SIXTH ANNUAL FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR SUMMIT ADDS PITCH COMPETITION TO PROGRAM

For immediate release (October 6, 2017)

Media Contact:
Judy Abelman
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 440.725.8861

Founder, Female Entrepreneur Summit
Renee DeLuca Dolan
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 440.785.5600

SIXTH ANNUAL FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR SUMMIT ADDS PITCH COMPETITION TO PROGRAM
Full Program Announced

Save the Date: October 25, 2017

Cleveland, OH, October 6, 2017 – Contempo Communications has added a pitch competition to the program lineup at the Female Entrepreneur Summit on October 25 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 700 Beta Banquet Conference Center in Mayfield Village. The sixth annual event will be the place where Cleveland’s female business leaders meet to connect, learn and grow.

At the pitch competition, summit attendees will watch 5 of Northeast Ohio’s most promising female entrepreneurs pitch their companies for a chance at the grand prize: $5,000 in Design Services from Contempo Communications, 1 Year Reserved Desk Membership ($3600 value) at StartMart and $1,500 in cash. Competing entrepreneurs will receive coaching prior to the event and will showcase their business ideas. Teams can apply through this link: https://goo.gl/forms/zYH4WVShP6IbWJtB2

The pitch competition is presented by Flashstarts – a Cleveland-based business startup accelerator, consultancy and venture fund focused on unique and innovative uses of software and technology. Judges for the event include Renée DeLuca Dolan, President, Contempo Communications and Flashstarts executives – Charles Stack, CEO and Shannon Lyons, COO.

The final FES program has also been announced. FES provides female entrepreneurs the opportunity to engage with more than 20 successful industry professionals who will share ideas, opportunities and personal testimonials.

Speakers at the Female Entrepreneur Summit are:

Top Ways Female Entrepreneurs Can Drive Business Growth Through Social Media Marketing – Jacquie Chakirelis, Founder, Online Platform Institute and Market Manager, Aviatra Accelerators
Pivots and Pathways – Maureen Kyle, WKYC Anchor; Heather Ettinger, Founder, Luma Wealth Advisors; Marianne Frantz, Advanced Sommelier, President, American Wine School; Tonya Kinlow, President, UGottaEat; Anjua Maximo, Co-Founder, GrooveRyde and Pure Mvmnt
A Guide to Capital: What you Need and Where to go to Get it: Anne Richie, Venture Partner, JumpStart, Inc.; Mary Wilson, Investment Analyst, JumpStart, Inc
An Entrepreneur’s Checklist for Mitigating Risks: James Simon, Partner, Real Eastate & Construction Practice Group, Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC; Kristen Kraus, Partner, Dworken & Bernstein, Co., L.P.A.; Cynthia M. Kula, CPA/PFS, CFP ®, Director of Tax, Walthall, CPAs
Intentional Networking – Connecting in a Meaningful Way: Patrice Blakemore, Business Advisor to Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses in partnership with Cuyahoga Community College
Creating a Positive Workplace Culture: Jessie Baginski, Ph.D, President/CEO, Leadership Lake County; Nancy Brown, Founder, Ladies and Gentlemen Salon; Lorraine Schuchart, Founder/CEO, Prosper for Purpose; Vanessa Tey Iosue, President, Burges & Burges Strategists
A lunchtime cooking event will feature some of Cleveland’s top female chefs sharing their unique challenges in the male-dominated food industry. Joining them on stage will be some notable male chefs for an active cooking demonstration aimed at the busy working entrepreneur. The all-star chef lineup is:

• Dante Boccuzzi, Owner, Dante, Ginko, DC Pasta Company, DBA Akron, Dante Next Door, Dante’s Inferno and Northside Speakeasy
• Britt-Marie Culey, Owner/Executive Pastry Chef, Coquette Patisserie
• Lisa Pucci Delgado, Personal/Private Chef, Owner, What’s for Dinner by LPD, TV personality
• Chris Hodgson, Partner/Chef, The Driftwood Group
• Douglas Katz, Owner/Executive Chef, Fire Food and Drink, CEO/Chef, Fire Spice Company, Chef/Partner, Provenance, Provenance Cafe, Catering by Provenance
• Melissa Khoury, Co-owner, Saucisson
• Scott David Kuhn, Founder/CEO, The Driftwood Group
• Bridget Thibeault, Owner/Chef, Luna Bakery & Cafe
The event will conclude with networking opportunities at a Sponsor Showcase Reception featuring more than 20 resource tables and a “People’s Choice” tasting competition from the chefs.

“We are thrilled to add the pitch competition to the strong program for this year’s summit. FES attendees will now be able to take part in the diligence process as they listen to entrepreneurs pitch and meet the women whose innovative ideas are taking Cleveland by storm. “ said Contempo Communications President Renée DeLuca Dolan. “

Tickets are $150,. To register and learn more about the conference visit www.cbcmagazine.com/fes/.

Contempo Communications is producing the event and event sponsors include Buckingham, Doolittle and Burroughs, LLC, Case Western Reserve Weatherhead School of Management, Forest City , Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Ursuline College and Kent State University College of Business Administration.

---

ABOUT CONTEMPO COMMUNICATIONS

Founded in 1996 by Renée DeLuca Dolan, Contempo Communications is a full-service design and communications firm providing visual branding, environmental graphic design and digital creative for businesses and organizations throughout Northeast Ohio. Contempo Communications is the design partner of the Cleveland Indians.