Mid-Continent Section

NOVEMBER MEETING — Presentation by Richard Gajan of i2e (i2e.org) on entrepreneurship / venture creation (their motto is "Turning Innovation into Enterprise"). 

 

i2E, Inc. is a private not-for-profit Oklahoma corporation focused on wealth creation by growing the technology-based entrepreneurial economy within our state.

Originally founded as the Oklahoma Technology Development Corporation in September 1997, i2E was created to respond to a Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) initiative. 

Vision
Oklahoma is known for an exploding growth rate of new firms who are providing new technology-based products and services. Achieving this vision will facilitate the growth of high performance, advanced technology companies in the state, which will increase Oklahoma’s global competitiveness, per capita income, and quality of life.

Mission
Home grown economic development by fostering the birth and nurturing the growth of advanced technology companies in Oklahoma.

This mission is accomplished through a well-designed strategy that includes: providing technology development knowledge and know-how; delivering comprehensive enterprise development services; providing access to capital; and ensuring a quality enterprise.

Bio of Richard Gajan

As Director of Enterprise Services for i2E’s Tulsa office, Richard works closely with client companies serving as business advisor throughout the multi-stage commercialization process.  Specific responsibilities include market assessments, evaluation of technical and commercial feasibility, review and refinement of client business plans and financial models, determination of company valuations, guidance in the preparation and delivery of investor presentations, and identification of potential capital sources given the client company’s specific stage of development.

 

Richard brings to i2E 22 years professional experience from being a small business owner, an independent consultant, to having worked for Fortune 200 corporations. Industry experiences include distributorships, automotive, industrial equipment manufacturing, chemicals, telecommunications, and aircraft manufacture and service. In addition to broad industry experience, Richard has held business and technical management positions throughout the organization including industrial marketing, engineering, operations, strategic planning, business development, and supply chain management. Prior to joining i2E, he focused on New Product Development for small and startup companies where he combined his knowledge of engineering and manufacturing with his experience in marketing, strategy and finance to bring new products to market as well as to position companies to raise equity capital.

 

Richard earned his MBA with concentrations in Finance and Operations from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business where he was a member of the Tauber Manufacturing Institute. He also holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University.

 

 

Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009

 

Schedule: 5:45 to 6:00 pm Gather/Social

6:00 to 6:45 pm Dinner (Optional)

7:00 to 8:00 pm Presentation

 

Cost: $15 ($8 for students) for dinner

Attendance to the presentation only is free

 

Location: The University of Tulsa

Allen Chapman Activity Center, Alcove, 2nd Floor

 

RSVP: by noon, Monday, November 16, 2009 to John Matsson,

Email: matssonj2@asme.org, Phone: 918-495-6935

 

 

HELP WANTED!

 

The ASME Mid-Continent Section needs you! Join the executive committee that plans and operates Section activities. Right now we have an opening for the Secretary position. No experience needed. The Section Executive Committee consists of elected officers and other volunteers. We meet in Room L148 on the lower level of Keplinger Hall of The University of Tulsa of the first Thursday of each non-summer month at 6:00pm. Please come and spend an hour helping us make better meetings and activities that are more representative of member interests.

Links