BrandSlam is in the books!
Innovate Long Island President Marlene McDonnell greets the slammees.
Our free “marketing improv” event, held Oct. 6 at LaunchPad Huntington, was exactly what we’d hoped: fun, instructive, another worthy addition to Innovate Long Island’s entrepreneurial toolbox.
Along with program partners Brandtelling (the Huntington-based PR boutique punching way above its weight) and Stony Brook University Economic Development (the commercialization heavyweights behind SBU’s renowned business incubators and Centers of Excellence), we welcomed an intimate audience for an evening of constructive networking and on-the-fly creativity (and, wow, did you try that nacho dip? Great job, Rust & Gold).
Slammed at work: Germain (left) and Zeller talk it through.
Sprinkled among the “slammees” were several old friends: Great to see Long Island Advancement of Small Business founder John Hill, Bank of America VP and Senior Business Relationship Manager Jadon Flores and Stony Brook University Small Business Development Center Administrator Martha Stansbury, who also happens to be president of the Board of Directors of Women Economic Developers of Long Island.
Hamilton leans into one.
Pina Campagna, partner at Carter, DeLuca & Farrell LLP, we saw you out there, too, and you, Lisa Broughton, Suffolk County Economic Development’s brilliant climate action coordinator/high-tech development specialist. And how can you miss Tom Mariner, not just the deeply invested shepherd of Long Island’s bio-based economy, not merely the seasoned historian of our masterful Voices lineup, but quite possibly Innovate LI’s most boisterous fan?
We were especially excited to make so many new friends. There were super slogan suggestions, amazing advertising advice and beneficial brand-building aplenty, but BrandSlam was ultimately intended as a celebration of innovation – and the creative minds that came to our inaugural stage show certainly didn’t disappoint.
Adam Holtzer, co-founder of “notworking” professional-networking alternative Whoggga, already knew Brandtelling Principal/Chief Brandteller (and BrandSlam Slammer) Arthur Germain, but we at Innovate LI were sure happy to meet him.
ALA Scientific Instruments President Alan Kriegstein takes it all in.
And you, Shelby Mason, whose big idea for Bootights (consider it “solution-based hosiery”) gives you a real leg up; and you, Lori Grant, whose whimsical and empathetic wood carvings (“Meta4icals” … love the name!) might just change psychotherapy and arts & crafts as we know them.
Alena Butkevica, you’re definitely going places with nature-first skincare innovator AB Bioinnovations (including a radio show, maybe?) and can’t you picture ace IP/business formation attorney Allison Singh of Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin & Quartararo LLP onstage with us at BrandSlam 2? We sure can.
AB Bionnovations CEO Alena Butkevica needed a slogan … and a radio show co-host!
BrandSlam 1 wouldn’t have been the energetic, progressive and ultimately enjoyable evening it was without the steady hand of Stony Brook University Economic Development Director of Programs (and BrandSlam emcee) David Hamilton, the generous support of event sponsor ZE Creative Communications and the very capable (and quite nimble) hosting/networking capabilities of LaunchPad Huntington.
To them and to everyone who turned out, thank you sincerely for sharing your ideas, your energy and your other resources … let’s do it again in the spring!
Germain shares the story of “brand storytelling.”
Phil Rugile welcomes all to LaunchPad Huntington.
