The second Idea Expo, held at Little America Hotel in Cheyenne, Wyo., Oct. 9-10, 2008 helped Wyoming business owners innovate and learn ways to improve their businesses.
The headline keynote speaker for the 2008 Idea Expo was Doug Hall of the Eureka Ranch! Doug’s presentation focused on ways to keep your company innovative and inspired the audience to think about their businesses in an entirely different way. Idea Expo 2008 featured vendor booths from both the private sector and the Wyoming Business Council and partners at the University of Wyoming. Companies were able to work with actual service providers to gain real value for their companies, right on site. The 2008 Idea Expo featured nearly 40 separate break-out sessions focusing on Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Innovation and other business subjects. Speakers were fellow Wyoming business people sitting on panels, as well as experts from all over the country and region.
The first Idea Expo, held at the Casper Events Center, Sept. 26-28, 2007 helped Wyoming business owners innovate and learn ways to improve their businesses.
Hundreds of attendees heard knowledgeable speakers including: Michael Benidt and Sheryl Kay from Golden Compass, Inc.; Kevin Schaff, CEO - Thought Equity Motion; Mark Willis, Chief Operating Officer, Wyoming Business Council; Bill Gern, UW Vice President of Research; Jon Benson Calvert, Administrator, Inventor Assistance Program, United States Patent and Trademark Office; Peter Reis, Chief Support Services Officer, Wyoming Business Council; Charles Walsh, Angel Investor; Mike Huston, 1st Interstate Casper; Kevin E. Houchin, Principal of Houchin & Associates, PLLC; Dennis Michaud, JD Manufacturing; Sabrina Schleicher, Ph.D., Tap the Potential, Owner; Bill , Director, UW Technology Business Center; Dave Coffey, Coffey Engineering; Rick Rothwell, Manufacturing Works; JohnSchepler, Wyoming Technology Business Center; Ariel D. Cisneros, Federal Reserve Bank of KC - Denver; Glennis McClure, Federal Reserve Bank of KC - Omaha; Keith Carron, President, Delta Nu; Nathan Potter, Marketing Manager, IDES, Inc.; Bob Thilmont, President, Mountain Global Inc.; Bert Vermeulen, Co-presenter, The Flight School; Bob Viola, President, Square One Systems Design; John Wickman, President, Wickman Spacecraft & Propulsion; Valerie Spanos, President, Mountain Meadow Wool Co.; John Jackson, Dept. Chair., UW College of Business; Justin Hilgers, Expeditors; Diane Wolverton, Director, Wyoming Small Business Development Center; Jack G. Bedessem, President, Chief Operations Officer, Trihydro; Rick Cox, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, DeltaNu; Julie Owens, Owner, Big Horn Quilts; Mike Wandler, President, L&H Industrial; Ron Kinsey, Owner, Kennon Aircraft Covers; Mark Weitz, Kennon Aircraft Covers; Darin Lane, Defense Technologies; Ryan Harrison, Pertech Resources; Purnima Voria, Founder/CEO, US India Chamber of Commerce; Gunter Harz, US-Europe Enterprises; Paul Bergman, Director, USEAC; and Dennis Chrisbaum, International Programs - USEAC.
In addition to the speakers, attendees had the opportunity to network, attend business tours, be entertained by the Second City Comedy Club, have their materials evaluated by the working trade show and participate in the Innovation Station.