Bill Botts: Corporate Governance and the Tools for Success 

This highly interactive workshop addresses the many topics that go into corporate governance and how, done right, using the available tools will assist the entrepreneur to succeed, avoid numerous "speeding bullets" and provide the solid management controls that support the company's investors and growth. Included in this presentation are discussions on forming boards of directors, the role of boards, selecting directors, compensation, responsibilities and code of conduct and ethics. Samples of both will be handed out.

The use of board committees is discussed in detail and sample committee charters will be provided. Statistics will be shown that prove participation by key investors actually raises the likely ROI to founders and investors. Mentoring is an important aspect of most early stage companies and will be discussed. Governance itself includes discussions of internal controls, safeguards against fraud and clean and simple communications processes for investors. The Sarbanes-Oxley law will be discussed briefly leading to an understanding of how SOX in fact does touch on small private firms, particularly those planning an IPO or being acquired. A summary will bring together all of the pieces recommended for a cost effective program for small private firms. This lecture uses many real life examples to illustrate both the right and wrong ways to operate and the consequences for numerous actual companies, boards and situations. It will encourage interactions between the attendees and the presenter so that the concepts are made more applicable to the attendees companies and problems.

Bill Botts has over 55 years of experience as President, CEO, Director and/or Chairman of more than 45 public and private companies. His early focus was the high tech arena. In 1998 Mr. Botts took over a failed CAD software company in San Francisco and created Vertex Design Systems. He has been active with many companies needing start-up or turnaround help.

This is the first of a six-part event. For more information about future Speaker Series events, please visit http://www.techcolumbus.org/about-tech-columbus/resources/events/speaker-series/.