GCKH provides a place where child protective services, law enforcement, prosecution, medical and mental health professionals’ work together under one roof to provide comprehensive services.The goal of Gulf Coast Kid’s House is to form a more collaborative response to child abuse cases so that they can improve case outcomes and minimize trauma to the children and families they serve.
More information or to register: www.powerfulwomengulfcoast.com
The Emerging Enterprise Series is brought to you by AppZoro and hosted by Sam Agarwal and Marianna Velozo
Jean Marie Richardson with iFolio Corp has a track record of launching, growing, and managing businesses at Fortune 500 firms (MasterCard, Microsoft, Oracle), emerging startups, and her own business. She is the founder, iFolio Corp, which helps users get a digital edge with targeted digital portfolios. iFolio is a patent pending technology and program. Jean leads an expert team with technology experience from Microsoft, Oracle, and MasterCard and Admissions and Scholarship experience from Top 100 Universities including Georgia Institute of Technology, Yale University, University of Texas, and Wharton, University of Pennsylvania.
Connect with Jean Marie on Linkedin.
Daniel Sabio is the Minister of Awesome (and Director of Programs) at TechSquare Labs. Utilizing his BS in Computational Media from GT, he uses his computer science and creative abilities to help tech startups day to day, developing new programs and connecting them with invaluable resources for growth. When not at TechSquare, he creates art under the guise of The Glad Scientist, and has been recognized internationally (from the International Symposium for Electronic Arts to Bass Coast Festival) for his virtual reality performances and code-driven installations.
Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Diamond Hill and Tiara Johnson are Community Managers at [OPEN FOR BUSINESS]. OFB was created to be both a community for women business owners ripe with learning opportunities and a physical collaborative work space where women could come to work.meet.learn. Located in the heart of the Historic Auburn Avenue District, the surrounding community is alive with new energy, innovation, young business owners and endless opportunity. Members of OFB are also connected with our parent organization “100 Female Entrepreneurs” and are able to tap into the resources of a global network of raw and rewarding girl power.
Connect with Diamond and Tiara on Facebook.
Sam Agarwal is an Innovative Applications Developer. Sam is the founder and CEO of AppZoro Technologies, Inc. – an experienced team of full-stack mobile app developers and web designers. He holds a BS in Computer Science and is working on his Master’s at Georgia Tech. Sam is an Advisor of Mobile App Technology for the Atlanta Tech Village, one of the U.S. leading co-working space entities located in Atlanta, Georgia.
From concept to market-ready digital product, AppZoro is your single-source for everything from complex programming and database development to payment integrations and front-end design. With AppZoro’s in-house team of Agile Coders and Inventive Designers, you’ll get consistent high-quality work at a startup-friendly price.
Sam is also an experienced businessman. In addition to the work he does with AppZoro, he is Vice President of Sara Hospitality – an international, family-owned furniture manufacturer based in India, serving the US hospitality industry. He has been materially involved since he was 18 and is responsible for procurement, marketing, sales, customer service and finance for the business. In this role, he has learned the key elements of “grind” to build a successful startup.
Through Atlanta Tech Village, and as a private consultant, Sam helps business owners develop sound digital strategies that leverage both current and emerging technologies to increase revenues, streamline productivity, attract investors, and nurture customer relationships. Learn more about Sam and AppZoro on their website, and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
Dr. Maribeth Kuzmeski is President of the consulting firm Red Zone Marketing, Inc founded in 1994. Maribeth and her firm personally consult with some of the nation’s top financial professionals and advisors managing from $300 million to over $1 billion in client assets. She and her firm also work with entrepreneurial-minded corporations and salespeople on unique marketing messages, strategic marketing planning, recruiting, and business growth.
Maribeth has written 7 books including the bestsellers …And The Clients Went Wild!(Wiley), and The Connectors (Wiley). She has also written a book with her daughter, The Engaging Child: Raising Children to Speak, Write, and Have Relationship Skills Beyond Technology.
Maribeth is an international keynote speaker rated as a Top 25 C-Suite Speaker by Meetings & Conventions Magazine, has spoken at The Million Dollar Round Table, and Barron’s Top Producer conferences. She is a regular media contributor appearing on Fox News, USA Today, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes and hosts a popular podcast featuring inspiring businesswomen. Maribeth also has her own charitable foundation supporting women in business, The Red Zone Leadership Foundation.
She has a bachelor’s degree from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, an MBA from The George Washington University, and a PhD in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University. She also has earned the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association. Maribeth and her husband live in the Chicago, IL area and have two children threatening to be adults.
Red Zone Marketing specializes in strategies for standing out in order to achieve measurable new business growth for financial services firms, mutual fund companies, and broker dealers as well as entrepreneurial-minded corporations, and salespeople. Our team of professionals, lead by Maribeth Kuzmeski, include writers, social media experts, graphic designers and strategy consultants. Our services are founded in current research and analysis of in-practice methods that are producing results now.
Quinetha “Que” Frasier with Social Impact Advisors is an expert funding strategist, keynote speaker, Radio Host and advisor with over 18 years of experience in the philanthropic sector; supporting individuals, organizations and corporations in building sustainable business models and defining social impact across the globe. Que is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of MyPledger, a Financial Technology (FinTech) firm focused on increasing payment and pledge collections through innovative software solutions. She founded her first advisory firm, FirstBorn Group, in 2004 to consult with non-governmental organizations and then launched Social Mission Architects in 2013 (with business partner Darrell Glasco) that advised organizations like Georgia Tech Scheller Business School and GA Appleseed, about creating and sustaining earned income. Prior to joining MyPledger, Que co-founded and managed the African American Leadership Council (AALC)- a dynamic group of 75 minority philanthropists in Charleston, SC- who have pledged to raise $2 million for the Trident United Way; Her most recent work includes the facilitation of the Hull Fellows Program for the Southeastern Council of Foundations(SECF) in Atlanta, Georgia. Que’s personal passion and mission is to motivate, inspire and prepare people desire to make a positive impact in the world. As a sought after keynote speaker and trainer, she facilitates group meetings and workshops across the country. Her clientele includes a variety of faith-based entities; the Georgia Center for Nonprofits; Allen University; Technovate; Global Social Venture Competition(GA Tech); The Foundation Center; Office of Congressman John Lewis; the Girltank Foundation (in partnership with beauty-retailer Sephora); and the Higher Education Counselor Association (HECA). She has published articles in the GA Center for Nonprofit’s Centerpoint Newsletter, Charleston Business Journal and Idealist.org column. A proud Gullah Native of the Sea Islands of Charleston, SC, Quinetha is a graduate of Tuskegee University, with a B.S. in Political Science and Webster University with a MBA degree. She holds national certification by the National Development Council and NeighborWorks in Economic Development Finance, Community Development and Grantwriting. Que enjoys global travel with her Beau; interviewing change-makers; listening to NPR; reading tons of non-fiction books; watching Wheel of Fortune; and ‘geeking-out’ on new technology that accelerates philanthropy. Connect with Que on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
ITEN WIRED is the Gulf Coast’s premier conference for executives, entrepreneurs, professionals, and educators working in technology. With topics including cybersecurity, tech makers, start-up tech, virtual environments, simulation, and robotics, you’ll be sure to find something inspiring. Expert presenters offer an excellent forum for professional development. Don’t miss this opportunity to exchange ideas and forge new collaborations around innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship.
The ITEN WIRED Summit comes back to the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front on October 9–11 as a bigger, better, three-day conference. Also returning this year is Ignite® ITEN where presenters share a personal or professional tech passion using 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds for a total of just five entertaining minutes.
Whether you are an executive, entrepreneur, IT professional, student, or just looking for insights into the current issues that concern information technology, the ITEN WIRED Summit is a valuable resource. There will be many networking opportunities with peers and area leaders. No matter your industry or location, you’ll be sure to find interesting and engaging people and topics at this year’s summit! Last year’s Summit sold out, so register early.
ITEN WIRED is a conference hosted by IT Gulf Coast and Florida West Economic Development Alliance. The annual summit provides networking and learning opportunities for executives, entrepreneurs, technology professionals and academia to foster local economic development efforts surrounding innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.
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Chris Munro & Allen Felts – COX Business and Gretchen Clark-appriver
Bill Dunn & Bob Duff – Networks of Florida / Will & David – Navy Federal Credit union
Glenda Snodgrass- The Net Effect
Mr. Ware- Gulf Power
Ben White – Ben White Productions
TJ Edwards – RJ Young Company
Paul Carney: Sponsor Mentions
For 30 years Pamela Stambaugh, Founder and CEO of Accountability Pays, has provided feedback to over 2,500 top executives and high potential leaders as a coach/facilitator, including five years as a Vistage advisor to CEOs and their senior executives. Pamela’s client list consists of large and middle market companies including GE Healthcare and CBIZ. You can connect with Pamela on LinkedIn.
Walt Rumpf of Market Outreach and Development at SparkCognition, spent the first 8 years of his career working in renewable energy, primarily focused on solar. In his first marketing position when he was 24 years old, he was promoted to Director for a local company after his first month. In his first quarter, he increased lead volume 300% which led to a sustained 75% increase in revenues month over month and ultimately the company’s acquisition after 9 months. It was in this position that he began experimenting with inside sales. He took these inside sales strategies with him when he moved to Austin, TX in 2013 where he helped lead and grow a sales team that saw a 3X increase in performance across everyone on the team. After that company was acquired, Walt stayed on for a short duration before joining one of the largest solar companies in an inside sales position. Walt quickly realized that solar was no longer the industry that he wanted to work in and was more interested in software and technology that surrounded him in the Austin tech scene. He was the third person to join the marketing team for SparkCognition, one of the world’s fastest-growing artificial intelligence companies and tasked with bridging the gap between the marketing teams efforts and the new senior sales team that was being brought on. Now completing his first year, the company has grown threefold from 50 employees to 150 employees and completed a $32M funding raise. Walt works primarily in demand generation and sales development helping to create interest and qualifying potential prospects. Connect with Walt on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Barb Giamanco heads up Social Centered Selling. She’s the co-author of The New Handshake: Sales Meets Social Media and authored the Harvard Business Review article Tweet Me, Friend Me, Make Me Buy.
With a successful C-level background in Sales, Technology and Leadership Development, Barb capped her corporate career at Microsoft, where she led sales teams and coached executives. Through the years she has sold $1B in sales.
Barb is consistently recognized as a Top Sales and Business Blogger, a Top 25 Influential Leader in Sales, a Top 25 Sales Influencer on Twitter and one of Top Sales World’s Top 50 Sales and Marketing Influencers for the 3rd year in a row. And recently, Barb was named one of the Top 65 Business Influencers among other leaders such as Ariana Huffington, Melinda Gates and Sheryl Sandberg.
Connect with Barb on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
Barbara LoRusso is the Director of Client Development for LoRusso Law Firm, an Atlanta-based civil litigation firm opened by her husband, Lance LoRusso, almost 10 years ago. Prior to this, Barbara was doing consulting and research work for a non-profit trade association here in Atlanta for almost 20 years. She has a Ph.D. in Applied Psychology from University of Georgia and went to Emory as an undergraduate.
Barbara has been an active volunteer with charitable organizations and currently serves on the board of SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center in Marietta.
Connect with Barbara on LinkedIn.
Born into an entrepreneurial family, Julie Gareleck was convinced that business was not her passion and that becoming a reporter was more intriguing. At the age of 21, Julie punched her international card, in Paris, working for Angela de Bona, the top PR Agent, representing the top fashion photographers in the world. A venture to Philadelphia after Paris directed Julie to work for a leading entrepreneurship institute.
In a few short years, she was recruited to join a venture capital organization, focused on early stage companies in Technology, Biotechology, among other industries, as its Executive Director. Julie earned her place in the Board Room at the age of 25.
A transition to Atlanta over 12 years ago enabled Julie to take her strategy experience and work as a senior strategist for interactive advertising agencies. It was here that Julie realized there was a gap between business-based strategy and what was defined as strategy at agencies. Junction Creative Solutions was born out of the need for strategies that intersect key business segments and the need for a firm that can manage the implementation. For over 8 years, Junction has worked with nearly 225 companies, helping do just that.
Julie has created an environment that empowers her team and her clients to be the very best they can be, and success follows naturally. She has earned the respect of her peers not just for her shining personality, but for her authenticity, integrity, and drive as a business leader. Her portfolio includes measurable integrated strategies for prominent brands across various industries, including Yahoo!, Mailboxes Etc., National City Corporation (PNC Bank), GE Energy, Mohawk Industries, Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. (SWM), and Alcatel-Lucent. Early stage companies in the portfolio include AcuteCare Telemedicine, 85 Broads, Intelaplay, Competitive Sports Analysis, XIOSS, Infinite Resource Solutions, Guardian Watch, Pro Diligence, Cost Management Group, the National Tennis Foundation, Saffire Vapor, among others.
Julie established the JXN Executive Roundtable in 2012 as a resource for entrepreneurs, senior executives, and marketing leaders to share industry experiences and insights. She remains actively involved in industry organizations often participating as an expert panelist or guest speaker.
Follow Junction Creative on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
Corey Rieck is the President and Founder of The Long Term Care Planning Group, a firm that specializes in delivering Long Term Care education and coverage to companies, high net worth individuals and large organizations. Since 2001, Corey has devoted his career to Long Term Care as a result of multiple personal experiences. A neutral provider of Long Term Care Solutions since 2001, Corey brings a unique and comprehensive consultative perspective to this issue. Since 2003, part of his commitment to the Long Term Care Industry includes his having trained over 3,500 advisors from San Francisco to Wall Street on how to properly position Long Term Care to clients through the CLTC organization. (www.ltc-cltc.com) Additionally, he has authored dozens of published industry articles on Long Term Care and has assisted many of the nation’s leading LTC carriers on operational and educational matters.
