EngenuitySC Announces Five Accomplished Speakers for Nov. 19, 2014 Ignite! Celebration
November 6, 2014
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014 ~
COLUMBIA, SC – EngenuitySC announces the five keynote speakers for Ignite! 2014, the Midlands’ annual celebration of our region’s economic competitiveness. New media, technology and business leaders, innovators, students and entrepreneurs will converge for Ignite! on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, 5:00-8:30 p.m. at The Zone at Williams Brice Stadium.
The speakers for Ignite! 2014 were chosen to correlate with EngenuitySC’s five indicators of economic competitiveness in the Midlands: talent, livability, industry clusters, entrepreneurial/business environment and innovation.
Talent
Michelle Brooke-Marciniak, SHEEX Co-Founder/Co-CEO and former WNBA athlete
Brooke-Marciniak made her entrepreneurial debut in 2007 with SHEEX, the world’s first performance fabric bedding company with globally patented technology inspired by the feel and breathability of athletic performance fabrics. After her collegiate career at the University of Tennessee under coach Pat Summitt, Brooke-Marciniak went on to play in the Women’s National Basketball Association with the Portland Fire and Seattle Storm teams, where she is remembered as “one of the most outstanding point guards to ever play women’s basketball.” After retiring from the WNBA, she became Assistant Coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of South Carolina. She currently serves on the Board of the Pat Summitt Foundation, is an Advisory Board member of the EY Women Athletes Business Network and is a member of the 2014 Class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.
Livability
Mark Plessinger, Owner of Frame of Mind and Founder of First Thursdays on Main Street
A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Plessinger’s longtime goal of positively impacting his community has culminated with his role as one of the most influential forces in revitalizing Columbia, S.C.’s Main Street. A licensed and certified optician, Plessinger opened his optical shop, Frame Of Mind (FOM), seven years ago, which spurred the now popular FOM Series, a bimonthly art show open to the public. Seeing the success of the FOM Series, Plessinger established First Thursdays on Main, an open-house-style evening for local businesses along Main Street, drawing in approximately 2,000 people to dine, drink, shop and play in the heart of Columbia every month. A nationally-recognized entrepreneur, Plessinger’s most recent project is his event production company, Nova, through which he produces Shamelessly Hot, a series that brings established burlesque, sideshow, vaudeville and Americana acts and music to Columbia.
Industry Clusters
Jeff Archie, Sr. Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer of the South Carolina Electric & Gas Company
Archie is a native of Jenkinsville, S.C., growing up just a few miles from V.C. Summer Nuclear Station. He began his career there, working his way up through the organization to eventually oversee all operations, engineering, training and support at the facility. Archie serves on the boards and committees of the American Red Cross Regional Advisory Council, Palmetto Conservation Foundation, Midlands Technical College QuickJobs and USC’s Parent’s Advisory Council, Mechanical Engineering and Board of Visitors.
Entrepreneurial/Business Environment
Andrew Askins, CEO and Co-Founder of the Krit online client management platform
A web-based project management platform, Krit makes it easier and more enjoyable for graphic and web design freelancers and agencies to work with clients, from project conception to completion. One of the first employees of South Carolina-based app development company 52inc (f.k.a. 52apps), Andrew Askins previously worked for a year and a half as an iOS and web developer and graphic designer for the company, which has topped the App Store charts with their developments and has been featured in Mashable, Bloomberg Business Week and more. After working at 52inc, Askins co-founded Krit with fellow USC students Bill Brower and Austin Price as part of the inaugural class of the Tminus6 Accelerating Startups program. A fourth-year Computer Science major at the University of South Carolina, Askins is a native of Columbia.
Innovation
Maria Fabrizio
lllustrator, designer, early riser, owner of Studio Ria and creator of Wordless News
Fabrizio is the mind behind Wordless News, the daily illustration blog that depicts one prominent news headline for each day, “vowel and consonant free.” Fabrizio is an alumna of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities and earned her BFA from the University of South Carolina, as well as an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Graphic Design/Visual Communication. With affection for the creative process, she works by hand and on screen for projects large and small, while maintaining Wordless News daily. Fabrizio has been recognized by and has worked with NPR, professional industry organizations NAEA and AIGA, ConvergeRVA and Illustration Age. Her first book (with words and pictures) will be published in March of 2015 by How+Print Media.
Tickets to Ignite! 2014 are $75 for a reserved seat at a table and can be purchased now at http://engenuitysc.com/ignite/i-want-a-ticket.
In addition to short, engaging presentations by these Ignite! 2014 speakers, guests will enjoy valet parking, networking, an open bar, a light supper by Chef Scott Hall and live shark-tank-style voting for the winner of the Ignite! 2014 Ideas Contest winner.
Hosts include University of South Carolina President and executive committee co-chair at EngenuitySC, Dr. Harris Pastides. ABC Columbia anchor Anderson Burns will again serve as emcee. Anchor sponsors for Ignite! 2014 are BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Wells Fargo Bank and McWaters, Inc. Ignite! 2014 is once again a part of Global Entrepreneurship Week in Columbia, S.C.
Stay on top of Ignite! 2014 updates at http://www.engenuitysc.com/ignite
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/engenuitysc
Follow @EngenuitySC on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/engenuitysc
Ignite! 2014 Twitter hashtag: #IgniteCAE
Global Entrepreneurship Week Twitter hashtag: #colagew
About EngenuitySC
Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., EngenuitySC is a public-private partnership focused on enhancing our region’s economic competitiveness and prosperity. Through collaboration with business, government, higher education and community leaders, EngenuitySC builds partnerships and measures success around five indicators of competitive communities: innovative capacity, talent, entrepreneurial/business environment, livability and strong industry clusters. Through our innovative process, unique vision and ability to create a plan and deliver results, EngenuitySC is working to build a more competitive and prosperous Midlands region. For more information, visit http://www.engenuitysc.com.
EngenuitySC Announces Five Accomplished Speakers for Nov. 19, 2014 Ignite! Celebration
November 5, 2014
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014 ~
COLUMBIA, SC – EngenuitySC announces the five keynote speakers for Ignite! 2014, the Midlands’ annual celebration of our region’s economic competitiveness. New media, technology and business leaders, innovators, students and entrepreneurs will converge for Ignite! on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, 5:00-8:30 p.m. at The Zone at Williams Brice Stadium.
The speakers for Ignite! 2014 were chosen to correlate with EngenuitySC’s five indicators of economic competitiveness in the Midlands: talent, livability, industry clusters, entrepreneurial/business environment and innovation.
Talent
Michelle Brooke-Marciniak, SHEEX Co-Founder/Co-CEO and former WNBA athlete
Brooke-Marciniak made her entrepreneurial debut in 2007 with SHEEX, the world’s first performance fabric bedding company with globally patented technology inspired by the feel and breathability of athletic performance fabrics. After her collegiate career at the University of Tennessee under coach Pat Summitt, Brooke-Marciniak went on to play in the Women’s National Basketball Association with the Portland Fire and Seattle Storm teams, where she is remembered as “one of the most outstanding point guards to ever play women’s basketball.” After retiring from the WNBA, she became Assistant Coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of South Carolina. She currently serves on the Board of the Pat Summitt Foundation, is an Advisory Board member of the EY Women Athletes Business Network and is a member of the 2014 Class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.
Livability
Mark Plessinger, Owner of Frame of Mind and Founder of First Thursdays on Main Street
A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Plessinger’s longtime goal of positively impacting his community has culminated with his role as one of the most influential forces in revitalizing Columbia, S.C.’s Main Street. A licensed and certified optician, Plessinger opened his optical shop, Frame Of Mind (FOM), seven years ago, which spurred the now popular FOM Series, a bimonthly art show open to the public. Seeing the success of the FOM Series, Plessinger established First Thursdays on Main, an open-house-style evening for local businesses along Main Street, drawing in approximately 2,000 people to dine, drink, shop and play in the heart of Columbia every month. A nationally-recognized entrepreneur, Plessinger’s most recent project is his event production company, Nova, through which he produces Shamelessly Hot, a series that brings established burlesque, sideshow, vaudeville and Americana acts and music to Columbia.
Industry Clusters
Jeff Archie, Sr. Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer of the South Carolina Electric & Gas Company
Archie is a native of Jenkinsville, S.C., growing up just a few miles from V.C. Summer Nuclear Station. He began his career there, working his way up through the organization to eventually oversee all operations, engineering, training and support at the facility. Archie serves on the boards and committees of the American Red Cross Regional Advisory Council, Palmetto Conservation Foundation, Midlands Technical College QuickJobs and USC’s Parent’s Advisory Council, Mechanical Engineering and Board of Visitors.
Entrepreneurial/Business Environment
Andrew Askins, CEO and Co-Founder of the Krit online client management platform
A web-based project management platform, Krit makes it easier and more enjoyable for graphic and web design freelancers and agencies to work with clients, from project conception to completion. One of the first employees of South Carolina-based app development company 52inc (f.k.a. 52apps), Andrew Askins previously worked for a year and a half as an iOS and web developer and graphic designer for the company, which has topped the App Store charts with their developments and has been featured in Mashable, Bloomberg Business Week and more. After working at 52inc, Askins co-founded Krit with fellow USC students Bill Brower and Austin Price as part of the inaugural class of the Tminus6 Accelerating Startups program. A fourth-year Computer Science major at the University of South Carolina, Askins is a native of Columbia.
Innovation
Maria Fabrizio
lllustrator, designer, early riser, owner of Studio Ria and creator of Wordless News
Fabrizio is the mind behind Wordless News, the daily illustration blog that depicts one prominent news headline for each day, “vowel and consonant free.” Fabrizio is an alumna of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities and earned her BFA from the University of South Carolina, as well as an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Graphic Design/Visual Communication. With affection for the creative process, she works by hand and on screen for projects large and small, while maintaining Wordless News daily. Fabrizio has been recognized by and has worked with NPR, professional industry organizations NAEA and AIGA, ConvergeRVA and Illustration Age. Her first book (with words and pictures) will be published in March of 2015 by How+Print Media.
Tickets to Ignite! 2014 are $75 for a reserved seat at a table and can be purchased now at http://engenuitysc.com/ignite/i-want-a-ticket.
In addition to short, engaging presentations by these Ignite! 2014 speakers, guests will enjoy valet parking, networking, an open bar, a light supper by Chef Scott Hall and live shark-tank-style voting for the winner of the Ignite! 2014 Ideas Contest winner.
Hosts include University of South Carolina President and executive committee co-chair at EngenuitySC, Dr. Harris Pastides. ABC Columbia anchor Anderson Burns will again serve as emcee. Anchor sponsors for Ignite! 2014 are BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Wells Fargo Bank and McWaters, Inc. Ignite! 2014 is once again a part of Global Entrepreneurship Week in Columbia, S.C.
Stay on top of Ignite! 2014 updates at http://www.engenuitysc.com/ignite
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/engenuitysc
Follow @EngenuitySC on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/engenuitysc
Ignite! 2014 Twitter hashtag: #IgniteCAE
Global Entrepreneurship Week Twitter hashtag: #colagew
About EngenuitySC
Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., EngenuitySC is a public-private partnership focused on enhancing our region’s economic competitiveness and prosperity. Through collaboration with business, government, higher education and community leaders, EngenuitySC builds partnerships and measures success around five indicators of competitive communities: innovative capacity, talent, entrepreneurial/business environment, livability and strong industry clusters. Through our innovative process, unique vision and ability to create a plan and deliver results, EngenuitySC is working to build a more competitive and prosperous Midlands region. For more information, visit http://www.engenuitysc.com.
EngenuitySC Announces Five Accomplished Speakers for Nov. 19, 2014 Ignite! Celebration
November 3, 2014
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, 5:00-8:30 p.m. ~
COLUMBIA, SC – EngenuitySC announces the five keynote speakers for Ignite! 2014, the Midlands’ annual celebration of our region’s economic competitiveness. New media, technology and business leaders, innovators, students and entrepreneurs will converge for Ignite! on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, 5:00-8:30 p.m. at The Zone at Williams Brice Stadium.
The speakers for Ignite! 2014 were chosen to correlate with EngenuitySC’s five indicators of economic competitiveness in the Midlands: talent, livability, industry clusters, entrepreneurial/business environment and innovation.
Talent
Michelle Brooke-Marciniak, SHEEX Co-Founder/Co-CEO and former WNBA athlete
Brooke-Marciniak made her entrepreneurial debut in 2007 with SHEEX, the world’s first performance fabric bedding company with globally patented technology inspired by the feel and breathability of athletic performance fabrics. After her collegiate career at the University of Tennessee under coach Pat Summitt, Brooke-Marciniak went on to play in the Women’s National Basketball Association with the Portland Fire and Seattle Storm teams, where she is remembered as “one of the most outstanding point guards to ever play women’s basketball.” After retiring from the WNBA, she became Assistant Coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of South Carolina. She currently serves on the Board of the Pat Summitt Foundation, is an Advisory Board member of the EY Women Athletes Business Network and is a member of the 2014 Class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.
Livability
Mark Plessinger, Owner of Frame of Mind and Founder of First Thursdays on Main Street
A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Plessinger’s longtime goal of positively impacting his community has culminated with his role as one of the most influential forces in revitalizing Columbia, S.C.’s Main Street. A licensed and certified optician, Plessinger opened his optical shop, Frame Of Mind (FOM), seven years ago, which spurred the now popular FOM Series, a bimonthly art show open to the public. Seeing the success of the FOM Series, Plessinger established First Thursdays on Main, an open-house-style evening for local businesses along Main Street, drawing in approximately 2,000 people to dine, drink, shop and play in the heart of Columbia every month. A nationally-recognized entrepreneur, Plessinger’s most recent project is his event production company, Nova, through which he produces Shamelessly Hot, a series that brings established burlesque, sideshow, vaudeville and Americana acts and music to Columbia.
Industry Clusters
Jeff Archie, Sr. Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer of the South Carolina Electric & Gas Company
Archie is a native of Jenkinsville, S.C., growing up just a few miles from V.C. Summer Nuclear Station. He began his career there, working his way up through the organization to eventually oversee all operations, engineering, training and support at the facility. Archie serves on the boards and committees of the American Red Cross Regional Advisory Council, Palmetto Conservation Foundation, Midlands Technical College QuickJobs and USC’s Parent’s Advisory Council, Mechanical Engineering and Board of Visitors.
Entrepreneurial/Business Environment
Andrew Askins, CEO and Co-Founder of the Krit online client management platform
A web-based project management platform, Krit makes it easier and more enjoyable for graphic and web design freelancers and agencies to work with clients, from project conception to completion. One of the first employees of South Carolina-based app development company 52inc (f.k.a. 52apps), Andrew Askins previously worked for a year and a half as an iOS and web developer and graphic designer for the company, which has topped the App Store charts with their developments and has been featured in Mashable, Bloomberg Business Week and more. After working at 52inc, Askins co-founded Krit with fellow USC students Bill Brower and Austin Price as part of the inaugural class of the Tminus6 Accelerating Startups program. A fourth-year Computer Science major at the University of South Carolina, Askins is a native of Columbia.
Innovation
Maria Fabrizio
lllustrator, designer, early riser, owner of Studio Ria and creator of Wordless News
Fabrizio is the mind behind Wordless News, the daily illustration blog that depicts one prominent news headline for each day, “vowel and consonant free.” Fabrizio is an alumna of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities and earned her BFA from the University of South Carolina, as well as an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Graphic Design/Visual Communication. With affection for the creative process, she works by hand and on screen for projects large and small, while maintaining Wordless News daily. Fabrizio has been recognized by and has worked with NPR, professional industry organizations NAEA and AIGA, ConvergeRVA and Illustration Age. Her first book (with words and pictures) will be published in March of 2015 by How+Print Media.
Tickets to Ignite! 2014 are $75 for a reserved seat at a table and can be purchased now at http://engenuitysc.com/ignite/i-want-a-ticket.
In addition to short, engaging presentations by these Ignite! 2014 speakers, guests will enjoy valet parking, networking, an open bar, a light supper by Chef Scott Hall and live shark-tank-style voting for the winner of the Ignite! 2014 Ideas Contest winner.
Hosts include University of South Carolina President and executive committee co-chair at EngenuitySC, Dr. Harris Pastides. ABC Columbia anchor Anderson Burns will again serve as emcee. Anchor sponsors for Ignite! 2014 are BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Wells Fargo Bank and McWaters, Inc. Ignite! 2014 is once again a part of Global Entrepreneurship Week in Columbia, S.C.
Stay on top of Ignite! 2014 updates at http://www.engenuitysc.com/ignite
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/engenuitysc
Follow @EngenuitySC on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/engenuitysc
Ignite! 2014 Twitter hashtag: #IgniteCAE
Global Entrepreneurship Week Twitter hashtag: #colagew
About EngenuitySC
Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., EngenuitySC is a public-private partnership focused on enhancing our region’s economic competitiveness and prosperity. Through collaboration with business, government, higher education and community leaders, EngenuitySC builds partnerships and measures success around five indicators of competitive communities: innovative capacity, talent, entrepreneurial/business environment, livability and strong industry clusters. Through our innovative process, unique vision and ability to create a plan and deliver results, EngenuitySC is working to build a more competitive and prosperous Midlands region. For more information, visit http://www.engenuitysc.com.
