Club E Podcast

Club E was joined by Chip Laingen, Executive Director of Defense Alliance to discuss funding avenues for small businesses through the Federal Government.

The U.S. Federal Government is arguably the largest single “investor” in small business technology firms – providing non-dilutive capital through R&D funding for early to late stage innovations.  There is virtually no market that isn’t represented, and the path provides enormous opportunity for funding, partnerships and commercialization paths, as as well as connections to non-government opportunities via the free business intelligence generated by Federal contracting. 

Learning Objectives:
• Learn how to get started and connect to resources in the Federal market
• Understand both the challenges and the opportunities the Federal market represents
• Learn what technology innovations the Federal government is most interested in right now

About Chip:
Chip Laingen is Executive Director of Defense Alliance, an SBA-funded technology cluster, with members in 35 states; and Corporate Vice President, LSI, a national business development firm.  The Defense Alliance has won the “Progress Minnesota” and SBA’s Veterans Small Business Champion awards.  He is on several economic development, business and Veteran advisory boards in the Twin Cities region. 
Chip was an Executive Fellow for the University of Minnesota’s Center for Integrative Leadership, and is currently on the graduate faculty at the Technological Leadership Institute.  He has a masters degree in Public Affairs from the Humphrey Institute, and was a U.S. Navy Moreau Scholar in the National Security Ph.D. Studies program of the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University in Boston.
Commander Laingen is a 21-year Veteran of the U.S. Navy, holding several positions as an aviator, and as Speechwriter to the Secretary of the Navy.  He finished his career in 2004 as a squadron commanding officer.  He is the author of “Laingen on Leadership,” available on Amazon.

Chip's Contact Information:
Email- [email protected]
Website- https://www.defensealliance.com
Twitter- @defense_cluster

Club E was joined by Laurie Young to cover the basics of Intellectual Property Law, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights. We discuss when it is worth the value to have government rights secured and when it may not be necessary.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the difference between the different types of intellectual property
2. Understand the value to having protection

About Laurie:

Laurie Young is an intellectual property attorney with Schwegman, Lundberg and Woessner. Before joining SLW, she was Senior Intellectual Property Counsel Katun Corporation. While at Katun she managed all intellectual property matters, both domestic and foreign. This included managing patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret matters and any business matters which may relate to intellectual property. Laurie was also Data Privacy Officer for Katun Corporation. When Laurie is not handing intellectual property matters, she loves to bake cookies (even placing at the Minnesota State Fair three times for her cookie entries).

Contact Information:
Email – [email protected]
Website – https://www.slwip.com/
Social media - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriesyoung/

Club E was joined by Jeff Redmon to discuss your core customer.

A methodology to identify the demographic and psychographic characteristics of your Core Customer who will buy for optimal price.

Understanding your core customer is critical to attract and serve that customer who wants what you are selling at a premium price.

About Jeff:

Jeff Redmon contributes to his clients living lives they love. He helps his clients safely achieve their business goals by leveraging his knowledge, experience, and networks to each client’s advantage. Jeff is a trusted advisor to business owners and he challenges them to bring clarity to their vision, strategies, and execution. Jeff is a senior certified Gravitas Impact Premium Coach. Jeff serves as one of their core advisors mentoring coaches worldwide; a valued contributor to their programs and content for the Gravitas global ecosystem.

Jeff's contact information:
[email protected]
https://minnbig.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MinnBiG
https://www.linkedin.com/company/minnbig
https://www.instagram.com/minnbig/
https://twitter.com/MinnBig

Explore the world of social impact entrepreneurship with FINNOVATION Lab CEO, Connie Rutledge. How will your start-up or your next investment make a positive impact beyond shareholder value? Why should it?

About Connie:

Connie Rutledge, CEO of FINNOVATION lab, has over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship and business management. Her experience includes all aspects of business including concept design, market analysis, fundraising, product development, operations, and strategic partnerships. Connie is passionate about supporting innovators with practical advice and strategic analysis so they can recognize their vision in a socially progressive and financially sustainable way.

Check out FINNOVATION lab's ImpactSKU program and its upcoming showcase during Twin Cities Startup Week. It Will be on their general event calendar at www.finn-lab.com

Connie Rutledge | FINNOVATION Lab
[email protected]
www.finn-lab.com
Twitter: @finnovationlab
https://www.facebook.com/FINNOVATIONLab
https://www.instagram.com/finnovationlab/

Club E was joined by Linda Ruhland to discuss strategies to stay ahead of the disruption curve in your business.

Imagine that you and your business colleagues are rafting down a furious river of endless white water. How do you stay afloat and navigate around the treacherous rocks? That’s what business can feel like at times, especially now. Fortunately, there are ways to navigate through rough waters—and even ways to use the rocks to your advantage!

Learning Objective:
Find out how it’s possible to build and grow a sustainable profitable business in times of uncertainty using the resources you already have within your organization.

About Linda:
Linda Ruhland has worked with business owners and their leadership teams for more than 30 years to define, market, and grow client businesses successfully and resourcefully. She is passionate about small business success because she believes they are the source of community character and strength. In that spirit, she founded Success Authorities, a business advisory firm that partners with clients to synchronize their people, systems and strategies toward higher performance, profits, and sustainability.

Linda's Virtual Program: https://virtual.successauthorities.com/

Linda's Contact Information:

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://successauthorities.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindaruhland/

Club E was joined by Michelle LaFrance, the founder of Smarty Pants Web Marketing to discuss tools and strategies to better understand your professional and personal relationships.

If you’re spending too much time staring at your keyboard and wondering what to say and how to say it, you’re not alone.  The good  news is that there are tools to help you deliver the right message to the right person.  Forbes call this technology The Future of Sales.  Find out how o use Personality Science + Artificial Intelligence to optimize your effectiveness on LinkedIn and Zoom.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn how to Identify the buying behavior of your prospects.
2. Find out  What makes them say YES or NO to you and your offer. 
3. Hear about tools that allow you to instantly connect and know how to follow up with your prospects.
 
About Michelle:
As a licensed BANKCODE trainer, Michelle LaFrance teaches companies how to Close More Sales in Less Time. As the owner of a digital agency, she has helped her clients get more leads online. She always felt it was incomplete to help her clients get leads and not be able to help them close the sale. That all changed when she becamea a BANKCODE trainer. Today she helps companies Get More Leads and Close More Sales.

Special offer:

Before you come to the meeting, get your FREE gift  of a personality assessment (valued at $99.00)
This is your base line of communication.
Come to the session to find out how to adapt How You Sell with Why They Buy.

https://www.crackmycode.com/heysmarty

Michelle's Contact information:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.heysmartypants.com/
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellelafrance/

Club E was joined by Brad Lantz, Founder of Mind Sync Pro to discuss the mental game.

Imagine if there were a way that you could get your mind to run better, faster and calmer like our computers do when we get them defragged. What if you were able to turn down emotions, imaginations and memories in the moment rather than regret that last time you lost it.  That is what Brad Lantz is all about. He is a certified Mind Health coach.

Learning Objective:
Find out how limiting beliefs may be sabotaging you from accomplishing your goals.
Find out rules of the mind where the yellow flag  is thrown, and we don’t even know why.
Learn how to make better, more confident decisions.

About Brad:
Brad started his career in corporate marketing where he achieved success as a marketing executive with advertising agencies and as a Director of Marketing of a Fortune 500 company.  He led Inner Circle, (CEO/Owner peer groups) where he facilitated meetings and coached over 130 CEOs to grow their businesses on average by 20%. He witnessed first hand how Leaders knew what to do but could not make it happen. Now as a Certified Mind Health Coach, he can make a difference to reduce stress, create greater focus and clearer decision making.

Brad's Contact Information:
[email protected]
https://www.mindsyncpro.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradlantz/
https://www.instagram.com/mindsyncpro/

Club E took a field trip to Chef Marshall O'Brien's studio kitchen for a discussion on how to restructure your world after the pandemic. Chef Marshall talks about how old absolutes are no longer absolute, and discusses new threats in the post pandemic work environment.

Learning Objectives:
1 – Breaking down silos
2 - Rebuild fractured work environment
3 - Understand 4 steps to permanent change

About Chef Marshall:
Chef Marshall O’Brien’s goal is to help adults, kids and families live better lives with good nutrition, by improving skills and confidence in the kitchen. He is a dynamic speaker who has presented at national conferences and regularly appears on Twin Cities television, where he is a trusted voice for Smart Nutrition. He is founder and CEO of The Chef Marshall O’Brien Group, a company staffed with chefs, dietitians, researchers, writers and videographers, He and this team understand current best nutrition practices and translate them into foods and recipes that will produce positive nutritional results and taste great. They call this “Putting Delicious in Nutritious.” The group has created numerous materials detailing how Smart Nutrition can improve health and alleviate negative symptoms in one’s body. They work with a broad spectrum of clients, including city agencies such as fire, police and public works, school districts, hospitals, a consortium of 5000 childcare providers, and numerous businesses and civic organizations.

Contact information- Marshall O’Brien
Chef Marshall O’Brien Group
[email protected]
https://www.chefmarshallobrien.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefmarshallobrien/
https://www.instagram.com/chefmarshallobrien/
https://www.facebook.com/ChefMarshallOBrien

Club E was joined by Pete Steege, Founder of B2B Clarity to discuss getting more B2B leads.

Sales leads are so important for B2B business growth, but so hard to get. Pete shares tip and tricks for B2B businesses to build and sustain a lead generation capability.

Pete Steege is the Founder and President of B2B Clarity, helping B2B businesses without a marketing leader succeed. Pete has over 30 years of marketing experience with a wide range of B2B technology and manufacturing businesses. Pete is a proven B2B marketing strategist and industry-recognized content leader that can help you untangle your marketing effort and get it working to grow revenue.

Check out Pete's CEO Pocket Guide to Marking without a Marketing Leader: https://www.b2bclaritymarketing.com/ceos-pocket-guide-to-marketing​


[email protected]
Website: https://www.b2bclaritymarketing.com/​
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petesteege/

Club E was joined by Jeff Redmon, Founder and CEO of Breakthrough Impact Group.

We all have brutal truths in our business that we cannot control.  Does Covid come to mind?  Learn how Adm. James Stockdale dealt with adversity he could not control.

“You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.” Adm. James Stockdale

Jeff Redmon contributes to his clients living lives they love. He helps his clients safely achieve their business goals by leveraging his knowledge, experience, and networks to each client’s advantage. Jeff is a trusted advisor to business owners and he challenges them to bring clarity to their vision, strategies, and execution. Jeff is a senior certified Gravitas Impact Premium Coach. Jeff serves as one of their core advisors mentoring coaches worldwide; a valued contributor to their programs and content for the Gravitas global ecosystem.

• Jeff Redmon
• Breakthrough Impact Group
• [email protected]
• https://minnbig.com/​
• https://www.facebook.com/MinnBiG​
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/minnbig/​
• https://www.instagram.com/minnbig/​
• https://twitter.com/MinnBig