Mentor Panel – Best Practices When Seeking a Mentor

1776 presents:

"Mentor Panel - Best Practices When Seeking a Mentor"

This event is open to all individuals.

About this Event

During these difficult times, we've seen resilience from our startup ecosystem. Mentors have volunteered their time with a mission to assist startups more than ever. Join us for a conversation focused on the importance of mentor relationships and best practices when seeking a mentor.

The panel discussion will focus on the topics below:

• What is a mentor?
• How to find a mentor
• Experiences from the mentor perspective of working with startups
• At what stages should you look for a mentor

About the Speakers

Tracy Turner - Moderator
Campus Director, 1776

Tracy is the Campus Director of 1776 @ Greencourt and has a demonstrated history in incubator operations and the nonprofit organization management industry. Her experience includes creating and executing result driven programs and events. Her professional and strategic skills include building impactful relationships with community stakeholders and nonprofit organizations. She is accomplished in Tech Incubator Management, Volunteer Management, STEM Programming, Budgeting and Government Relations. Tracy was recently certified to become a mentor in the Maryland Tech Council's Venture Mentoring Program. Tracy holds a BA from UNC Chapel Hill in Communications and an AA in Foreign Languages and Literature from the Universite de Montpellier, France.

Bill Bavin - Panelist
Partner, Chessiecap

Bill Bavin has more than two decades of financial, business, and management experience, and has founded two boutique investment banking firms in the Washington, DC area. Since 1994, he has specialized in advising education companies and investors on capital formation, mergers & acquisitions, divestitures, valuation, and strategy. His practice includes all facets of the education market across the life-long learning continuum, including content companies, education service providers, and infrastructure.

In 1998, Mr. Bavin co-founded Education Capital, LLC, which provided capital market solutions, sophisticated transaction advice, and sound consulting services to scores of emerging and middle-market education companies. Mr. Bavin co-founded and served as Managing Partner of The Washington Corporation, merging the company with Chessiecap in 2013. Prior to his concentration on the education industry, he was a generalist with significant experience in a broad range of industries and financial instruments. Mr. Bavin received his B.A. in History from the University of Virginia and his M.B.A. from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of Total Education Solutions, Inc., a California-based special education company from 2000-2013, and is an advisor at Move This World, a non-profit addressing school violence and bullying. Additionally, he serves as a Venture Forward Mentor for UVA Innovate at the University of Virginia and a mentor at 1776.

Kimberly Mikec - Panelist
Marketing and Consultant, Cymberly Marketing

Kimberly Mikec is a marketing leader passionate about creating thought-provoking stories, meaningful experiences and impactful connections. Kimberly is currently working with Accenture Technology, Accenture’s largest business area, advising on marketing campaigns, communication strategies and marketing tactics.

Kimberly has experience in several industries including technology, transportation and government. She has a proven-track record in global organizations, small companies and emerging markets. Her functional expertise is broad and incorporates marketing, public relations and communications.

She is strategic, visionary, a life-long learner, and is known as an inspirational leader. Recently, Kimberly conceptualized a “blue ocean” idea—a new potential insurance product—for a large, Asian auto insurance company and she helped a small eco-wrap company pivot to a luxury niche market. She has been a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) International Section Executive Board and is a past chair of the PRSA International Committee.

Kimberly is a member of the American Marketing Association and is accredited with the PRSA. Kimberly has an MBA from the McDonough School of Business from Georgetown University and volunteers with the Humane Rescue Alliance.

Patrick Baynes - Panelist
CEO, Nerdwise

Patrick Baynes was an early LinkedIn employee (#162) and co-founder of PeopleLinx (acquired). Patrick is now CEO of Nerdwise, a technology enabled digital marketing partner for startups, sales teams, and enterprises.

Ric Fleisher - Panelist
COO, Manor Financial Inc.

Ric Fleisher has more than 30 years of experience in business development, sales and technology. He has been involved with 9 start-ups. These ventures have included real estate, two sided marketplaces, mobile, location based services, ID verification, networking hardware, speech, streaming video, collaboration, intelligent agents and RFID. He has helped build early stage technology companies in Software, Hardware and Service areas. His current start-up is Manor Financial. Manor helps consumers understand, maintain and grow the value of their home. Prior to Manor, he was the co-founder of Urgent.ly. Urgent.ly is the global digital roadside assistance platform. Originally created as a platform for all urgent needs including those for homes.