"The DaVinci Institute: Where Great Ideas Happen"
The DaVinci Institute produces a number of unique events ranging from the two monthly networking event - the Night with a Futurist, and the Startup Junkie Underground - to a series of Boot Camps and Crash Courses primarily designed around serving the needs of businesses and entrepreneurs. Our events feature some of the most talented thinkers and seasoned veterans who have fundamentally changed the business landscape with the sheer weight of the footprints they leave behind. Our goal for each of these events is to serve as a turning point in the lives of all people who attend.
September 8, 2008
"Why We Are Not in a Climate Crisis"
Why the planned legislation could deal a crippling blow to the global economy
Dr. William Gray has been recognized as one of the world's leading climatology experts, best know for his annual Tropical Storm Forecast where he predicts tropical storms, named storms, typhoons, hurricanes, and intense hurricanes.
According to Dr. Gray, "It is is not possible for a doubling of anthropogenic greenhouse gases by the late 21st century to cause global warming as much as 2-5oC as indicated by most of the Global Circulation Models (GCMs). These numerical models are compromised by two basic flaws: 1) the assumption that an increased hydrologic cycle leads to large increased upper-level water vapor and reduced long wave radiation to space – the opposite occurs and, 2) inability of the GCMs to realistically simulate changes in the globe’s deep ocean circulations, which, in the authors view, is the primary driver of the global temperature change of the last few centuries. More analysis will, I believe, show that the recently proposed run away anthropogenic global warming scenarios have grossly overestimated the warming threat. Observed global temperature increases during the last 30 and 100 years have been largely a result of deep ocean global circulation changes resulting from global salinity variations. Doubling of atmospheric CO2 will likely cause only modest global warming (~0.5oC) and such small warming may be more beneficial to humankind than harmful."
Implementation of the proposed international treaties restricting future greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 20 percent by 2020 and 70-80 percent by 2050 would lead to a massive slowdown in the world’s economic development and, at the same time, have no significant impact on the globe’s future temperature.
Join us as we spend a fascinating evening with Dr. William Gray. Please register early to reserve your seat.
EVENT: Night with a Futurist
DATE: September 8, 2008 - Monday
TIME: 6:30-9:00 pm
WEBSITE: www.nightwithafuturist.com
LOCATION: CB & Potts, 1257 W 120th Ave, Westminster, CO 80234
DIRECTIONS: Google Maps
COST: Free for Members, all others $25
REGISTER: Register here.
PHONE: 303-666-4133
TOPIC: "Why We Are Not in Climate Crisis"
SPEAKER: Dr. William Gray, CSU Director of the Tropical Meteorology Project, National Hurricane Expert
 SPEAKER: Professor Gray has worked in the observational and theoretical aspects of tropical meteorological research for more than 50 years. Gray received his Ph. D. from the University of Chicago under renowned hurricane researcher Herbert Riehl. He has been with the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University since 1961. He has specialized in the global aspects of tropical cyclones for his entire professional career. Current areas of research include: 1) tropical cyclone structure, movement and intensity change; 2) seasonal hurricane prediction; 3) meso-scale tropical weather systems; 4) diurnal variability of tropospheric vertical motions; 5) ENSO variability and 6) climate change research.
Professor Gray pioneered Atlantic basin seasonal hurricane forecasts which he has been issuing for the last 25 years. He has advised over 50 successful M.S. graduates and over 20 successful Ph.D. graduates. He has received numerous awards including the Neil Frank Award from the National Hurricane Conference and the Banner I. Miller and Jule Charney Awards from the American Meteorological Society. He was also ABC TV’s “Person of the Week” in September 1995. He has been an author on over 80 published papers and over 60 extensive research reports.
September 20, 2008
Product Launch Boot Camp
Define, position, and sell your way to the top
Products come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the very complicated computers and electronics equipment to very simple items like paperclips and pushpins. Information products, such as reports, podcasts and videos, are relatively easy to produce with today's tools, causing a surge in this type of product offering.
Every day there are over 500 new packaged-goods products introduced into the marketplace in the US. But less than 10% are still available 2 years later.
It's easy to find statistics that show how difficult it is to introduce a new product into the marketplace. Yet with all of the new products introduced daily, the overall size of the marketplace continues to grow, and it becomes easier for long tail products to find their specific niche buying group.
Introducing a new product becomes a far more understandable process with the help of the three experts who will be leading this Boot Camp. Each are seasoned veterans at creating new products and introducing them to the buying public.
Join us as we help you think through strategies for defining, positioning, and selling your own products, as you continue on your journey to becoming the next great success story.
EVENT: Product Launch Boot Camp
DATE: September 20, 2008 - Saturday
TIMES: 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
WEBSITE: www.davinciinstitute.com/page.php?ID=270
LOCATION: DeVry University, 1870 W. 122nd Avenue, Westminster, CO 80234
CLASSROOM: 300
DIRECTIONS: Click here for map
INSTRUCTORS: David Sandusky, Keith Robinson, and Steve Spangler
AGENDA: See below
COST: $119 - ($79 for DaVinci Institute Members) - Register here.
COMBO PACKAGE: Membership combined with Product Launch Boot Camp: $199 - Register here. *
PHONE: 303-666-4133
* - A $298 value. More about DaVinci Institute Memberships and Combo Packages at click here.
Who Should Attend - Do you have a new product idea, or a product that you're working on? This Boot Camp is intended for a broad range of product innovators including:
- Startup entrepreneurs
- Business owners
- Product managers
- Product designers
- Inventors
- Aspiring independent business owners
This course is designed for entrepreneurs who desire the practical tools necessary to transform their product idea into a marketed and commercial product. We review the basic steps of this journey including- how to assess the commercial potential for your product through consumer research, how to position it in the marketplace, how to best market and advertise your product, and best options for manufacturing and distributing your product to the marketplace.
INSTRUCTOR: David Sandusky -  Starting business number one at the age of eight and always curious about people, David Sandusky brings his experiences and passion together to operate Your Brand, LLC. We help individuals develop, manage and brand a productive career and business. We will Unleash your potential with a personal brand to help you answer the "So What". Like a great ad agency, but for people! David created the Strategic Career Plan - like a business plan for people and Personal Board of Advisors - an important personal, professional and business development online solution for a global community. David also runs Your Brand Radio and is a public speaker on personal brand, team building and entrepreneur topics.
David’s direct and supportive leadership style is captured in the companies, products and events. He has an extensive background in retained executive search where he has interviewed hundreds of executives, managed client engagements, built research teams and run western region operations for a premier retained executive search firm. As a top producer, David’s career progressed nicely holding a variety of professional positions including Director of research, and Operations VP. He is passionate about supporting people who drive to make a significant impact in everything they do and loves to advise entrepreneurial ventures and start-up organizations.
INSTRUCTOR: Keith Robinson -  Keith Robinson has a track record of success across high profile consumer and brand-driven companies such as Leo Burnett, Frito-Lay, Quaker Oats and Boston Market. Robinson has extensive experience and expertise in developing customer and business insights and then transforming those insights into strategies and programs that drive business results and build brands.
Mr. Robinson founded New Path Partners consulting in 2008, bringing with him a uniquely diverse background with experience ranging:
- from marketing research, to brand management, to cross-functional business unit leadership, and to business process redesign and change management;
- from established blue chip brands and companies, to rapid growth start-ups, and to struggling brands looking to find a way to rekindle the magic; and
- from the agency business, to consumer packaged goods, and to multi-unit retailing.
Robinson’s strong grounding in the consumer and insight aspects of the business started at the outset of his career with positions in marketing research with Leo Burnett Advertising and Frito Lay. Drawn by the desire to leverage those insights into a direct decision making role, Robinson then made the transition to the brand marketing side of the business moving through positions of increasing leadership and cross-functional business responsibility at both Frito-Lay (Doritos-launching Cool Ranch Doritos, Tostitos, Lays and Ruffles) and the Quaker Oats Company (Cap’n Crunch, Quaker100% Natural, Quaker Oats brand hot and cold cereals).
Robinson then moved into the retail arena with 12 years at Boston Market in a variety of roles ranging from VP New Products, to Chief Marketing Officer for the restaurant business, to developing and then leading the supermarket retail business—a line of fresh, all natural, heat and serve sides, soups, and entrees sold in grocery stores.
INSTRUCTOR: Steve Spangler -  Steve Spangler has been described as the guy who shoots potatoes, makes toilet paper fly and makes the perfect batch of slime. But he may be best known for teaching millions of people how to turn an ordinary bottle of soda into an erupting geyser of fun! His famous Mentos Geyser Experiment became an internet sensation in September of 2005 and spawned more than a thousand related experiments on video sites like YouTube.com. His recent appearances on network television, including the Ellen Show, the History Channel and the Food Network demonstrate his true passion for making learning fun.
On the business side, Spangler is the founder and CEO of Steve Spangler Science, a Denver-based company specializing in the creation of educational toys and kits and hands-on science training services for teachers. The company’s unique business strategies and viral creations have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, Wired and TIME Magazine where online readers voted Steve Spangler #18 in the Top 100 Most Influential People of the Year for 2006 (what were they thinking?). You'll find more than 140 Spangler created products available online at SteveSpanglerScience.com and distributed to toy stores and mass-market retailers worldwide.
September 22, 2008
"Mastering Change: Challenges, Choices and Champions"
The ground swell of several sweeping changes facing us today
There are only three things that are certain in life: death; taxes; and change. Change is the continuing challenge of the decade, and that will not end in the next ten years. Many do not adjust well to change. In fact, not everyone welcomes it. Some resist change, even fight it and will most likely pay the penalty for adopting this stance.
Mastering change is not an event; it is an ongoing process (as it is with chaos). Change is mandated for many reasons. Examples would be new technology, finances, customer demands, generational changes, updated products and services, new lifecycle, government regulations, mood of the country…there is not a shortage of causes. Organizations avoid change for many reasons: ignorance, arrogance, stubbornness, stupidity, fearfulness, satisfied with where they are, doesn’t understand the need or the benefits.
Six Truths About Change - In this presentation, Larry Nelson will focus on six questions that we should use when preparing for a ‘change’ strategy session or a team problem solving session. These six questions are the key for finding reasons to do or not do something as well as to continue or discontinue a project.
Join us as we take an indepth look at mastering change in a world where change has become as common as the air we breath.
EVENT: Startup Junkie Underground
DATE: Monday, September 22, 2008
TIMES: 6:15- 9:00 pm - COME EARLY AND NETWORK!
COST: Members - Free, Nonmembers - $25 REGISTER - Click HerePHONE: 303-666-4133
TOPIC: "Mastering Change: Challenges, Choices and Champions”
SPEAKER: Larry Nelson, founder of the Institute for Change Research and co-founder of w3w3 ® Talk Radio
 SPEAKER: Larry Nelson is the founder of the Institute for Change Research and co-founder of w3w3 ® Talk Radio has more than three decades of experience as an entrepreneur in six countries. Larry is the producer of w3w3.com, a published author, trainer and most notably a business development architect. He co-authored a book, “Colorful Leadership” that was released in Aug 2008 and in Sept 2008, “Mastering Change: Challenges, Choices and Champions” also written by Larry will be released.
w3w3® Talk Radio is a blend of Internet talk radio, an online business magazine and an aggregator of business development strategies. Although it has a worldwide reach, w3w3® is community focused, in Colorado, the first of many state bureaus. w3w3.com has launched both a PodCast Directory and multiple Blogs in 2006.
 CO-HOSTS: Allison Taylor and Steve Baker are co-hosting the Startup Junkie Underground and as serial entrepreneurs, both will be on hand to help solve your startup related issues.
Allison Taylor is a Business Consultant specializing in relationship selling, referral marketing, customer and employee retention and non-traditional sales training. Through her business, Paravox, she offers innovative marketing and performance tactics to significantly improve business growth and profitability.
As a founder of successful businesses and a business adviser, Steve Baker has taken companies from startup to millions of dollars in revenues in such diverse industries as international travel, financial software, casinos, manufacturing, cosmetic surgery, and ergonomics. Always the entrepreneur and Startup Junkie, Steve is now Vice President of Advanced Headache Intervention Inc., a new Colorado medical device company whose mission is to eliminate migraine headache pain for 28 million Americans. Steve is a well known speaker and author of the award winning book PUSHING WATER UPHILL With A Rake.
November 10, 2008
Colorado Inventor Showcase - 2008
Produced by the DaVinci Institute along with
some of the finest inventors in the world
This year's event will mark the 4th annual Colorado Inventor Showcase. Each year the Showcase attracts some of the nation's finest inventors and their incredibly clever inventions. Inventions are judged by a cast of over 50 celebrity judges, and will be on display throughout the afternoon and evening for all attendees.
 Featured Speaker - Jay S. Walker, Founder of Priceline.com. Jay Walker is chairman of Walker Digital, a private R&D laboratory based in Stamford, CT. He founded the lab in 1994 with the guiding vision that new consumer applications for large-scale networks represent the key growth opportunity for many industries. Walker holds around 250 U.S. patents. In total, Walker Digital has invented about 1,000 applications for the Internet, cell phones, credit-card networks, and casino networks, as well as vending machines and lottery and retail networks. The company employs teams of inventors, engineers, designers, and attorneys. Typically, it partners with Fortune 500 firms to bring its inventions to market. Walker is best known as the founder of Priceline.com. He also founded Synapse, which became the world’s largest seller of magazine subscriptions and is now a unit of Time Warner.
In addition to a very exciting, information packed day, we have added a few new features and a couple unusual twists to the agenda.
- USPTO Job Fair: Representatives from the US Patent & Trademark Office will be on hand, recruiting for new Patent Examiners. With the USPTO Hoteling Program, after initial training, Patent Examiners are allowed to live in whatever part of the country they choose, including Colorado.
- Inventor Boot Camp:
 The Inventor Boot Camp is a pre-showcase event that will start the day at 10:00 am. This event will feature sessions on "Turning Your Invention Into a Product", "Intellectual Property Strategies", "Licensing Your Invention", and "Success Stories". All sessions will be presented by some of the true experts on these topics. (More information coming soon)
- Celebrity Judges: This year we will have over 60 Celebrity Judges reviewing the entries including TV personalities, VCs, bankers, corporate execs, newspaper editors, etc. (see below)
- Museum of Future Inventions: As the DaVinci Institute continues with its plans to develop the world's first Museum of Future Inventions, major things have started to happen. Join us for a quick overview of the Museum's progress and learn how you can become part of this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Colorado Inventor Showcase - 2008
EVENT: Colorado Inventor Showcase
DATE: Monday, November 10, 2007
TIMES: 3:30 pm - 8:00 pm
AGENDA: See below
LOCATION: The Cable Center, 2000 Buchtel Boulevard, Denver, C0 80210 - Map
FOOD & REFRESHMENTS: Food and refreshments will be served from 5:30 to 7:00 pm
FUNDRAISER: Raising funds for the Museum of Future Inventions
COST TO ATTEND:
-
General Admission - Only $45 - Register here (Earlybird special before Sept 30th)
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Members of the DaVinci Institute - Only $35 - Register here (Earlybird special before Sept 30th)
COST TO EXHIBIT:
NOTE: Exhibits this year are reserved exclusively for inventors and sponsors. Those wishing to sponsor the event, please contact Deb at 303-666-4133 or deb(at)davinciinstitute(dot)com
All exhibits will come with piping and draping, and will have power available, upon request, as part of the cost. Special request items may result in an additional charge. Exhibitors will receive one exhibitor pass. Additional attendees will require separate admission. For additional requirements or additional information, please call 303-666-4133.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: DaVinci Institute, PO Box 270315, Louisville, CO 80027 -
303-666-4133 or deb(at)davinciinstitute(dot)com
Agenda
The event will kick off at 3:30pm and will be open to the public. The event will feature inventors, patent attorneys, product scouts, cocktails and an array of artfully selected appetizers.
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9:00 - 1:30 pm - Pre-Showcase Event - Inventor Boot Camp (More details coming soon)
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1:00 - 2:30 pm - Exhibitor setup
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2:30 - Judging begins
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3:30 - Inventor Showcase open to the public
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6:00 - Featured Speaker - Jay Walker on "The Power of Invention". (The Center Theater)
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7:00 - Presentation on the Museum of Future Inventions
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7:30 - Prizes Announced. Prizes will be awarded in a number of invention categories. (The Center Theater)
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8:00 - Thank You For Attending - The event will end at approximately 8:00.
Past Speakers
Past Events
| July 12, 2008 |
Professional Coaching Boot Camp |
| June 28, 2008 |
Cause Inspired Marketing Boot Camp |
| May 17, 2008 |
Communication Strategy Boot Camp |
| April 19, 2008 |
Making Money Online Boot Camp |
| March 29, 2008 |
Professional Speaking Boot Camp |
| March 1, 2008 |
Make Your Message Count! |
|
November 15, 2007 |
Colorado Inventor Showcase 2007 |
|
September 29, 2007 |
Website Optimization Boot Camp |
|
August 18, 2007 |
Second Life Boot Camp |
|
July 14, 2007 |
Buying a Business Boot Camp |
|
June 23, 2007 |
Empire of One Boot Camp |
|
May 19, 2007 |
|
| April 14, 2007 |
Relationship Selling Boot Camp |
| March 31, 2007 |
Flight School: Piloting a Profitable Growth Business |
|
March 27, 2007 |
Movers & Shakers - "Future of Education" |
| February 17, 2007 |
Creating Website Content Boot Camp
|
| January 27, 2007 |
The Flight School: Taking Off with Sales |
| January 20, 2007 |
Headhunter Boot Camp |
| November 14, 2006 |
Colorado Inventor Showcase 2006 |
| October 28, 2006 |
Online Guerrilla Marketing Boot Camp |
| September 19, 2006 |
Movers & Shakers |
| September 16, 2006 |
Managing Millennials Boot Camp |
| August 19, 2006 |
MySpace Boot Camp |
| July 21, 2006 |
Movers & Shakers - "Reinventing Work" |
| July 15, 2006 |
Seed Capital Boot Camp |
| June 10, 2006 |
Public Relations Boot Camp |
| May 16, 2006 |
Movers & Shakers |
| April 8, 2006 |
Nanotechnology Boot Camp |
| March 25, 2006 |
Future of Advertising Boot Camp |
| March 24, 2006 |
Movers & Shakers |
| March 11, 2006 |
Employee & Customer Retention Boot Camp |
| February 25, 2006 |
Inventor Boot Camp |
| February 11, 2006 |
Referral Marketing Boot Camp |
| January 21, 2006 |
Business Energetics Boot Camp |
| January 14, 2006 |
Online Auction Boot Camp |
| November 11, 2005 |
Night with the Visionaries featuring the Colorado Inventor Showcase |
| November 5, 2005 |
Google Boot Camp |
| October 24, 2005 |
SBIR Boot Camp |
| September 27, 2005 |
Rebuilding New Orleans Boot Camp |
| September 17, 2005 |
Effective Website Strategies Boot Camp |
| August 27, 2005 |
Blogger Boot Camp |
| August 11, 2005 |
Branding Boot Camp |
| July 21, 2005 |
Podcasting Boot Camp |
| June 23, 2005 |
Provisional Patent Workshop |
| June 9, 2005 |
Movers & Shakers |
| May 26, 2005 |
Create Your Own Sales Engine Boot Camp |
| May 7, 2005 |
Doing Business in China Boot Camp - Weekend Crash Course |
| April 9, 2005 |
Doing Business with the Government Boot Camp - Weekend Crash Course |
| March 19, 2005 |
Planning Succesful Products - Weekend Crash Course |
| March 12, 2005 |
Freelance Boot Camp - Weekend Crash Course |
| February 26, 2005 |
Creating Effective Web Sites - Weekend Crash Course |
| February 12, 2005 |
Inventor Bootcamp - Weekend
Crash Course |
| January 22, 2005 |
Networking Skills 101 - Weekend Crash Course |
| January 15, 2005 |
Blogger Boot Camp - Weekend
Crash Course |
| November 10, 2004 |
Night with the Visionaries |
| October 28, 2004 |
Movers & Shakers |
| October 23, 2004 |
Starting Ventures - Weekend
Crash Course |
| September 23-24, 2004 |
Colorado Innovation Summit |
| March 6, 2004 |
Stanford Entrepreneurial Summit |
| December 20, 2003 |
Inventor Boot Camp for Kids |
| July 18, 2003 |
Colorado Innovation Summit |
| May 9, 2003 |
Women Angel Summit |
| February 22, 2003 |
Stanford Entrepreneurial Summit |
| November 16, 2002 |
Bootstrap Boot Camp |
| October 22, 2002 |
Inventor Bootcamp |
| September 28, 2002 |
Freelancer Boot Camp |
| July 25, 2002 |
Angel Bootcamp |
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