Startup Drinks is next week on October 14 (sign up here), and we’ve got a stellar line up of captains for you to meet!
This Startup Drinks is a unique one, because it is also the launch party for a new video sharing app created by our friends at Minneapolis-based startup Vidku. They’ll be telling us about the app as well as hosting the world’s first ever 17-second video talent show. Local talent will be performing and recording live with the Vidku app.
Of course we’ll have drinks and food and merriment a thousand times over. Don’t miss out! Here’s our lineup:
Phil Soran
Executive Chairman, Vidku
Do you have any nicknames? If so, share ’em with us: Fudd
Something people should ask me about: How does a junior high math teacher get into the tech world?
What’s one of the most influential books you’ve read? Tuesdays with Morrie
What’s something you value about your community? There are a lot of people who care about our young generation – and work hard to improve their futures.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? My first job was ballboy for the Denver Nuggets
Vidku’s products focus on video; what can you share about the power of video as a communication tool? Video can be a very personal and authentic form of communication in an increasingly impersonal world!
Dayna Del Val
Executive Director, The Arts Partnership
Something people should ask me about: How are the arts a significant piece of the overall economic pie in the metro?
Jim Gartin
President, Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corp.
Do you have any nicknames? If so, share ’em with us: (Grandpa, The Ultimate Feeder)
Something people should ask me about: My passions for early childhood development and animal protection, to be outspoken for those who can’t.
What’s one of the most influential books you’ve read? The Catcher in the Rye.
What’s something you value about your community? The lack of entitlement mentality.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? I don’t like people, oops you said FUN FACT… I like to fly fish, I enjoy the solitude, standing in a moving river with the sounds and smells of nature and hearing the line snap back and forth. I don’t want the fish. It’s the joy of the place.
What’s a place / attraction / unique feature of Fargo that you like to show off when people come to visit? Downtown Fargo
James Burgum
Co-founder, Arthur Ventures
Do you have any nicknames? If so, share ’em with us: Jimmy / Jamer / JB
Something people should ask me about: How to port tack the fleet.
What’s one of the most influential books you’ve read? These days Calvin & Hobbes would have to be up there.
What do you think is an indicator of a company’s future success? Leadership and culture.
What’s something you value about your community? How we seem to serve one another in effort to build for tomorrow, a better place than we have today.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? I’m a former lifeguard.
Kathy Cochran
SVP of Operations, Intelligent InSites
Something people should ask me about: My granddaughter
What’s one of the most influential books you’ve read? The Practice of Management, by Peter F. Drucker which I read in 1981, 27 years after it was written. I still quote Drucker and have my original earmarked book.
“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.”
― Peter F. Drucker
What’s something you value about your community? That you can ask for help and through a series of interactions find the right person who will gladly support you.
What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? I design and build furniture.
If you could offer a piece of advice to a young company to help them operate effectively, what would it be? Ask questions, even if you think that you know the answer. And, listen.
Roger Demers
Director of Channel Strategy, When I Work
Do you have any nicknames? If so, share ’em with us: None.
What’s one of the most influential books you’ve read? Beyond the Summit by Todd Skinner.
What’s something you value about your community? I truly value all of the many friendships I have developed in Fargo/Moorhead over the last 32 years. This is a great community to live in, learn from, and realize what an impact this community has made across the globe!
What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know? I am a baseball fanatic. I coached for over 20 years – and the lessons learned while coaching stick with me every day. I am most proud of the life long friendships developed over that time. We also had some success winning 6 state titles in 6 years.
Share a little bit about how technology impacts the workplace positively: My current company, When I Work, is a great example of how we help companies in almost any industry. We make employees and managers lives so much more efficient every day.
Sign up for Startup Drinks, October 14, 5:30 PM at the Prairie Den! See you there.
