Speakers

Dave McClure

Dave McClure likes to hang out with entrepreneurs, and occasionally help or invest in their startups if they let him. Dave has been geeking out in Silicon Valley for over twenty years, and has worked with companies such as PayPal, Mint, Founders Fund, Facebook, LinkedIn, SlideShare, Twilio, Simply Hired, O’Reilly Media, Intel, & Microsoft. Many years ago he used to do real work like coding or marketing or running conferences, but these days he mostly does useless stuff like sending lots of email, blogging, and hanging out on Facebook and Twitter. Dave also likes to play ultimate frisbee when his knees don’t hurt.

Debra Johnson, EcoEdge

Debra Johnson CEO and Founder of EcoEdge is passionate about saving companies money while reducing environmental impact. She has turned that passion into an award winning company that provides solutions for improved fuel economy, reduced maintenance costs, more efficient and effective operation, and reduced environmental footprint.  Best of all, she is going to share HOW she did it.

Jeremiah Owyang, Altimeter Group

As a Web Strategist, Jeremiah delivers insight on disruptive technologies and their impact on how companies communicate with their customers. His blog has been recognized as a top analyst blog within the industry. He is currently Partner of Customer Strategy at Altimeter Group, a strategy consulting firm that provides thought leadership, research, and consulting on digital strategies.
Previously, Jeremiah was a Senior Analyst at Forrester Research, and has over 10 years experience as a practitioner on both the vendor and brand side. He is frequently quoted in the mainstream press, speaks at conferences all over the world, and serves as a regular columnist for Forbes magazine.

Kathy Kolbe, Kolbe Corp

Kathy Kolbe did not invent conation (the science of how we get things done) but her innovative way of measuring it and understanding it has helped thousands of leaders and their teams be more effective in achieving their goals.  Kathy will share how Kolbe Corp gew from an idea to a multimillion dollar business and how understanding your conative  strengths can help you build your team and your business too.

Eric Keosky-Smith, Shwaag

A true AZEC success story, Co-founders Eric Keosky-Smith and Michael Edwards were at AZEC08 when they got and idea that started them looking at thier start up in a new way.  Shwaag.com debuted at AZEC09 to the delight of attendees who won the Red Carpet Shwaag Bags.  Now a year later, Shwaag is forging ahead.  What better way to kick off AZEC10 then to have Eric share the Shwaag story.

Paul E. Bendheim, MD, BrainSavers

Paul E. Bendheim, MD, Founder and CEO  of BrainSavers® leads a team dedicated to assist others in maintaining healthy minds, as well as reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders, by adopting healthier habits like regular mental and physical exercise and nutritional eating into their lives. Since founding BrainSavers® in 2004, Dr. Paul and his team have learned a lot along the Entrpreneurial Journey, and he is ready to share. 
Sam Pillsbury

Sam Pillsbury, Pillsbury Wine Company

Pillsbury Wine Company is the evolution of a Dream-Come-True project by New Zealand by  Film Director and Winemaker Sam Pillsbury.  

Sam flew into Arizona to shoot a pilot for Universal Pictures and fell in love with an Arizona girl and the Arizona landscape at the same time.

Growing up in New Zealand Sam witnessed the phenomenon of growing classical wine grapes in unusual places. Then on a camping trip in Arizona thought he could try the same thing here.  Now he is growing a business. 

 Ethan Bloch, Flowtown

Flowtown co founders Ethan Bloch and Dan Martell had a vision for helping businesses connect with partners and customers across the social landscape by keying in on the email databases they already had.  The results have been amazing and Ethan is doing a fly in from the Bay to give us a look at where Flowtown has been and where it is going.

Panels

Change and Your Funding Strategy

Sooner or later, we all need access to the resources to fund growth. The question is where do you find it and how will you get it in a changing world.  

Moderator:  Morris Callaman, Esq. Founder of Callaman Ventures.  Panelists:  Dave Bittner, Founder of Beanstalk CFO, Paul Winandy, Member of Desert Angels

Morris Callaman, Esq.  Callaman Ventures

Whether assisting a founder as Founder’s Counsel, providing hands-on support as an investor, or negotiating the BIG deal, Morris Callaman know how to move from idea to the capital it takes to build a winning business.  Just ask the CEOs of the companies that are or  have been in the Callaman Ventures portfolio.

Dave Bittner, Beanstalk CFO

Dave Bittner is President of Beanstalk CFO Group, a firm helping high-growth businesses manage finances toward goals.  In fact, Dave was one of the pioneers of the CFO-services concept.  He recognized that emerging businesses don’t get from accountants what they really need to control a company to growth and profit objectives.  So, in 1995 he founded Beanstalk to provide the necessary financial planning, insightful analysis & actionable advice.  Dave has led the firm since inception and grown it to 4 offices serving hundreds of double-digit-employee companies.

Paul Winandy, CFA, Arizona Technology Investor Forum

Over the course of his 20 year career, Paul has been a leading contributor to four successful startup businesses; two of which were named to the Inc. 500 list and concluded with acquisitions by public firms.  Paul is an active angel investor and currently the Managing Director of the Arizona Technology Investor Forum (ATIF), a local angel investing group.  Constantly attracted to innovative technology ventures, Paul enjoys helping entrepreneurs navigate the startup challenges and achieve commercial success.