Archive for the 'Twelve Horses' Category

I’m a huge proponent of professional social gatherings (a.k.a. parties) here in Nevada to bolster our tech/design economy. Lifelong experience has proven to me over and over that people do business with people and if you’re not out starting and maintaining relationships you eventually suck at your business and/or your career. And there you have it: business is largely about parties and meeting people hahahah! 

From a branding perspective it’s ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that our Greater Reno Tahoe brand perception is that of a great place to party and hookup I’ll blog about why Reno’s burgeoning meat-market is vital on another post…just know that the 20-30 something tech/creative’s are in high demand everywhere on the planet and we need to hold on to every single one of them here locally. Frankly, my business cannot grow without them.

A long time a go (1999 - 2002) Michael Thomas (now at EDAWN) ran Greater Reno-Tahoe’s first technology oriented social-networking driven organization, the TechAlliance @ NewNevada. Perhaps the greatest boon to northern Nevada’s tech economy back then was what was then known as Cocktails.com. It’s where we all got together, got on the same page and built momentum with cocktails in hand.

I met Robb Smith for the first time at a Cocktails.com event and he convinced me to joined the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (then known as YEO) which has been perhaps one of my greatest professional life experiences. Back then there were startups like Ken Hawk’s iGo, CandyBarell.com, HardwareStreet.com, HomeSeekers.com and a dozen others. UNR’s Mike Reed, Nevada Bell’s Dick Bostdorf and Reno attorney Garrett Sutton were instrumental in the TechAlliance’s startup. More recently, thanks to EDAWN/Michael Thomas we’ve got the newly formed  Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Network kicking ass and an we’re on the world’s design radar with a fully legit and operatin cool AIGA chapter.  

At the beginning, Cocktails.com events would last all night with everyone spilling out of bars, nightclubs and JK’s Nugget in the wee hours of the morning. It was a great time of forming a tech-community. Then: Dot.com bust…and as Paul Harvey would say “now know you know the story….”

Michael Thomas to came to work for Twelve Horses in 2002 and the TechAlliance eventually folded in to a newly formed state-wide effort known as Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (NCET.ORG). (DISCLAIMER: I’ve was on the founding board and am now the Chairman of this wonderful organization — so this is blatant promotion.) About a year-and-a-half ago under Dave Archer & Emily Lowe’s exceptional care, we brought back Cocktails.com as Tech Thursday’s. These events have been awesome, however, they’ve leaned a little too much on the professional and a little too less on the networking/drinking/have fun/hooking up. In perhaps kinder words, Tech Thursday attracts an “older behaving crowd”. Folks that have to be home before sundown.

WiFi Wednesdays are, by design, intended to be much more geared to the twenty/thrity-somethings rather that “all-inclusive professionals”. If people aren’t doing shots of Tequilla and YouTube jousting, we’ve failed at this experiment. I expect/hope that the Thursday mornings following an event to be just a little less productive among Reno’s tech/design class. But in trade for that, collectively we hope to have a larger pool of those workers to chose from. Now this doesn’t mean that folks over the age of 40 aren’t welcome. If you still feel and act like you’re twenty-six (that’s my personal maturity wall) then get your game on and come out!

Wi-Fi Wednesdays is the brainchild of NCET marketing manager Emily Lowe and Robert Payne/Josh Kenzer of Twelve Horses. The trio was looking for a way to expand their professional networks and was weary of the same old venues. Wi-Fi Wednesdays is intended to be a bi-monthly high-energy networking opportunity designed to serve the specific needs of and cater exclusively to the influential 21-39 demographic. Come help make it succeed!

Details:

August 22, join NCET and the Reno-Tahoe Young Professional’s Network
(YPN) as they put a modern-day spin on Greater Reno Tahoe’s networking with the launch of Wi-Fi Wednesdays: “Connecting the Connected.”

- Wi-Fi Wednesdays is a bi-monthly high-energy networking opportunity designed exclusively for the influential 21-39 demographic
- Held in wireless venues throughout Reno
- Entertaining high-tech networking tools
- “Speed networking,” a twist on the “speed dating” concept that helps facilitate numerous one-on-one introductions in a short period of time
- Brief presentations by successful young entrepreneurs and technology professionals.

The Chocolate Bar
August 22 - 5:30 – 7:30 pm
475 S. Arlington Ave, Reno

August’s Wi-Fi Wednesday features a YouTube contest where you get to vote on your favorite video. To enter, send links of your best videos (3
max) to Emily at NCET by Monday, August 20.

- Space for the August 22 Wi-Fi Wednesdays debut is limited and reservations are preferred.
- Cost for the event is $5 per person for Reno-Tahoe YPN members and $10 per person for non-members. RSVP@NCET.org.

NCET, Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, helps foster an environment within Nevada in which high-growth entrepreneurial companies can succeed and flourish. NCET has a strategic partnership with the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. For more information on NCET, visit www.NCET.org. NCET is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

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So I’m posting this transcript of an AIM between Ryan Jerz and David Torch (whom I’ve not met as of yet however he wants to meet with me, we traded a ‘couple txts). I received this transcript from a Flickr email he sent to me earlier this week, however, I’ve had such a jacked-up week of meetings I’m just now seeing it. No matter. This dude hunted down my cell phone and sent me a text message while I happened to be at the Imperial Bar & Lounge with my whole senior management team having dinner. With some degree of irony, the purpose for our get-together was to lament our recruiting woes and why it’s so easy for some people to connect and for others its so hard.

I thought that this was such an excellent transcript of the resourcefulness of using social networking tools to make a connection that I couldn’t help but post it.

AIM IM with ryan jerz <mrjerz>.
2:51 PM
hey ryan… hows the job?
solid
2:55 PM
word. you like it?
yeah i do. i’m currently rewriting the stuff that’s on the website…not too bad so far. i’ll get a chance to do some fun stuff
cool. working at the office now?
yes
know anyone hiring?
can you do design?
web? what i learned in teh master’s program. which means i could probably fake it pretty well.
places like 12 horses are always looking…the rgj is hiring a business reporter
eh, already worked at the RGJ.
plus, they just sent a photog to the grad program
yeah, that’s right
i saw
12 horses… do they need photographers?
designers
any photo work?
photographers i never hear about
dave laplante, right?
yes
maybe i’ll flickrfriendrequest him. i’ve seen his name on there. isn’t he friends with nick van woert too?
i have his mobile…text him
“sent from my iphone”
totally
that reminds me, i should probably change my outgoing signature on that thing.
i’ll check to see if it’s ok to give it to you.
say, my buddy jerz said you guys are hiring…who do I talk to?
ok, really?
3:05 PM
ask about jobs…yeah, i’d do it
there may be nothing he can do, but he’ll know your name.
and flick friend him too
this will be fun.
well, when I wanted to meet him to go over thisisreno, he had me text him to set a time…i had never really done it. it’s how he communicates
he sounds like a cool guy. ok, i’ll do it. i’m going to bombard him with media.
he doesn’t like email as much
you have nothing to lose
amen
4:10 PM
k, doing it now. i should probably send him my websites, though i guess he can just find them through flickr. for the text, what’s a good one liner?
good question. what’s your site again?
davidtorch.com
and
thesupermarket.us, but that’s more of a collaborative thing with nick and i.
wait! actually, i think i’m just going to copy this text and send it to him. (with your permission, of course)
what text
3:15 PM
this ichat conversation. don’t worry about it. if it gets me a job, we’ll both be stoked that things like this actually work. if not now, it seems like a good way to get a job in the future. you know, the kind of thing you hear about…
did you say anything you regret? anything you wouldn’t want him to see?
heh, no
k, this conversation is pretty long - his phone might explode if i tried to text it to him. i’ll sms and flickr just to be safe….
i’m not going to fix the typos
adds more mojo.
here: i’ll type out my phone number so he can atleast text me back with a heartbreaking “no.”

this conversation will be a record of social networking realized. it’s pretty much our graduate project from last year, right?
at the very least, we could use this to supplement the research paper:

“Example of Social Networking and Job Application at 12 Horses, appendix C”
cool, i think we have another week to turn it in.

Technorati tags: ryan, jerz, ryan jerz, davidlaplante, davelaplante, Twelve Horses, 12horses, 12 horses, interviewing, networking, social networking

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For the last three years I’ve been involved with putting on the only state-wide business plan competition among college students with Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (producing and managing the event) and the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation kicking in $100,000 in prize money. This year will mark my third year as a finalist judge. Yeah…I’m like Simon Cowell…er Paula Abdul…er…anyway, lots of fun judging.

This year, Nevada’s college students submitted a record 44 business plans – a nearly 20 percent increase over last year. That’s way cool. Dave Archer and Emily Lowe have really been knocking this event out. I wish that I had received this kind of emphasis on entrepreneurship when I was in college! I’m the Chair for NCET this year and I’m stoked that things are really on a roll. (More about that later.)

Students from eight of Nevada’s colleges and universities are participating, a significant increase over last year’s competition. Nevada’s students also submitted 16 business plans for the new Lt Governor’s Award which is focused on green/clean startups. (Last year SimplySun, a business plan team out of Sierra Nevada College won with an idea for photo-voltaic membranes over commercial office windows. Brilliant!)

Each of the business plans will be reviewed by a panel of over 40 judges, and the top 12 teams – six each in the graduate and undergraduate tracks – will be invited to participate in the April 26th oral presentations held this year in Reno. Last year it was in Las Vegas at the Green valley Ranch. This year it’s at the Siena and is always HUGE FUN!

The finalists will personally present their business plans to the panel of judges. If you think you will ever pitch a business plan, come watch this! The finalist presentations are open to the public!!! It’s better than watching American Idol!!!

Seriously, it’s worth coming and watching the pitches. The judges are real entrepreneurs, vc’s and angels. This is as “real deal” as we can make it.

The winners will be announced at that evening’sAwards Gala at Reno’s Siena Hotel Spa Casino. Governor Jim Gibbons will be the guest of honor, and Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki is the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. This will be Brian’s third year MC’n this event - his first as the LG. Reflecting his care (and promise) to make Nevada a leader in renewable energy, the “Lt. Governor’s Award” makes its debut this year with a cash prize pool of at least $12,500 (as of writing) that will be presented to the graduate and undergraduate business plans that best employ clean, renewable or efficient energy technologies and services.

BTW, Sponsorships are still available…but going fast!!! We’re 80% Sold Out!!! Act Fast! As a sponsor, you’ll be providing significant support for Nevada’s best and brightest college and university students. Just slightly less important is the opportunity to attend a great party. Thanks to the following sponsors (so far): NCED, NDA, Schwab Bank, Wells Fargo, EDAWN, Sierra Pacific Resources, Noble Studios, UNR - COE, UNR - I3, NSBDC, Siena Hotel, Concepts West Agency, NNDA, Sierra Angels, Twelve Horses, Vegas Valley Angels, KRNV Channel 4, NNBW, Citadel (KKOH,Wild), Las Vegas Chamber, Reno-Sparks Chamber.

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The year-before-last, Rebecca Ryan spoke at EDAWN’s Directions an did a very eloquent job of outlining the need for social communities in the 20s/30s professionals for a healthy and dynamic economy. She was dead on and EDAWN obviously took her advice seriously.

The RT-YPN evolved from a regional economic development planning process led by EDAWN and involving community to create an organization with a mission to cultivate an informed and involved young professional community. Why? Retention. Businesses (like Twelve Horses) can’t grow if we don’t have access to a large pool of qualified young professionals to help grow our businesses. This is one (of many) reason why I am also so passionate about Holland Project and the Reno Bike Project and why Twelve Horses helped found a local AIGA chapter. Kids. Energy. Creativity. Fun. Parties. It’s a healthy mix for a vibrant economy.

Anyway, the Truckee Meadows needs to retain and attract young and diverse talent and YPN is a great step in that direction. If you’d like to hear more, Robert and Josh interviewed Erin Kuo on the Horsepower Podcast. It’s an excellent listen.

For more information and to RSVP please visit
www.renotahoeypn.com
or call (775) 829-3779

Technorati tags: reno, nevada, ypn, young, professionals, network, social, edawn, recruiting, employees, party

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Robert and Josh accumulated enough photos/emails of me to extort me to get me to get off my butt and join their little WordPress revolution. So I’ve been working with Scott Patterson (designer) and Veronica (my very own personal project manager) to switch over from my TypePad account to a “company” developed/hosted site. Practice what we preach we say…
I’ve been on TypePad since 2004 — having upgraded from a failed experiement with Blogger in 2003. Let me just say to Anil Dash and Mena Trott (founder of SixApart): TypePad rocks! I still love it…and will miss it greatly for this site. TypePad was soooper easy to use and made this widget addict very happy.

Unfortunately, that’s where I ran aground. To make something “sooper easy” means ultimately having some restrictions in some areas of design. While as esoteric as they may have been, ultimately I’ve found myself desiring the flexibility that WordPress offers (such as my desire to have translucent table backgrounds) . That…and I can’t help but try everything! My personal theme song: I like it all, man!

So here I am relearning CSS, and the vi editor, and all these horrid developer tools that I never had to mess with when TypePad’ng along. I’ll still use TypePad for lots of personal/family/friends blogs. Thinking of using VOX for Cub Scouts. But now — and at least for the next year — davidlaplante.com is powered by Twelve Horses and on WordPress. I ope you enjoy the design. It’s a work in progress - trust me

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Fellow Reno-Tahoe Entrepreneur’s Organization member Darik Volpa, CEO of UnderstandSurgery.com won "Best of Show" for Nevada at the 6th Annual Silver & Gold Venture Capital Conference at the Peppermill in Reno, Nevada. Congratulations Darik!

If you want a full run-down of yesterday’s events, you can read a great summary by Reno-Gazette reporter Zack Hall.

All-in-all this was perhaps the best Silver & Gold Venture Capital Conference I’ve been too, and it is on par or better than many I’ve attended in California, Utah and New York. Golden Capital Network put on a great show. The energy level was high, the investors eager and plenty of entrepreneur’s with great ideas and business plans.

A ‘couple of my favorites:

• Obviously I love Reno, Nevada entrepreneur Darik Volpa’s company UnderstandSurgery.com. He has developed has a unique product for the medical industry that has a tremendous market upside and can help people all over the world.
• While I didn’t see the whole presentation, I did catch the 2-minute elevator pitch’ by CEO Matthew Glenn of Plantsense. They make a sensor that you can place in a part of your home and it will take all kinds of readings and then you USB it in to your computer and it will make plant recommendations. (I should have started this company "LaPlante, CEO "Plansense" hahaha)
• Reno-based E-FanMail.com’s CEO John Johnson has developed a wonderful way of showing support for sports teams through your email and allowing sports teams to raise additional awareness and sponsor dollars. I know a thing or two about email…and this has some promise to it.
• As I mentioned in my previous post, Rudi Wiedemann’s Biodiesel Solutions and Arthur Neumann’s Free Water are amazing ideas and will really change the world.

Thanks again to John Gregory for putting on such a wonderful show and, of course, Bob Goff of the Sierra Angels for tirelessly beating the "angel investing" drum for Reno-Tahoe.

 
  Technorati : biodiesel, bob goff, ceo, darik volpa, david archer, david laplante, entrepreneur, eort, eort.org, john gregory, nevada, peppermill, reno, sierra angels, tahoe, technology, understandsurgery.com, venture capital

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The boys from Diggnation — Kevin Rose, Alex Albrecht, Keith Harrison and David Prager — came to Reno-Tahoe for the first ever/annual Diggnation fan appreciation / skiing / snowboarding / drinking / blackjack / overeating / hungover party.

I think pretty much everyone left with either damaged livers or sore legs or both from all the partying and skiing/snowboarding. A sign of a truly good time.

I’ve posted a Flickr photo set here.

The Diggnation Episode #38 podcast is posted here. It will go down in history as a classic. Just watch this episode and you will realize why podcasting is such a "real medium". It doesn’t get any more real than this!

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The boys from Diggnation — Kevin Rose, Alex Albrecht, Keith Harrison and David Prager — came to Reno-Tahoe for the first ever/annual Diggnation fan appreciation / skiing / snowboarding / drinking / blackjack / overeating / hungover party.

I think pretty much everyone left with either damaged livers or sore legs or both from all the partying and skiing/snowboarding. A sign of a truly good time.

I’ve posted a Flickr photo set here.

The Diggnation Episode #38 podcast is posted here. It will go down in history as a classic. Just watch this episode and you will realize why podcasting is such a "real medium". It doesn’t get any more real than this!

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