Previous Forum Events

February 18th, 2016:

We had a great turnout and an amazing panel for our first Phoenix Rising Entrepreneur Forum event! The topic for discussion was "Surviving Entrepreneurship - Rejuvenation After a Major Setback" and the evening was hosted by our Phoenix Rising Co-Founder Rajiv Tandon.

Our panel of entrepreneurs, who have all experienced failure but are now soaring, shared their experiences of anguish, perseverance, & recovery. The specific details of their individual failure(s) are not as relevant as how they have dealt with their setbacks and how they have prepared themselves to soar again.

The panel will included:

• Mark Boardman, President, ProvidaCare (www.providacaremn.com), provider of respiratory services in the fast growing in-home health care industry.
   
• Dick Enrico, Founder and CEO of 2nd Wind Exercise (www.2ndwindexercise.com), the largest retail chain of fitness equipment in the US.
   
• Kent Forsland, Founder and CEO of Cabrio (www.cabriostructures.com), manufacturer of patio enclosures using unique patented retractable roof and opening wall systems.
   
• Lisa Gregory, Co-owner & CEO of Brake Squad (www.brakesquadfranchise.com), a family owned and operated mobile auto and brake repair service.

December 1st, 2015:

We had a great turnout of nonprofit leaders for a focused discussion on "Leading Nonprofit Innovation – Risk, Fear, & the Role of Failure."

Our panel from the nonprofit community highlighted the realities in addressing these issues with a Board of Directors, Donors, Funding Organizations, and Employees.  They provided ideas and frameworks for how to best address these challenges within an organization.

The panel included:

• Dan Pfarr - Executive Director, 180 Degrees (previously ED of The Bridge For Youth)
   
• Mandy Ellerton - Community Innovation Director, Bush Foundation
   
• Jim Toscano - Principal Toscano Advisors & Past Chair of Minnesota Charities Review Council
   
• Matt Ehlman - Principal Numad Group & Bush Fellow Researching Donor Behaviors