2016 Business Launchpad

Description

Business Launchpad! 
 

The Renton Business Expo has been rebranded and is now Renton’s Business Launchpad. This years Business tradeshow format will be completely different from previous events. We are creating a new and improved Launchpad that will help businesses engage more than ever! The mission is for businesses to market and network with a B2B focus. The Launchpad takes place in our very own Red Lion Hotel.

What makes this Business Launchpad different from previous years? Well it won’t be your typical standing for five hours and hoping for the best type of deal. There is a lot of excitement this year with a shark tank, business classes, live radio talk show, guest speakers, and crash courses which will keep everyone entertained, busy, and engaged.

•  Confirmed that Busines Radio KKOL will have a booth and broadcasting live!
• A Yelp/Google review station where you can instantly review/get reviewed. Each review gets you another raffle ticket.
• Get a Taste of Renton from several food vendors.

Vendor Exhibits 1:00 - 6:00pm
Keynote Speaker 1:30 - 2:00pm

Business Education Classes 2:00 - 5:00pm

Non-Profit Shark Tank 3:00 - 5:00pm

Keynote Speaker 1:30 - 2:00pm
​Living to your fullest potential. How Microsoft is empowering small businesses to embrace technology and innovation.

Diana M Ishak
​

Sr. Manager, Digital Marketing- US SMB&D focused on Partner channel
Diana Ishak holds an MBA from UCLA & BS in chemical engineering from the U of Wa. She has spent the last 15 years focusing on the evolution of marketing in the electronics & IT technology Industry. 10 years @ Microsoft in engineering, licensing & channel marketing

In the last 10 years @ Microsoft-  launched SQL 2005 in the East Mediterranean region. Shipped Office 2007, 2010 as a  localization engineer in Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi and Thai. Spent 3 years in Cloud & Enterprise business group focusing on Hosting business licensing and pricing. Today,  Diana works on enabling and activating SMB partners in the cloud thru modern and digital marketing.

Guest Speaker 2:00 - 3:00pm
Making a great first Impression - Old & New Media

Bruce and Josh Hudson
  

Local entrepreneurs Bruce & Josh Hudson have a combined 40+ years of business experience in the greater Renton area. Bruce, owner of the iconic portrait studio Hudson's Portrait Design and his son Josh, marketing director for Hudson's Portrait Design as well as the co-principal at H5 Creative, a Renton based creative agency, have worked closely with local and national business leaders for many years. They too have developed brands, other businesses, and have traveled the world lecturing on marketing, business, and management. Bruce being one of only a handful of internationally recognized photographers in the State of Washington with the degrees of Master Photographer and Photographic Craftsman, he is an amazing resource for local businesses. His son Josh, a well known social media guru, has many local Renton clients whom he manages online presence, social media content, and other new media marketing strategies. 

Guest Speaker 3:00 - 4:00pm
Culture Demystified: Building a High Performance Organization

Doug Peterson

Guest Speaker 4:00 - 5:00pm
Columbia Bank Sponsored Instructor Panel

  

The Columbia Bank Blue Couch will be in attendance as we sit our educators and ask them a few questions about business and how it applies to our local region.
 

EXPO PARTICIPATING MEMBERS:

American Cancer Society
​AtWork Personnel Services of Seattle
​BECU - Renton Benson Neighborhood Fin Ctr​
Birthday Dreams
C.A.S.T FOR KIDS FOUNDATION
​Carco Theatre
Columbia Bank Renton
Comcast Business
Eastside Baby Corner
Hero House
Hudson's Portrait Design
​Irlen Services Northwest
Microsoft Store at Bellevue Square
Puget Sound Access
Red Tea Room Catering
Renton Housing Authority
Renton Modern Dentistry
Renton Printery, The
Renton Reporter, The
Salem Media Group - KKOL
Sam's Club #4835
SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve
Shine On Signs & Graphics, Inc
Student Conservation Association
Team Reba Re/Max Metro Eastside

NON-PROFIT SHARK TANK PARTICIPANTS

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Birthday Dreams

Can you envision a community where every child is celebrated and thrives?  BD celebrates the lives of homeless children with a birthday party, which enriches their childhood experience with joy, purpose and dignity.

C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation

We give children with special needs, across the country, the opportunity to get outside, ride in a boat, and catch their first fish! You too can Catch A Special Thrill with C.A.S.T. for Kids.

WACAP

We believe in the power of family to transform lives. Learn how you can partner with WACAP to find adoptive families for children with special needs living in Washington state foster care and orphanages around the globe. 

Arts Unlimited

Imagine a creative center in Renton where young and old gather to exchange stories using sensory and kinetic arts as a means of sharing. Arts Unlimited will make this possible with a facility to serve as a community hub; providing unique and dynamic classes, workshops and demonstrations.
 

RAYS

RAYS is a dynamic, growing organization, providing a vital service to Renton area children and families facing trauma, illness and poverty. In our desire to maintain a high-quality, diverse workforce in the context of health care reform, we need on-site training and support from a skilled Human Resources professional that can help us ensure we are recruiting and retaining the best in the business, and help us maintain the supportive staff environment that makes RAYS such a special place to work.

Hero House

"Dedicated to Mental Health Recovery" HERO House is in a community for 10 years to support people who live with mental health challenges. We provide psycho social rehabilitation programs such as employment, education, housing, reasonable meals, and social activities.

Communities in Schools

Communities In Schools of Renton is part of the nation's leading dropout prevention organization, working in public schools to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.  Many of the young people we serve are facing challenges both inside and outside the classroom. What sets Communities In Schools apart is the way we coordinate a comprehensive range of services to support all the needs of these students—academic and non-academic—so they come to school ready to learn.

S.H.A.D.O.W.

SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve provides educational and community building opportunities for local businesses and schools. Through grassroots restoration projects and ethical land management education, we are creating the next generation of environmental stewards in South King County. 

Apprenticeship & Non-Traditional Employment for Women (ANEW)
ANEW was founded in 1980 by women dedicated to improving access and advancement into non-traditional career paths. It is the oldest pre-apprenticeship programs serving women in the nation.

Renton Civic Theater

Guarantee yourself romance and adventure close to home!  Come play with us at Renton Civic Theatre – bringing Renton and the Greater South Puget Sound quality entertainment for 30 years!

Eastside Baby Corner

How does Eastside Baby Corner help kids thrive? How can YOU support EBC and help kids in King County? An investment in EBC today can give kids living in poverty or crisis a brighter future, and build a stronger community. Let’s work together - http://babycorner.org/

American Cancer Society

How can your organization help to create a world free from the pain and suffering of cancer?  Learn about an unmet need in our community that you can impact!

Interested in receiving more information? Please Contact Ben Andrews at bandrews@gorenton.com