Entrepreneurship Institute Breakout Sessions
Bob Courtright
Founder and President
Courtright & Associates
Intentional Networking
Everyone says we should be good at networking – but what does “good networking” really mean?
In this session, Bob will explain how to make your networking experience worthwhile – whether it’s for this conference or any future events you might have an interest in attending. Is it true that introverts are the best networkers? Do you know the one guiding principle for effective networking? Are you interested in just trying to get comfortable in a crowd?
This one will be fun, entertaining, and valuable for everyone who attends.
Courtright & Associates, Inc., is a retained executive search consulting, business development & outplacement firm, located in Scranton, PA. Bob founded the firm in 1989. He also offers business, Networking & Linkedin consulting services. Bob holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and an MBA. in Finance from the University of Scranton. He is also a CPA.
Bob is an adjunct professor at Marywood University. He is also a past adjunct faculty member at the University of Scranton in the Graduate Human Resources program. Bob has appeared on local and national weekly radio programs to discuss jobs and networking including Dr. Dawn on Careers on Sirius XM.
Bob is an active community member including Chairman of the Northeast PA Networkers; Advisory Board Member, Lackawanna Biosciences; Great Valley Technology Alliance; Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry; Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce; Leadership Lackawanna Alumni Association; University of Scranton Alumni Society; Pennsylvania Biotechnology Association; Northeast Pennsylvania Technology Council; Greater Scranton YMCA; and, the Northeast Pennsylvania Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management.
Ask him about the six groups he has formed and manages on LinkedIn.
Joe Halcisak
Founder
Ranek Technologies
The Cost of Creating Software, Estimating the Price of Your Idea
Early stage entrepreneurs often don’t know where to begin in finding the right software development partner – let alone how much it might cost to build a website, database system, app, or all of the above. In this session, Joe will provide a roadmap for you to get ready to work with prospective software development partners and decide on the right one for your project.
Joe has been developing software since before he even started high school. In his senior year of high school, when the pandemic hit, he decided to create Ranek Technologies to take his software development to the next level. Later that year, Ranek moved into the CAN BE Innovation Center to help his business expand its reach. Since then, he’s created over a dozen commercial apps and websites for local businesses and even customers spread across the country. He also recently won an award at TecBridge’s Annual Business Plan Competition.
Teddy Delaney
eSports Program Manager
Lackawanna College
eSports, An Entrepreneur’s Dream
eSports is new, high-energy, and exploding.
In this session Teddy Delaney will explore eSports through an entrepreneurial lens – for gamers and non-gamers alike. For example, explosive growth can mean unprecedented opportunity, but it can also mean first-class challenges.
Teddy will also offer his thoughts on the state of this emerging industry and what that can mean for NEPA. Hint: who is going to make all of this stuff happen going forward? Hint: We are.
Teddy is the eSports Program Administrator at Lackawanna College in Scranton, PA and has been since the program’s inception in May of 2018. Over the last 4 years, Teddy has been working tirelessly to perfect the structure of the esports program from top to bottom. From recruiting and competition to event production and marketing, Teddy strives to create the best possible experience for everyone involved with the eSports program. In the 4 years since the program’s creation, two of the LC eSports teams earned their spot in a national championship; the program has received national news coverage, and has partnered with two professional eSports organizations to host local community events. Now venturing into the business side of Esports, Teddy hopes to implement new revenue streams for Lackawanna College.
Mandy Pennington
Director of Digital Strategy
Wilkes University
This Meeting Should’ve Been an Email: 10 Ways to Be a Better Organizational Communicator
Whether you’re part of a team or leading a team, everyone can benefit from this session on why workplace communication can be such a challenge and how you can master it to save time, get more done, and feel less stress. We’ll explore common communication pitfalls (“Why aren’t we talking to each other?!), quick wins (I promise you’ll be better at email after this session), and simple tweaks you can make to your communication style without losing your authenticity.
Mandy is a writer, marketer, and teacher with a passion for storytelling and 10+ years of experience helping others succeed in the digital space. She is the Director of Digital Strategy at Wilkes University and an adjunct instructor in communications at both Marywood University and Wilkes University. She co-founded NEPA BlogCon, Northeastern Pennsylvania’s first blogging and social media conference, and Squirrel Girls Tech Camp, a STEM initiative for girls in grades 4-6. Mandy enjoys performing in local theatre and lives in Scranton with her husband, Brent, and two mischievous cats.
Katie Hestor
Assisting Business Incubator Manager
Alvernia University’s O’Pake Institute
NFTs in EDU: Acronym Soup or a Recipe for Success
There is a new renaissance in the world of the arts and institutes of higher education are paying attention. NFTs (or non-fungible tokens) are changing the traditional marketplace by creating opportunities for designers and businesses to create and sell digital assets through the metaverse.
Alvernia University is taking this concept one step further by connecting students with traditional industries to revolutionize mainstream business.
Katie is a startup strategist and pitch deck coach. She serves as the Graduate Assistant of Startup Ventures & O’Pake Investments as well as the Assisting Business Incubator Manager at Alvernia University’s O’Pake Institute. Driven by vision, she uses it as a vehicle to help students and entrepreneurs reach their full potential.
Over the past 2 years, she has mentored over 45 businesses across various industries and is developing a program to support pre-seed and seed ventures.
Hestor is a Wilkes University graduate, holding a B.A. in marketing and a minor in entrepreneurship. She graduated magna cum laude, and with honors. In December 2022, she will receive her M.A. in organizational leadership.
Jeff Roth
Owner
Jeffrey Roth Insurance Agency
Entrepreneurs Take Risk, They Need to Manage It Too
Jeff Roth is a serial entrepreneur and first-class story-teller.
In this session, Jeff will use his own experiences to discuss some of the basics of risk and insurance management that many aspiring entrepreneurs often fail to consider – and need to know.
Some of our Business Plan Competition judges view an entrepreneur’s approach to risk management as a key differentiator among competitors. Stop in to find out why.
If that’s not enough, invite Jeff to discuss his passion for watches.
Jeff is the owner of the Jeffrey Roth Insurance Agency in Wilkes-Barre, PA. He is an experienced insurance professional with a life journey that includes entrepreneurial (ad)ventures in the watch and international luxury goods distribution businesses.
Jeff is an active community member serving Family Service Association, Ohav Zedek Synagogue, Jewish Home of Northeastern PA, tecBRIDGE, and the Wilkes University Allan P. Kirby Center.
Jeff is a proud graduate of Meyers High School and Long Island University. He and his wife Kathy and their two daughters live in Kingston, PA.