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"invest in yourself, invest in your community"
John Greathouse Photo
John Greathouse
Building Your Startup's Core Team
March/30/2010
Jim Cathcart Photo
Jim Cathcart
Rrelationship Selling - Turn Contacts Into Assets
May/18/2010
Jim Wolfe Photo
Jim Wolfe
The Balance Bar Story
September/14/2010
Dr. Larry Cox Photo
Dr. Larry Cox
Creating the Future
November/16/2010

SPONSOR:

Pepperdine: Graziado School of Business and Management

 

FEATURED EXECUTIVE - John Greathouse

John GreathouseJohn Greathouse has held a number of senior executive positions with successful startups: CFO and VP of Business Development for Computer Motion, CFO and SVP of Strategic Development at Citrix Online, and SVP of Sales & Business Development at CallWave.  Mr. Greathouse spearheaded transactions generating more than $350 million of shareholder value for Computer Motion and Citrix, including Computer Motion’s initial public offering and the sale of Expertcity to Citrix for over $230M.  Greathouse is a CPA, with an M.B.A from the Wharton School.

 “BUILDING YOUR STARTUP’S CORE TEAM”
-   Core values that will sustain your startup’s culture
-   Startups are like a tribe - where do you sit on the tribal council?
-   Know thyself - what is your personal pitch?
-   When should you hire bank robbers vs. ATM operators?
-   A dozen dirty team building tips
-   Hire entrepreneurs who have a hum-   How to get hired at a startup

Food Bank of Santa BarbaraBENEFITING NON-PROFIT: The net proceeds from this event’s ticket sales benefit Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, whose mission is to provide nourishmentto those in need by acquiring and distributing safe nutritious foods via local agencies and providing education to solve hunger and nutrition problems in Santa Barbara County.

TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010
5:30pm VIP Reception (must RSVP online to attend reception)
6:45pm Seating for Speaker, no late admittance
University Club of Santa Barbara, 1332 Santa Barbara Street
$10 with RSVP online, $15 at the door

SPONSOR:

Pepperdine: Graziado School of Business and Management

 

Jim CathcartSPEAKER:Jim Cathcart is the original bestselling author of “Relationship Selling,” and “The Acorn Principle.”  He is the founder of Cathcart Institute, Inc., The 101 Leaders Institute, and The Professional Speaking Institute.  Mr. Cathcart is an advisor to the Schools of Business at both Pepperdine and California Lutheran Universities, and was inducted into the Professional Speaker Hall of Fame.  Mr. Cathcart has taught sales techniques and strategies to over 2,000 audienbusiness coach and very motivational speaker.

“RELATIONSHIP SELLING - TURN CONTACTS INTO ASSETS”
-   The 8 competencies of Top Sales Producers
-   How to sell to buyers as they would like to be sold
-   Rethinking the purpose of sales (build a profitable business friendship)
-   How to sell naturally, without pressure
-   Studying needs and wants, rather than just pitching product benefits
-   Selling the idea, not just the product
-   How to be a Partner, not a Persuader

Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care of Santa BarbaraBENEFITING NON-PROFIT: The net proceeds from this event’s ticket sales benefit Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care of Santa Barbara, whose mission is to “provide high quality, comprehensive home health, hospice and related services necessary to promote the health aresidents, including those unable to pay.”

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2010
5:30pm VIP Reception (must RSVP online to attend reception)
6:45pm Seating for Speaker, no late admittance
University Club of Santa Barbara, 1332 Santa Barbara Street
$10 with RSVP online, $15 at the door

SPONSOR:

Pepperdine: Graziado School of Business and Management

 

Jim Wolfe PhotoSPEAKER: As President/CEO of the Balance Bar Company, he led the company’s growth from $1M in sales in 1995 to $100M in sales in 1999.  The company went public in 1998 and sold to Kraft Foods for $268M in 2000.  Mr. Wolfe has also held executive level positions in Marketing and Sales with Welch’s, Coca-Cola, and Seven-Up Foods.  He has consulted Celestial Seasonings, Welch’s, Gatorade and Snapple.  Born in Buffalo, NY he was one of nine children, and graduated the University of Buffalo with a B.S. in Business Administration.


 “THE BALANCE BAR STORY”

-   How we turned a failing company into a success
-   Importance of experience at the top position
-   Identifying your target audience
-   Consumer research on the cheap
-   Product differentiation
-   Product quality
-   Attracting, training, motivating and retaining key employees
-   Importance of a proactive Board

 
Calm: Child Abuse Listenting & MediataionBENEFITING NON-PROFIT: The net proceeds from this event’s ticket sales benefit CALM, whose mission is to “prevent, assess, and treat child abuse by providing comprehensive, culturally competent, services for children, families and adults.”

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
5:30pm VIP Reception (must RSVP online to attend reception)
6:45pm Seating for Speaker, no late admittance
University Club of Santa Barbara, 1332 Santa Barbara Street
$10 with RSVP online, $15 at the door

SPONSOR:

Pepperdine: Graziado School of Business and Management

 

Larry CoxSPEAKER: Dr. Larry William Cox, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management.  Dr. Cox has directed Entrepreneurship Centers at Ball State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Prior to this, he was the Director of Research at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, MO.  He is an award winning-educator, enjoys helping young entrepreneurs, and is an inspiring speaker and seminar leader.

“CREATING THE FUTURE: HOW ENTREPRENEURS MOVE THE NEEDLE”
Dr. Larry Cox explains how serial entrepreneurs systematically generate game-changing business ideas.  He introduces an approach that will help you succeed as an entrepreneur even in turbulent times...with limited resources...when the market is unknown...when a “formula for success” does not exist.  In sum, you will discover the entrepreneur’s secret of creating, rather than predicting, the future.

-   Generate game-changing ideas
-   Succeed when the market is unpredictable
-   Build a team that “swarms” to innovative solutions
 
Habitat For HumanityBENEFITING NON-PROFIT: The net proceeds from this event’s ticket sales benefit Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County, who’s mission is “to unite people and communities in a spirit of true partnership by building houses with families in need regardless of race, nationality, or religion.”

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2010
5:30pm VIP Reception (must RSVP online to attend reception)
6:45pm Seating for Speaker, no late admittance
University Club of Santa Barbara, 1332 Santa Barbara Street
$10 with RSVP online, $15 at the door

The "Sync" event series is a convergence of Catalyst for Thought’s main tenants: Inspiring entrepreneurs, bringing together the local entrepreneurial network, and financially supporting local charities. The net proceeds from Sync event ticket sales are donated to different benefiting non-profits. Entrepreneurs are educated and inspired by dynamic speakers who share their expertise, and insights, to motivate attendees towards professional and entrepreneurial success. By joining the community of entrepreneurs and professionals, you are supported by valuable networking opportunities and resources.

Featuring a large-scale speaker format, you experience the energy of the crowd and inspiration of the Speaker. With a DJ, stage lighting and sound, gift bags, and a full production team, our Sync events are not to be missed!

*All proceeds from Sync events are donated to different benefiting non-profits. Volunteers, private donors and corporate supporters generously provide event, administrative, and production costs.

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Supporting Partners

  • AMS Entertainment - Santa Barbara
  • Amber Television and Video Production
  • Buynak Law
  • Reetz Fox & Bartlette Law
  • Independent
  • Bartlett, Pringle & Wolf LLP
  • Graphic Ink Santa Barbara
  • Inn of the Spanish Gardens - Santa Barbara
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