From Startup to Exit: How Three Phoenix Entrepreneurs Bootstrapped Their Way to Success

Phoenix, Ariz. (PRWEB) January 20, 2010

TiE-Arizona, the local chapter of TiE, the largest global association of entrepreneurs, will host “From Startup to Exit: How Three Phoenix Entrepreneurs Bootstrapped Their Way to Success” on February 11, 2010 in Tempe. The event features a panel of women entrepreneurs who founded and grew successful companies in Phoenix: Brenda McCaffrey, Ph.D., founder of White Mountain Labs; Stephanie Houser, co-founder of Launch, and Michelle Kort, founder of As You Wish pottery studios. The panel is being moderated by Kathy Sacks, founder of Sacks PR, bizAZ and bizSanDiego.

These founders will share lessons learned from bootstrapping their rapid growth to successful acquisitions. You’ll also hear about the special challenges and advantages of being a women entrepreneur and CEO.

Featured panelists include:

•     Brenda McCaffrey, Ph.D
•     Stephanie Houser
•     Michelle Kort
•     Panel Moderator: Kathy Sacks

“We’re pleased to have a group of proven entrepreneurs that can speak to what it takes to not only bootstrap a business to growth and profitability, but also what it takes to get to a successful exit,” said Michael Hool, President of TiE-Arizona.

About the Speakers:

Brenda McCaffrey, Ph.D.
In 1999, Dr. McCaffrey founded White Mountain Labs, a bootstrapped semiconductor test company, and profitably operated this company for 8 years until it was acquired by Evans Analytical Group in December 2007. Prior to founding White Mountain Labs, Dr. McCaffrey worked in industry as a circuit designer, device physics engineer, and reliability engineer.

Stephanie Houser
In 2004, Stephanie House co-founded LAUNCH, a Phoenix-based marketing agency for startups. In 2006, LAUNCH was acquired by a national agency, Allison and Partners, and Stephanie went on to launch flix, a video production and digital media company.

Michelle Kort
In Michelle Kort founded As You Wish, one of the first paint-your-own pottery studios in the Nation, in Scottsdale in 1995. As You Wish quickly became one of the premier studios in the country and is now owned and operated by Scott and Lori Neff.

Kathy Sacks
A magazine editor, veteran communications pro and proven entrepreneur, Kathy Sacks' marketing career spans over 15 years, having served on all sides of the marketing, journalism and PR desk. Before starting her firm, Sacks PR, in 2005 Kathy led marketing and communications for the Arizona Technology Council. Prior to that, she co-owned bizAZ magazine, one of the leading business magazines in Arizona serving as Editor-in-Chief. In 2005, she sold bizAZ to publishing giant, Gannett Co., Inc. She later co-founded bizSanDiego, a business magazine serving the San Diego area.

Event Details:

Title: From Startup to Exit
Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Location: Tempe Center of the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, Arizona 85281

To learn more about the agenda or register for this event, please visit http://az.tie.org. Because there is a limited capacity for this event, we recommend advanced registration. Those registering for the event after February 5th, will be charged an additional $10 Late Registration fee.

About TiE-AZ:
TiE, a not-for-profit global network of entrepreneurs and professionals, was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley, Calif. Although its birth name, The Indus Entrepreneurs, signifies the ethnic South Asian or Indus roots of the founders, TiE stands for Talent, Ideas and Enterprise. The local Arizona Chapter, TiE-AZ, cultivates Arizona's entrepreneurial ecosystem while fostering its connections around the globe, providing an opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs in various stages of realizing their entrepreneurial dreams. These informal networks provide guidance, support and friendship from others with similar quests. Members are entrepreneurs and professionals with an interest in entrepreneurship, either in a start-up context or within a larger company. They represent a diverse set of industries, including software and information technologies, life science, financial services and other services. Membership is open to individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. For more visit http://az.tie.org.

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