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| | The May Report: 3/1/2010: Third report of the day, and what a day it is!: Ted Widen's $20MM firm, Chicago-scene.com?; Miss Illinois 2006 shows at Social Media Club Chicago; the low down on Hoch and why Howerton may be a better bet; I can count 14 events in 3 days from last week; Benderoff bolts Brad and much more...
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| | March 1, 2010
The May Report: 3/1/2010: Third report of the day, and what a day it is!: Ted Widen's $20MM firm, Chicago-scene.com?; Miss Illinois 2006 shows at Social Media Club Chicago; the low down on Hoch and why Howerton may be a better bet; I can count 14 events in 3 days from last week; Benderoff bolts Brad and much more...
Editor and publisher: ron@themayreport.com, ronaldmay@aol.com, www.themayreport.com, 773-525-3944.
If you missed an article, go here: http://www.tmronline.com/A55951/tmrarticles.nsf/vwFullNewsletter
_________________________________________
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Scoop section:
-- Kevin Nemetz: www.tix4cause.com
-- March 2 LES Chapter Meeting
-- Don Samuelson: The MIT Webinar on Monday -- it's on right now
-- Layton Olson: The Future of Civic Engagement in a Broadband-Enabled World | Center for Future Civic Media - MIT webinar Mon March 1 4-6:30 Eastern time
-- Register Now for the TechAmerica Annual International Environmental Compliance
-- Briefly noted, by Ron May
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MIT EF Chicago Mar. 16 Event
Bootstrappers and Investors Faceoff
Hear from two companies, currently building their businesses with
revenue, as they engage in a bare-knuckles dialogue with seasoned
investors. We'll discuss how both early-stage and mature companies spark
investor interest, the best approach to finding and acquiring outside
funding, and the potential trade-offs to consider when seeking outside
investment.
Bootstrappers
Chris Hill, Founder and CEO of PerkSpot and creator of Coupon Tweet
Jeff Judge, Co-founder of Interactive Mediums
Investors
Jeff Carter, Co-founder of Hyde Park Angels
Laurence Hayward, Founder and Managing Partner of VentureLab
Moderator
Linda Darragh, Director of Entrepreneurship Programs and Adjunct
Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago's
Booth School of Business
Our "bootstrappers" lead off the session, each giving his company's
pitch on why their respective firms would be solid investment
opportunities. Following the pitches, our investors will kick-off a
dynamic discussion, offering their candid feedback as well as a
no-nonsense perspective on the merits of outside funding.
When
Tuesday March 16
5:00-6:15 pm Networking
6:30-8:00 pm Program
Where
At our new host sponsor
Ungaretti & Harris LLP
70 W. Madison St.
4th Floor Conference Center
Chicago
Cost
Free to members; $30 advance payment for non-members/guest
REGISTER at http://bit.ly/9SBTYg
NOTE A NEW NETWORKING AND MEETING LOCATION!
WELCOME OUR NEW SPONSOR, UNGARETTI & HARRIS!
It may be the same address and the same time, but you'll have an
opportunity to meet new people with our new sponsor, the law firm of
Ungaretti & Harris LLP.
70 W. Madison St., Chicago
4th Floor Conference Center
REGISTER at
http://bit.ly/9SBTYg
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___________________________________
The Scoop section:
_____________________________
Kevin Nemetz: www.tix4cause.com
From: Kevin Nemetz kevin@tix4cause.com
Subject: I have met you in the past at both Gleecher Center and with Provision X [sic: Gleacher]
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 14:55:07 -0600
To: ron@themayreport.com
I just appeared today on the WGN Radio show of John WIlliams. I have started up a very interesting and exciting new business. I hope you have a chance to review and consider. www.tix4cause.com
Kevin Nemetz | CEO | tix 4 cause
cell: 630.301.2312 office: 630.904.9435
_____________________________________
March 2 LES Chapter Meeting
From: LES Chicago Chapter mail@les.org
Sender: LES Chicago Chapter mail=les.org@mcsv8.net
Subject: March 2 LES Chapter Meeting: Online Registation Ends Today!
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 10:34:07 -0500
To: "Ron" ron@themayreport.com
http://www.lesusacanada.org/chicago/mar
March 2 Chicago Chapter Meeting
DATE & TIME
Tuesday, March 2
11:45 AM
TITLE
Technology Investment and Partnering Activity in the Recent Economy
(featuring three of Chicago's leading technology investors and advisors)
Topics of discussion will include:
* The local and national status of angel, early stage and institutional investment in technology
* Technology transaction bright spots in a dark economy
* VC strategies for the near term
* Future trends in technology investment and transactions
PANELISTS
Michael Liang
Principal
Baird Venture Partners
Dr. Caralynn Nowinski-Chenoweth
Vice President, Sikich Investment Banking
CEO, Sanogene Therapeutics
Jamie Bellanca
Executive-In-Residence
Baird Venture Partners
LOCATION
Maggiano's Little Italy (Banquent facility, enter on Grand)
516 North Clark Street
Chicago, Illinois
(312) 644-7700
REGISTRATION
$40: Online by March 1
$45: On-site
$20: Student (online & on-site)
Online Registration Deadline: March 1, 3 PM
On-site Registration Available
CANCELLATION POLICY
No refunds after March 1
Substitutions are permitted
EVENT CONTACT
Priscilla Gallagher
LES Chicago Chapter Chair
(312) 775-8121
__________________________________________
Don Samuelson: The MIT Webinar on Monday -- it's on right now
From: DSSA310@aol.com
Subject: The MIT Webinar on Monday
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:47:18 EST
To: chuck.sherwood@verizon.net, eo@howehutton.com, ron@themayreport.com, bpopovic@cantv.org
Cc: pincon@alado.net, cbenton@benton.org, FRoehm@skokielibrary.info, field@iit.edu, iacbm@msn.com, drew@broadbandcensus.com, Ryan.Croke@Illinois.gov, Mark.Pradun@Illinois.gov, thom@newstips.org, sascha@acornactivemedia.com, Jim@baller.com
Chuck:
Are you going to this event? Seems worthwhile. I'd be interested in it from the perspectives of the senior Internet adoption BTOP proposal I'm working on and the ways that public access television can help to disseminate information on "offline" methods that public access television could support the Internet training and education efforts not available to low-income senior buildings or seniors who are not yet online.
I'll send you something offline to explain what Connected LIving and I are doing re: BTOP in Illnois.
Don
In a message dated 2/26/2010 9:36:53 A.M. Central Standard Time, leo@howehutton.com writes:
Ron,
Thought you, and other planners, might be interested in this Monday webinar,
Wonder if they'll be describing Electronic Community Forum models
and other planning-based keypad-polling work you've developed.
Do you recognize any of the presenters?
Are APA, NARC or UIUC Regional Planning parties plugged into this
MIT Media Lab stuff?
Barbara,
Is this something for CAN TV to cover?
Do you know some of the presenters?
Saw presenters from PBS and NPR.
How does this fit into PEG planning and programming nationally?
Layton
-----Original Message-----
From: Chuck Sherwood [mailto:Chuck.Sherwood@verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 7:11 PM
To: Jabari Simama; Dave Lamie; Nolan Bowie; Sascha Meinrath; Bruce Lincoln; Jim Baller; Bruce Montgomery; Laura Forlano; Clayton Banks; Bernie Mazyck; Jim Bryant; Casey Lide; Miriam Hair; Dwight Loftis; John Matthews; Camilla Hertwig; Nancy Coombs; Jim Clark; Jill Gemmill; Jim Pepin; Susan Patterson; Rita Stull; Steve Benjamin; Deborah Watts; Bubba Weir; Fred Johnson; Rob Brading; Robin Wu; Christopher Mitchell; Ron Vinson; Laura Efurd; Greg Laudeman; Drew Clark; Geoff Daily; Jeff Bridgland; Layton E. Olson; Ron Thomas; GIO listserv; Stan McGee; Ben Dobbs; Mike Isenberg; Joe Tiernan; Bill Ennen; Jessica Atwood; Adele Burnes; Anne Margulies; Pat Larkin; Bryan Jamele; Donna Baron; Erin O'Connor; Jason Whittet; Judith Dumont; CCTC Infrastructure; Joanne Hovis
Subject: The Future of Civic Engagement in a Broadband-Enabled World | Center for Future Civic Media
http://civic.mit.edu/event/the-future-of-civic-engagement-in-a-broadband-enabled-world
__________________________________________
Layton Olson: The Future of Civic Engagement in a Broadband-Enabled World | Center for Future Civic Media - MIT webinar Mon March 1 4-6:30 Eastern time
From: Layton E. Olson leo@howehutton.com
Subject: The Future of Civic Engagement in a Broadband-Enabled World | Center for Future Civic Media - MIT webinar Mon March 1 4-6:30 Eastern time
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:35:58 -0600
To: "ron@themayreport.com" <ron@themayreport.com>, "Barbara Popovic (bpopovic@cantv.org)" <bpopovic@cantv.org>
Cc: "Andrew Pincon (pincon@alado.net)" <pincon@alado.net>, "Charles Benton (cbenton@benton.org)" <cbenton@benton.org>, Frances Roehm <FRoehm@skokielibrary.info>, "field@iit.edu" <field@iit.edu>, "iacbm@msn.com" <iacbm@msn.com>, Chuck Sherwood <chuck.sherwood@verizon.net>, "Drew Clark (Broadband Census)" <drew@broadbandcensus.com>, "Ryan Croke (Ryan.Croke@Illinois.gov)" <Ryan.Croke@Illinois.gov>, "'Mark.Pradun@Illinois.gov'" <Mark.Pradun@Illinois.gov>, Thom Clark <thom@newstips.org>, "DSSA310@aol.com" <DSSA310@aol.com>, "Sascha Meinrath (sascha@acornactivemedia.com)" <sascha@acornactivemedia.com>, "Jim@baller.com" <Jim@baller.com>
Full Headers
Undecoded Letter
Ron,
Thought you, and other planners, might be interested in this Monday webinar,
Wonder if they'll be describing Electronic Community Forum models
and other planning-based keypad-polling work you've developed.
Do you recognize any of the presenters?
Are APA, NARC or UIUC Regional Planning parties plugged into this
MIT Media Lab stuff?
Barbara,
Is this something for CAN TV to cover?
Do you know some of the presenters?
Saw presenters from PBS and NPR.
How does this fit into PEG planning and programming nationally?
Layton
-----Original Message-----
From: Chuck Sherwood [mailto:Chuck.Sherwood@verizon.net]
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 7:11 PM
To: Jabari Simama; Dave Lamie; Nolan Bowie; Sascha Meinrath; Bruce Lincoln; Jim Baller; Bruce Montgomery; Laura Forlano; Clayton Banks; Bernie Mazyck; Jim Bryant; Casey Lide; Miriam Hair; Dwight Loftis; John Matthews; Camilla Hertwig; Nancy Coombs; Jim Clark; Jill Gemmill; Jim Pepin; Susan Patterson; Rita Stull; Steve Benjamin; Deborah Watts; Bubba Weir; Fred Johnson; Rob Brading; Robin Wu; Christopher Mitchell; Ron Vinson; Laura Efurd; Greg Laudeman; Drew Clark; Geoff Daily; Jeff Bridgland; Layton E. Olson; Ron Thomas; GIO listserv; Stan McGee; Ben Dobbs; Mike Isenberg; Joe Tiernan; Bill Ennen; Jessica Atwood; Adele Burnes; Anne Margulies; Pat Larkin; Bryan Jamele; Donna Baron; Erin O'Connor; Jason Whittet; Judith Dumont; CCTC Infrastructure; Joanne Hovis
Subject: The Future of Civic Engagement in a Broadband-Enabled World | Center for Future Civic Media
http://civic.mit.edu/event/the-future-of-civic-engagement-in-a-broadband-enabled-world
__________________________________________
Register Now for the TechAmerica Annual International Environmental Compliance
Subject: Register Now for the TechAmerica Annual International Environmental Compliance
Date: 3/1/2010 2:23:01 P.M. Central Standard Time
From: ed.longanecker@techamerica.org
To: ronaldmay@aol.com
TechAmerica 2010 International Environmental Compliance Conference
Thursday, April 15, 2010
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Motorola - Schaumburg Campus
Corporate Tower Auditorium Door 51
1303 E. Algonquin Road
Schaumburg, IL 60196
If your company manufacturers or licenses high technology products, this is a must attend event.
This conferences addresses compliance, implementation, enforcement issues, latest and pending changes and best practices surrounding Global RoHS, WEEE, EuP, REACH, Batteries, Recycling, Substance Restrictions, Chemical Regulation and Energy Efficiency. Learn the latest global developments from TechAmerica and our industry partners.
Pricing:
Early Bird TechAmerica Member - $145 ($295.00 after March15)
Early Bird Non-Member - $295 ($495 after March 15)
Act now to register and lock in early bird registration discounts. Registration is required for this forum.
Details:
http://www.techamerica.org/2010-enviro-conference-mw
Best regards,
Ed Longanecker
Executive Director, Regional Director of State Government Affairs
TechAmerica Midwest
NEW PHONE: 630-282-4332
ed.longanecker@techamerica.org
www.techamerica.org
AeA & ITAA have merged to form TechAmerica
Where the future begins
_____________________________________________
Briefly noted, by Ron May
* I still have many stories for you but we are making progress today. My next report may be a synopsis on the Neutral Tandem/ Peerless story.
* From my tape on Social Media Club Chicago last Thursday, the 25th of February.
I also collected a lot of cards but these are people who did not have cards and I got their info. on tape.
++++++++++++++++++++
Meredith Bay works for M&P PR, meredithbay4@gmail.com
Gibson Patterson, (a guitar in New Jersey), gibson.patterson@gmail.com
Kelly someone found out about the meeting in TMR. She was kind enough to wheel me around a bit in my wheelchair. Yes, I can walk, just not far or long without getting winded.
Melanie Adcock says that if someone, anyone, wants a date with her, they must be on time. Adcock ain't looking bad these days. and I think she's lost some weight. Who wouldn't after the stress of working at SAVO Group?
Meredith Krupa works for a logistics division of John Deere & Co. (cute blonde) and she told me she is not allowed to say where she works or hand out cards. Do you believe that?
Bruce Montgomery says that the space at TechNexus seems to be fully utilized. His point was that they are doing a lot there.
Bruce and I agreed that the hottest firm these days in Chicagoland is Groupon. BTW, Montgomery was taking pics as usual and the event was videotaped, but how come he did not go to the ITA party?
Bruce does always have his eye on the ball which is one reason I enjoy talking to him. He threw out a challenge to Eric Olson asking the question: Is Tech Cocktail willing to come out of the closet and play a real role in building companies?
+++++++++++++++++++
Now I am off the tape and into a long commentary with some good info.
Having booths with demos at TC events is not enough. When Frank and Eric started Tech Cocktail in July 2006 in Chicago, it seemed to me and to Bruce that they were trying to do two things: One, they were trying to represent an overlooked and under-appreciated segment of the market, namely Web 2.0 type start-ups. Two, they were trying to regain some of the sheen we had in back in 1999 with the dot com boom. And three, although this was not the way it worked out, they were trying to elevate the visibility of Chicago high tech relative to other cities. On the third goal, however, what ended up happening was that Frank and Eric saw a good thing and expanded Tech Cocktail to NYC, Washington, D. C., Boston, Champaign, IL; Boulder, CO; and a few other cities. Chicago became one of a number of places, but in the process they did connect Chicagoans to those in other cities.
Implicit in their starting TC was a critique which has been on-going of the ITA which has always been more of a traditional business and legacy organization that appeals to bigger firms, consulting firms and to IT services firms.
As Tech Cocktail has evolved, it has drawn huge crowds and has become an institution unto itself, so much so that the ITA was effectively forced into giving them an award at their annual CityLIGHTS event.
And late last year, with the "acquisition" of the ITA which readers of this report know that I believe firmly was an ill-gotten gain of about $750K for people who have not proven themselves, the ITA has finally started, albeit slowly, to more of a focus on entrepreneurs in general and it has expanded its scope, supposedly, beyond IT to other domain areas such as nanotech, medical devices, energy, etc.
It has now been six months since the announcement of the ITA take over (one might say boondoggle, bank heist, scam) of the ITDA's money and members and it might be a good time to survey the members to find out exactly how things are going.
What is lacking, despite all the "activity" and the many events, is a core level of directed or focused energy.
Now I must venture into the unknown. I don't "know" first hand what I am talking about because I was not there at the Monday Morning Meeting which was held on January 25th. I was not there because I have been banned from ITA events even though I was attending the MMM for many years, before it became well-known, before it was taken over by the ITDA, and when it was being run by Tom Churchwell.
At the top of my value system is and always has been intellectual honesty.
That perforce must come come before shi& disturbing and tweaking people and getting under people's skin and being a crusader for truth and justice.
So, Howerton has me in a bind, between a rock and a hard place. As much as I would love to trash the guy and find dirt on him, my first obligation to you, the reader, is to be honest in reporting the info. I gather.
The first person I spoke to about the MMM told me without my even asking him that and I quote: "You did not miss much at the MMM. I say bring Churchwell back."
He went on to say that attendance started out strong and a lot of people left early. He also said that unlike previous Monday Morning Meetings, this one did not have companies that were ready to be funded. He added that Terry was a lousy moderator.
My immediate reaction was "Great, now I have the goods." My headline was going to be a take off on the famous line by Lloyd Bentsen of Texas who said to Dan Quayle in the VP debate in 1988 that "Senator, I knew Jack Kennedy, Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine and Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senator,_you%27re_no_Jack_Kennedy I had it all planned out. Terry Howerton, you're no Tom Churchwell and indeed he is not nor does he intend to be.
But I thought about it and realized that I needed more input and confirmation of that first opinion.
So, here is what I found out. In a fundamental way, the purpose of the meeting is being changed. This comes from Joe Scroppo who was there.
The traditional Churchwell and Dryer questions geared toward investors were not being asked. According to Scroppo, they are now focusing on facilitation and not on critique. In other words, how can we help, not here is how you can improve your presentation.
Much of what the first person said was confirmed. There were fewer people at the end of the meeting than at the beginning and the two fast pitch firms that filled in the gaps between the major presentations were not deal ready.
Of the two (or three) major presenters, one of them was not deal ready, and that seems to be an agreed upon fact from all three sources.
All this goes to show is that three people can observe the same meeting and have completely different takes on it. I promised two of the three that this would not be for attribution.
I formally asked one person who was there three questions by email:
1. I was told that only one firm was at the deal stage. True or not?
Answer: Two of the three firms were at the deal stage. Also, there were two firms that did a fast pitch that were not ready for capital.
2. I was told it was well attended but a lot of people left early. True or not?
Answer: Yes, it was well attended. Probably about 75 people there. Several people did leave by the time the third company presented. However, some of the people in the room were involved with some of the presenting firms so after they pitched these people left. Overall, a majority of the people did stay until the end.
3. I was told that Howerton was not a good moderator. What is your view?
Answer: He did a good job. He was sick so he wasn't completely himself. However, he has a conversational style so he resonated with the audience and kept the meeting moving along. This meeting was not focused on pitching to investors so the usual investor questions of the past were not asked by the moderator.
May again. I just found my notes (it is 3am Sunday morning) on what Scroppo said and I talked to him at the BNC meeting on the 2nd of February.
Joe Scroppo says that there were four presentations total, two major and two fast pitch. He said one was deal ready and one was not. The two fast pitch deals were not deal ready.
So, if what Joe said is correct, then three of the four presenters were not deal ready. If what the anonymous reviewer who is equally reliable (anonymous to you, not to me) said is right, there were a total of five presentations, three major and two fast pitch. So, either three of five were not deal ready or three of four were not deal ready.
And we all agree that people did leave, how many and why is still in dispute. The disagreement comes on the issue of whether Terry Howerton was a good moderator or not.
And I think where one comes down on that depends more on your assessment of the philosophy of the meeting. Scroppo says they are changing the model from an investor prep and critique to help and facilitation like building the Rolodex.
I gather that the tone has changed.
Now let me talk about Jack Curley a minute. I don't want to get the guy into trouble since he is such a nice guy, but this is important and Jack knows to whom he is talking. Jack is a straight shooter and a good guy. He is a professional business guy who goes to the meetings and has worked with many firms, some like Jim Hanekamp's firm which were effectively thrown to the roadside by Fred and Terry and the ITA. I think that was a case of mutual dislike from what all three guys have told me.
The bottom line is that Jack Curley is a mensch and Fred Hoch is not.
Fred can be churlish, deceptive, power hungry at times, and a pouter given to seething. I have this from reliable sources on the inside of that operation (and by inside I am including TechNexus people) but because I want to protect those sources, I will not name them. Fred is, after all, the landlord for some people I talk to.
Jack Curley did not go to the MMM and when I challenged him on it, he told me he was not comfortable going after he had been jerked around by Fred. If you know Jack, that is not a statement he is making lightly or casually. Fred treating an older guy in a shabby way -- that I can believe.
For those who feel this is harsh, it is really just honest.
When the ITA stole the $750K from the ITDA, in my view with the help of "bag men" Dick and Scott, they had every opportunity to do the right thing. If they could not hire Jack Curley and Keith Brumbaugh either full or part time, they could have at least reached out to them and passed some business their way. They could have brought them into the process, but alas, they did not.
Fred flat out said to me, "Would you pay $150K for Jack and Keith?"
Never mind that they probably paid $125K for LeAnne T.
Terry said much the same thing to me although he made it sound as though they would be more magnanimous and flexible.
I have been told by people who know them that Fred is cold blooded and very hard core but not in a hard charging way, more in the way of being politically astute which he actually is and also being manipulative; and Terry actually has a heart. Knowing both of them pretty well that may be true. Terry may be a poor businessman and unreliable in paying his bills, given to cheating the system, and he may often be one step ahead of the sheriff as he tries to use the ITA to further his personal ambition to make himself the "go to" guy for the Mayor on technology in general and the secondary schools in particular which may be a perversion of the ITA's core mission, (as he told me, if he were not ITA chairman no one would return his calls), but Fred is just plain mean spirited and afraid of his shadow.
Have you ever noticed that Fred rarely mentions that he worked for the State Department, that he always says his parents are scientists and he will tell you that he is from San Diego long before you find out that he worked for the SIIA -- in Washington, D.C., no less? I have refrained from calling my cousin Ken Wasch for whom Fred worked for six years because I feel that would be out of line and outright tacky. It is just below the belt and low class to do that so I won't. If I cannot get info. here in Chicago, then I should quit my job as a reporter.
I heard that when Kathy Liu, you know, my good buddy Kathy, would come to Fred and others with ideas, they were dismissive and even rude.
New ideas are not encouraged in Fred land.
"Oh, we tried that (or we thought of that) and it does not work," he is fond of saying. He dampens creativity and initiative.
Fred actually strikes me as a bit of a loner and definitely not a communicator. Low self-esteem, maybe. He can be affable enough. He is not a recluse. But getting more than two sentences out of him is hard. He approaches every conversation very dismissively and in a cavalier manner but at the same time, he treats it as though it is a duel. Notice that often it is Terry who shows at events with Sarah and Mary Pat, not Fred as in the case of the CEC party on December 18th.
Fred just may not be that much of a people person. I heard that he spent most of the evening at Tech Cocktail Mobile looking at some video machine.
But he always likes the air of mystery around him and that is deliberately designed to make him look "cool" to the techies. He is from San Diego, not a fuddy duddy association like the SIIA; his parents are scientists, he rarely mentions Washington, D.C., and he is or was big on SaaS. You get the picture.
Terry is also very secretive, but he is much more engaging and both he and Fred are very controlling. I may disagree with Terry on many things and have issues with the way he operates, the way he has used the ITA to market his own firm while I am mindful of the fact that he did put in a lot of his own or his firm's money too, even if some of it was diverted from other things that should have been higher priorities -- in other words, he had to be a big shot, quoting Billy Joel -- but I have had some great and long conversations with him, conversations I cannot imagine having with Fred.
Now if you really question what I am telling you, track down people who have worked for Fred. Josh Karp's wife worked there and knows a lot. Terry and Fred are quite concerned with information that "leaks out" and they go nuts when something appears in this report that they don't want known. I could give you chapter and verse here, but it would out my sources. Fred would routinely call meetings of the staff to find out who said something to Ron May. "How does Ron know this?," he would ask them, pointing to the passage in TMR. Both Fred and Terry have gone nuts with that question. Fred forgets that there are a lot of people at TechNexus who talk to me.
OK, here is a question for someone to ask at the board meeting at the ITA on Tuesday morning at 9am.
I stumbled onto this piece of information which is really of no great consequence but it may illustrate a bigger point.
Last week I was talking to a marketing guy from a major local university whose name I won't use but he is not trying to be invisible and they are putting on a show next week.
In fact, I sold the guy some advertising in TMR.
The conversation turned to how they get the word out and how they market the event and he said that they use the TEC (Alex Jarett), the ITA, Midwest Business, and a few other outlets. Never mind that there is probably a lot of overlap in all the lists.
The ITA reference got my curiosity up so natch, I asked for more detail, and he told me that they had not gotten back to him and he had wanted to advertise through them.
Oh, really??!!
I can't imagine that Fred and Terry, having been put on the $750K welfare plan compliments of the ITDA board, would have any problem with continuing to work hard or even harder than before. :-)
Fred Hoch leaving money on the table when he is so dedicated to bringing in revenue? Perish the thought. :-)
We all know that the incentive to work declines when someone hands you manna from heaven.
Look, it is probably only a few hundred bucks that the ITA would have made, but the point is that since Margaret Plett, the marketing VP, left, follow-up has been for sh&&.
The guy I talked to at the university specifically mentioned that he had talked to Margaret, enjoyed working with her, and then when she left, everything went silent.
I have found out that the ITA has hired a junior marketing person, once again a woman, who is more of a co-ordinator and not a replacement for Margaret. I also found out that promises made were not kept -- but given how good Fred's word is, that doesn't surprise me. Apparently ARC has been contracted to re-do the CityLIGHTS website.
That is not what they had said they would do, but so what else is new?
Look, if you really want an objective third party to tell you what is up in that dysfunctional organization, call Tim Krauskopf and ask him directly (630-240-8503). Tim will love me for suggesting this, but remember, these are important issues. Are the entrepreneurs of Chicago getting what they need -- and are paying for?
That suggestion is really for ITA board members like Scott Woodard who may still believe in transparency or accountability -- if there are any left who do. Tim Krauskopf is not on the ITA board but he knows a lot about their operation and from what I can tell, he's a mensch.
And while you have Tim on the phone, why don't you ask him "What really happened to Margaret Plett?" Sounds like a good title for a movie, sort of like "Bunny Lake is missing" with Sir Larry Olivier.
Have I stirred enough sh&& for one day? Well, not quite. I have more.
Meanwhile, down in Hyde Park at the ChicagoBooth School of Business, Dean Snyder has given his resignation and many administrators are worried about their future.
I have a whole ditty on this topic but it will take me a while to put together.
Meanwhile, I have heard and now confirmed that Eric Benderoff has essentially left Appolicious which was launched with great fanfare in the fall of last year. They even had gotten some VC money -- a seed round from Apex. The question is why Eric bolted so fast and left Brad Spirrison once again in over his head.
My headline on this was going to be:
Benderoff bursts Brad's bubble: bolts Spirrison's start-up -- but there is too much we really don't know yet.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subject: Re: Eric, I'm fact checking here. I heard you've left Appolicious, Tor F or s
Date: 2/27/2010 8:46:04 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: benderoff@gmail.com
To: RONALDMAY@aol.com
No longer full-time with Appolicious but I still do some work from time to time. Focusing on other clients for my own firm, BendableMedia.com. It's all good, Ron. Thanks for asking,
Eric
Eric Benderoff
Bendable Media
Eric@BendableMedia.com
Twitter.com/ericbendy
Sent from something
On Feb 26, 2010, at 11:08 PM, RONALDMAY@aol.com wrote:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Meanwhile I have confirmed part of the rumor that both Dave Armano and Chris Brogan pulled out of speaking on at Thursday and Friday, March 4-5: Using Social Media to Align the Corporate and Personal Brand Conference
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subject: Re: SPAM-LOW: Re: Next TBIF Meeting Details
Date: 2/27/2010 2:20:59 P.M. Central Standard Time
From: jason@jacobsohn.com
To: RONALDMAY@aol.com
Okay, sounds good. Hopefully, your health will allow you to attend. I don't know who Dave Armano is but do know that Chris Brogan pulled out of the event. He said that he was double booked. Not sure that if that is true or not. However, he has agreed to speak at the Milwaukee conference in May.
Jason
Jason Jacobsohn
773-368-0229
jason@jacobsohn.com
Website: http://www.Jacobsohn.com
Blog: http://www.NetworkingInsight.com
LinkedIn Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonjacobsohn
LinkedIn Group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1947859
Don't miss the Greater Chicago Networking Extravaganza on April 6, 2010!
--------------------------------------
From: RONALDMAY@aol.comRONALDMAY@aol.com
To: jason@jacobsohn.com
Sent: Fri, February 26, 2010 10:22:37 PM
Subject: SPAM-LOW: Re: Next TBIF Meeting Details
Jason, looks good. I will plan to be there, but my health is the unknown variable.
Ron
P. S. I heard that Dave Armano and Chris Brogan were originally supposed to speak at the March 4-5 event you sent me a notice about but they pulled out. Is that true and why if it is?
++++++++++++++++++++++++
May again. Meanwhile I have heard that at OceanTomo http://www.oceantomo.com/ the CEO Jim Malackowski, who has been sending out the semi-annual notice about the upcoming auction, has recently been replaced in that email by Dean Becker (of Becker Beeper), the firm's founder.
This fact may be of no significance, but it also may signal some sort of change internally.
Meanwhile, at the Social Media Club Chicago Thursday night, Ted Widen showed up -- you know Ted "I'm a legend in my own mind" Widen. His wife Cory is a real huba huba huba. I still recall the cleavage from when we met years ago at Matsuya sushi restaurant at the sushi bar many years ago. BTW, they just had a baby. So now they have a nine year old and a new born.
I asked Ted what his business, www.chicago-scene.com is worth these days. He said unflinchingly that it is $20MM. I asked him for clarification by email, and whether he really believes that, but have not heard back. No matter, but what is he basing that on?
He may have had his business evaluated. People do that you know. The jokers at Efoora did that.
Meanwhile, two chicks at the Social Media Club Chicago are quitting Weber Shandwick, a PR firm as of last Friday. They are going off to start their own firm but they had not decided on a name as of Thursday night.
Their names are Jill Felska and Jean Korducki and both of them were Assistant Account Execs.
I am still on info. from the tape of the Social Media Club Chicago.
Dave Carman talked for some time at the end. He tells me that BNC which stands for Business Network Chicago http://www.bnchicago.org/ has a variety of SIGs. They are:
HR
Technology
Sales and Marketing
Senior Executive Sales
Entrepreneurship
Venture Capital which he co-heads with Len Bland
Each group has a leader.
They also had a new event, "After Hours" mixer which was held at Texas de Brazil at 51 E. Ohio.
Dave says that Lennie Rose of The Big Ooga was there.
I asked Dave about eFactor which has gone through a number of marketers, starting with Jason Jacobsohn and followed by Kathy Mosely. Dave said that Kathy Mosely left eFactor and is starting her entrepreneurial group out of Willis Tower. Kathy was replaced at eFactor by Kyle M. Rothfus who is an entrepreneur and he sent me a note to that effect in November 2009. To my knowledge, they have not held an event yet this year. The last event was December 9th.
The organization Out of Work Chicago has changed its name to Connect Work Chicago. That may be a sign or inflection point in that they have moved away from the out of work theme. There are still plenty of people who are out of work (in transition, as they say, and they also say consulting) based on my casual observations at Social Media Club Chicago Thursday night, but it is being downplayed now.
Dave rattled off a list from just Thursday's TMR of all the relatively new groups and initiatives in town. He reads and recalls my report better than I do. I had not, for example, taken a look at the ExcelerateLabs website yet. The City Treasurer's office awards along with CCV; MidVentures which Dave said he had never heard of; InvestMidwest which Dave said claims to have raised $400MM in ten years; and a firm called ExcelerateLabs:
+++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.exceleratelabs.com/mentors/
Mentors
Excelerate mentors are the best at what they do. They have founded or invested in numerous successful ventures. These mentors will share their wisdom and experience with the Excelerate community.
Adam Koopersmith, New World Ventures, Partner
Amanda Lannert, Jellyvision
Andrew Perlman, Great Point Energy, Founder and CEO
Blair Garrou, DFJ Mercury, Managing Director
Bob Fealy, Duchossois Technology Partners, Managing Director
Chuck Templeton, OpenTable
Dan Ratner, Sittercity, Angel Investor
Dan Watkins, DFJ Mercury, Managing Director
David Cohen, Tech Stars, Founder and CEO
David Weinstein, CEC, President
Genevieve Thiers, Sittercity
Glen Tullman, Allscripts, CEO
Harper Reed, Threadless
Hemant Taneja, General Catalyst, Managing Director
Howard Tullman, Flashpoint, Founder and CEO
Ira Weiss, Hyde Park Angels, Director
Jan Davis, ShopperTrak, CEO
Jason Felger, I2A, Partner
Jeff Bennett, Merrick Ventures, Managing Director
Jeff Hoffman, Priceline.com, Founder and Former CEO
Joe Dwyer, Fez, Founder and CEO
Kapil Chaudhary, I2A, Partner
Kelli Rhee, Sandbox Industries, Vice President
Kevin Kerns, Apropos Technology, Former CEO
Kevin Willer, Google, Head of Chicago Office
Lee Hower, Linked-In, Co-Founder
Leon Chism, CTO of Viewpoints, Chief Architect at Orbitz
Lon Chow, Apex Ventures, General Partner
Mark Achler, Redbox (formerly with Kettle Venture Partners)
Martin Clifford, Venture Partner at Sittercity and Former CEO of uDate.com
Matt Downs, Sandbox Industries and BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners, Managing Director
Michael Ferro, Merrick Ventures, and Former Founder and CEO of Click Commerce
Nick Rosa, Sandbox Industries, Co-Founder and Managing Director
Pete Wilkins, Serial Entrepreneur
Rob Schultz, Illinois Ventures, Managing Director
Sam Guren, Hyde Park Angels, Managing Director
Sam Yagan, OkCupid
Sami Inkinen, Trulia
Seth Stemberg, Meebo
Stuart Larkins, Performics, Former VP of Search
Tim Krauskopf, Mosaic/SpyGlass, Founder and CEO
Tony Grover, RPM Ventures, Managing Director
Troy Henikoff, OneWed CEO, SurePayroll, Founder
+++++++++++++++++++++
Wow, what a list! It is almost as big as the ITA board. :-) I only bring this up because it shows how much is going on that most of us have no idea about. I am also reminded of the October 2009 MIT-EF meeting and Weinstein's comment that he prefers a smaller more focused group to the Monday Morning Meeting which he said was silly.
And the ExcelerateLabs list is not all that out-of-date. Harper Reed has left Threadless of course.
But just to put an exclamation point on it, the level of activity in this town is boiling. We are right back to 2000.
Let's take this last week as an example.
Here are some, just some, of the events that have taken place this last week, mostly on Wednesday the 24th and Thursday the 25th.
Wednesday, the 24th:
1. Executives' Club of Chicago Global Leaders Luncheon. "Reinventing America's Economic Future: Fostering Industries of the 21st Century," featuring Paul S. Otellini, President and Chief Executive Officer, Intel Corporation. 11:45 am - 2:00 pm, Feb. 24, Sheraton Chicago, Sheraton Ballroom, 301 East North Water St., Chicago. Note, as this is being written Friday night the 26th, Otellini is being interviewed on WYCC by Charlie Rose!
2. EDC luncheon at the Tower Club: "What is Bad Air Costing Us?", LaTrice Porter-Thomas, Environmental Quality Manager Cook County, Department of Public Health
3. TiE-Midwest, at Gibson's, a new series on Entrepreneurs, panel on Alternative Financing with Linda Darragh, Chris Gladwin, Ted Feierstein and Peter Donnelly, attendance expected to be 40-50.
4. Association for Corporate Growth, Annual Awards Gala at the Cultural Center, Honoring Distinguished Leaders,
sold out at 325 attendees
5. Connect Work Chicago at LaSalle Power Company, formerly Michael Jordan's restaurant and also formerly Out of Work Chicago
6. Jobnob Chicago Happy Hour 4:30pm - 5:30pm, John Barleycorn Wrigleyville 3524 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60657
7. Chicago Booth Marketing Roundtable - SPECIAL "Show-and-Tell" Networking Meeting
8. Knapp Lecture - Ted Wallhaus (Part 2 of Sales Series) 6pm - 8pm Technology Business Center Atrium University Technology Park at IIT 3440 South Dearborn Street Chicago, IL 60616
Going back one day to Tuesday the 23rd, we had:
1. MEF in Wheaton, a regular monthly meeting, The Attraction Principle: How to Shift from Working to Get Clients to Attracting Them Effortlessly with Professional Certified Coach Tom Kelly
2. A new meeting sponsored by BNChicago. That was the After Hours get together. Dave Carman told me that Lennie Rose of The Big Ooga was there.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
http://feb10afterhours.eventbrite.com/
BNC "After Hours"
'Where Master Networkers Go To Network'
Online Registration is now closed. Walk-ins are welcome so read the follow information to view the details about our February 23, 2010 BNC "After Hours" event.
Beginning on February 23, 2010, Business Network Chicago (BNC) will introduce an exciting new networking format to the Chicago business community which will include top-notch speakers, targeted speed networking, and unstructured open networking. The mission of BNC is to help Chicago's premier business professionals become "Master Networkers" and facilitate the development and optimization of their personal networks. We want our members to excel in both face-to-face and online networking via social medial tools and make it easy for them to get in front of the 'right' people who can make the biggest difference in their careers and lives.
Speaker: J.D. Gershbein (http://www.linkedin.com/in/jdgershbein) is one of the top LinkedIn strategists in the world and President of Owlish Communications (www.owlishcommunications.com). He has trained thousands of executives and entrepreneurs on the astonishing potential of LinkedIn. J.D.'s presentation on 'Making The Most Of LinkedIn In 20 Minutes A Day' will teach you how to maximize your time and monetize LinkedIn. You must reserve a spot online to attend one of 2 sessions.
Speed networking: The purpose of these sessions is to practice and hone your networking skills and get you in front of your target audience to build your personal network. Unfortunately, both sessions filled up quickly and are officially closed. Please check in with us at the event. If there are no-shows, we may be able to fit you into one of 2 sessions.
Online registration is required to reserve a ticket to J.D's presentation. Otherwise, we cannot guarantee you a spot. Open networking will continue throughout the evening.
You will receive a copy of the attendee list by 9 a.m. on the morning of the event if you register online before midnight on February 21. We will include attendee numbers on the nametags to make it easy for you to identify the people that you targeted from the attendee list.
xxx
The Details:
Date: Tuesday, Feb 23, 2010
Time: 6:00 to 8:30 pm
Place: Texas de Brazil, 51 E Ohio (corner of Rush & Ohio), Chicago, IL, 60611
Online Registration: http://feb10afterhours.eventbrite.com
Online registration closed promptly at midnight on Feb 21, 2010.
Admission Price: $10 plus online registration fees ($20 at the door)
xxx
Event Schedule:
* 5:45 - Registration Opens
* 6:15 - Session 1 of LinkedIn Presentation & Speed Networking
* 7:15 - Break
* 7:30 - Session 2 of LinkedIn Presentation & Speed Networking
* 8:30 - End of Event
xxxUnstructured Networking will take place throughout the entire event.
xxx
Texas de Brazil is providing us with:
* A Cash Bar with a selection of beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks (pitchers of water will be placed liberally around the rooms)
* Lots and lots of delicious appetizers (steak, chicken, sausage, etc.)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And on Thursday, the 25th, we had:
1. The ITA's quarterly networking event held at TechNexus with about 150 (according that genius Julian Pretto who first told me 200 but then changed his estimate) in attendance. Chris Rollyson must have been there since he was not at Social Media Club Chicago. The gathering was held downstairs in the 200 S. Wacker building, not on the 15th floor.
2. Social Media Club Chicago: How Social Media Makes Financial Cents, at Morningstar, Inc., 22 W. Washington St.
Chicago, IL, 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM My estimate based on talking to Barb, the co-chair, would be 160, but that was pre-registered people and they did have walk-ins. Willinger says 180 and for once I believe him.
3. And I just found out Saturday night about another event on Thursday at the Palmer House in the lobby -- they cordoned off about half the lobby for roughly 200 people to enjoy wine and sliders and good food. But who was the sponsor? I heard that they had people like Doug Seville (C-Paths Director dseville@cpaths.com) and Jim Jakala (http://markettrack.com) who are generally associated with the BNC, but Carman was not there since he was Social Media Chicago.
I dug it up on the net by entering 'palmer house thursday february 25 event' into Google:
Doug Seville also answered by email:
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Subject: Re: Doug, who's behind the networking eventThurs.at Palmer House? BNC?
Date: 2/28/2010 7:09:38 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: dseville@cpaths.com
To: RONALDMAY@aol.com
The Palmer House themselves put it on to promote the hotel ... unrelated to any other group or event.
On Feb 28, 2010, at 12:46 AM, RONALDMAY@aol.com wrote:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That is interesting. A professional networking event put on by a hotel!?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://events.linkedin.com/Professional-Networking-Event-Palmer/pub/223404
Professional Networking Event ( Palmer House )
Starts: Thursday February 25, 2010 at 5:00pm
Ends: Thursday February 25, 2010 at 7:30pm
Event Type: Networking/Meetup
Region: Greater Chicago Area
Location: Palmer House Hilton
17 E Monroe St.
Chicago, IL 60603 US
Price:
Website: http://www.palmerhousehiltonhotel.com
Industry:
Keywords: Free, Professional, Network, Networking, Corporate, Industry, Trend, Chicago, Palmer
Intended For:
Organization:
THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL. Please feel free to call the RSVP Line should you wish to be added to the March Event. RSVP Line : 312-917-3421.
Comments (8)
*
Thanks for the invite Tony. I will be in build out for the Flower & Garden Show...would love to make the next one. P.S. we are working with Flavors of Chicago which is sponsored in a big way by PH.
When
Posted 26 days ago
Author
Tony Abruscato, president at Special Events Management
15011dc
*
Thanks Tony! Michael and I will see you there!
When
Posted 26 days ago
Author
Derrick Sorles, Co-Founder and Owner at Best Gay Travel Guides Online Publishing
0__nwrbm3azaq4obzs31e_brl2veccoxds3pg7brlplsnf38ovftmpdul-q6ghgihncbwaeyipfsn0
*
Thank you Tony. Looking forward to it.
When
Posted 25 days ago
Author
Alexander deHilster, Principal, ADH Events
0_ourblbec8ek7buw4po3hlqubuw8afoo4ywxhlqebpuno4sjztehuwnowcfhakjiq07-wopzvoy9g
*
I will mark this as tentative for me at this time. I will forward to a few of my connections.
When
Posted 12 days ago
Author
Helena Smith, HR/Training and Development
0_1c0r39f-du1lnwnu1tge3vgydj8yq7cul_ik3nah94nuiihrxkfc7qsafph_be9b-tjla1kwwcpa
*
Looking forward to it Tony. Alex, looking forward to catching up with you! Cheers!
When
Posted 11 days ago
Author
Christina Foster, Account Executive at MC-2
32f567c
*
Thanks for arranging, I think I can come at the beginning, I will have to leave early due to another commitment
When
Posted 11 days ago
Author
Leslie Ansel, US Census Bureau
0_xuxlrhhvbtzviemdejynrwrjbfiq_mmdqywsrwr5zg0xyomseg7dvikwwwwihw73lzgrq2afdvzj
*
I will be there with my husband Jeff.
When
Posted 11 days ago
Author
Chavah Golden, Chief Synthesist at ManyMinds, One Mission... Yours
1f2f57b
*
Woke up sick today Tony - I have to miss this one. I will come to the next one for sure! Derrick and Michael
When
Posted 2 days ago
Author
Derrick Sorles, Co-Founder and Owner at Best Gay Travel Guides Online Publishing
RSVPs
Attending (48)
* Alexander deHilster
* Meghan Ross
* Jessica Wheeler
* whitney frantzen
* Kim Harmon
and 43 more
Interested (36)
* Anthony Micheletti
* Gale Smith
* Michael Kuhn
* LaTosha Johnson
* Marie Hugley
and 31 more
Manage
Organizer:
Anthony Micheletti
Senior Catering Manager at Palmer House Hilton
Greater Chicago Area
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
May again. It seems to be a general business networking event for professionals but it could be more -- the start of a trend?
4. Wait, we're not through yet! There was another event that involved Business Communicators. I looked that up too and it is the International Association of Business Communicators and the Chicago chapter had a networking event Thursday night:
+++++++++++++++++++++
http://chicago.iabc.com/2010/02/need-a-catalyst-for-career-success-in-2010-look-no-further-than-iabc/
Networking Events
Thursday, February 25
Networking Event at the Catalyst Ranch
6 to 8 p.m.
Complete Information
Register
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That is 14 events in three days, and those are just the ones I know about! Who said nothing is going on in this town?!
The Social Media Club meeting was in my view the best one I have seen and I have been to five or so of them. Two reasons: A serious topic without the cliches and frills of rah rah sis boom bah re: twitter and facebook and a much better decorum. Many of their events have had a panel speaking up front with a Mongol Horde, actually called the Golden Horde http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_Empire of folks drinking and cavorting in the back of the room, making it hard to hear and follow the panel. This event separated the networking from the panel which was held down the hall and the networking resumed after the panel back in the networking area and that was followed by a gathering at a restaurant or bar down the street. A big improvement and the way it should be done.
Catherine Warren was the best looking woman there, and I said so, not knowing at the time I made that remark that she was also Miss Illinois in 2006: http://www.missillinoisusa.com/catherine_bio.html
and for pics, see this:
http://www.missillinoisusa.com/catherine_gallery.html
and she was 15th at the Miss USA pageant.
__________________________________
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