I wanted to communicate some exciting news about the LaunchPad Team and also some news about me personally.



Over the past few months, we have been working hard to transition the day to day operational tasks of LaunchPad to our wonderful team consisting of Zan Deery, our Membership and Event Coordinator, as well as my business partner Allen Battle.  I am confident in the continued growth of LaunchPad, our events and the Launch Spokane Startup Program.



Additionally, Monique…

Building industry focused relationships is your best strategy for finding a job, advancing your career or growing a business.

To help LaunchPad members and our partners establish industry relationships we are kicking off the Industry Connection Events beginning today with the Aerospace, Aviation and Mfg Event being held this evening at the Lincoln Center. (A list of upcoming events is provided below)

I encourage you to attend these events to learn more about local…

Through a recent partnership with the City of Spokane, via the Launch Spokane Program, our team has had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know several representatives from various departments at the City. We are noticing a sincere commitment to improve services and work with the local business community.

As a way to help develop a better understanding of how programs work at the City, and to help foster new business relationships, we are kicking off a series of online…

Do you love 'Mr. Roger's Neighborhood'?

Do you believe in Richard Scarry's 'Busytown'?  Its is where and how we live.  It helps us recognize and create a 'Sense of Place'.

I founded http://ourtownzip.com to promote local commerce and sustainable neighborhoods, because I believe they are essential to a positive healthy community culture and business climate.

I want to thank everyone who has helped me in…

Join LaunchPad INW for our next LaunchPad Live taping and Technology Community Event, happening next Wednesday May 23rd. This event will feature topics such as the launch of the Spokane STEM Network, the new Mobius Science Center and takes place at MOBIUS in downtown Spokane.



Guest speakers will include WSU Spokane Chancellor Brian Pitcher, who chaired the planning effort

that led to Spokane getting a $220,000 grant award from Washington STEM. The new Spokane STEM

Network…

It seems that there are several questions or misunderstandings surrounding to the FMLA.  I often receive emails regarding certain aspects of the Act and how it works. 

The FMLA allows certain employees to take unpaid, job protected leave for specific family and medical reasons.  Eligible employees may take off 12 weeks within a 12 month period for:

1.  The birth of a child and to care for that child within one year of the…

City of Spokane Mayor David Condon has invited me and LaunchPad INW to participate in his Business Advisory Council and I would like to get your feedback on 3 important questions.

This information will be shared with the Mayor on Thursday, May 10th as he and his team…

Hi LaunchPad community --

It's been a while in the making but we're ready to roll out the first in a series of Spokane Public Library workshops.  The first one-hour workshop, coming up at 7:30 AM on May 17th, will focus on tens of thousands of dollars worth of online business resources that are available to the Spokane business community... for free.

FAQ section:

Q: Do I need to know the Dewey Decimal system to attend?

A: Nope.

Q:…

Join us for the next LaunchPad live taping and networking luncheon on Friday May 11, 2012.  This is a prime opportunity to learn more about the local Aerospace and Aviation Industry through interviews with Carol Weigand, Air Washington Program Manger and Brian Burrow Air Washington Instructional Designer. You will also have an opportunity to build local industry relationships.

What is the Air…

MAY IS NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH, which provides an opportunity for us to shine a light on the experiences of some of our very own local youth growing up in the foster care system. Learn why there is an incredible need for mentoring these precious and vulnerable youth.

...A mentor is a caring guide, a wise advisor, a partner on the journey and a trusted and reliable friend...

My younger son was in foster care before he was adopted at age 3 1/2. After being a…

When in sessions with clients, I often hear them sharing memories and situations from the past. Memories from five, ten, twenty years ago surface as if they were happening right now. I see their feelings and physiology follow their story.

Healing the feelings from the past is important, but often there is the tendency to re-play the past and then the feelings don’t heal. The feelings deepen like water that flows to form a crevice in the sand.…

When meeting with a new advertising client or prospect for the first time, I consider it crucial that we come to a meeting of the minds concerning the singular importance of:

The Message.

What-the-ad-says has more to do with the success of the campaign than any other factor.  Demographics, psychographics, media, reach, frequency, formats, etc. are important, to be sure. But The Message trumps them all.

So, early on we discuss message development.  What…

Many business owners or soon to be business owners must find a space for their business to operate from. Oftentimes, when renting a space for business purposes you will be asked to sign a commercial lease agreement.  In Washington, commercial lease agreements are quite different from residential lease agreements. 

One thing to be aware of is that every commercial lease is different.  Just because you have entered into one in the past does not mean you should rapidly sign a…

Today I'm going to suggest that you take a look at this blog post from Business Networking and Sex (not what you think) dealing with how men and women handle stress (and from where their stress comes).  There was too much great information to try and paraphrase!  http://businessnetworkingandsex.com/stress-and-the-sexes/

If you're interested in learning more, please join us next Tuesday as Dr.…

Due to the rapid…

In the pursuit of a more consistent and guiding framework, LaunchPad is focusing on what is really important regarding the development of business relationships within our community.  …

In his newest book, Business Networking and Sex (not what you think), Dr. Ivan Misner discusses statistics which show that men are transactional and women are relational.  Men tend to establish credibility by letting others know of their successes, what they've done, and who they know.  This works well when networking with other men.  When networking with women, that approach is not nearly as effective.  Women are less proficient at speaking of their success and are usually…