Contact
Brittany Simers, OzSBI Program AdministratorOzarks Small Business Incubator
417-256-9724
brittanysimers@ozsbi.com
Welocme to EPIC 19!
Hear from local entrepreneurs about their journeys of starting their own businesses, their rewards and pitfalls, and what it took to become successful at EPIC, OzSBI's annual National Small Business Week celebration!
Event Schedule:
1:00 – 1:30 Registration & Mingle
1:30 – 1:45 Welcome
1:45 – 2:45 Ozark Innovators Roundtable (includes 15 min Q&A session)
2:45 – 3:00 Break
3:00 – 4:15 Keynote Speaker – Ellen Rohr
4:15 – 5:00 Business Mix & Mingle
5:00 - 6:00 Pitch Competition
6:00 – 6:05 Announcement of Entrepreneur of The Year
6:05 – 6:10 Announcement of Pitch Competition Winner
Rockin' Referral Marketing with Ellen Rohr
Ellen nearly sank her husband’s plumbing company after his partner died unexpectedly. Boy, was she humbled! It seemed like lots of money was moving through the company, but at the end of the month there was never any money left. In desperation, Ellen figured out how to make lots money and turned the business around. She inspires thousands, in workshops, presentations and online, to make business un-complicated and live life un-leashed.
Ellen is also a successful franchisor, helping launch a plumbing franchise to 47 locations and $40 million in sales in under 2 years. Now, she is the president of Zoom Drain and Sewer, LLC. a new franchise concept operating in 12 locations, and tracking $18 million in franchisee sales. She is a columnist for PHC News, and an “in the trenches” contributor to many business journals and trade magazines. Ellen is a popular, high-energy TV Celebrity who has been on over 150 news programs, encouraging people to make their own money.
Ellen is the author of four un-fussy business books: Where Did the Money Go?, How Much Should I Charge?, The Bare Bones Biz Plan and The Weekend Biz Plan.
Ozark Innovators:
Phil Wages - Wages Brewing Company
Phil Wages has seven years of experience developing and running his own business (Wages Brewing Company), 21 years of experience with online auctions (eMoviePoster.com), and three years of experience on local committees/boards (Oktoberfest, West Plains Economic Development Corporation). His brewery serves not only beer, but also social interaction and community forward thinking. As if there isn't enough on his plate, he always offers Facebook and business start-up consulting In addition to himself and his wife, Amber, Wages started with one part-time employee and has since promoted that employee to a full-time position while hiring a second part-time employee. Phil was selected as the Entrepreneur of the Year at EPIC 2018.
Melanie Stinnett - TheraCare Outpatient Services, LLC
Melanie Stinnett, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist and owner of TheraCare Outpatient Services in Springfield, MO. After graduating from Missouri State University in 2010, she began to recognize a significant need for increased pediatric therapy options in Southwest Missouri. Since the opening of TheraCare in 2014, her business has steadily grown with a focus on improving quality of life and confidence for the families and individuals served. She is passionate about serving others and thinking outside of the box to increase opportunities for skilled therapy services.
Omar Galal - Enginuity, LLC, Makers of RainReserve
Omar Galal is a mechanical design engineer and and a serial entrepreneur, holding degrees in both mechanical and aeronautical engineering with an emphasis in manufacturing from Arizona State University. He has held corporate positions as a test and project design engineer in construction, automotive and aerospace industries where he designed and managed projects like the B2 Stealth Bomber bomb ejection system, Delta IV mission critical safe/arm device, and the Atlas V mission critical Liquid Rocket Booster Separation System. Omar made a permanent career transition toward entrepreneurship, dedicating himself to a mission of creating sustainable food, water and energy systems. He currently owns and operates a plastic injection molding company used to manufacture his patented rain water harvesting system, a food processing plant focusing on sustainable local food movement, and Carbon Cycle, a waste-to-energy company.
Pitch Competition
The EPIC Pitch Competition will feature a student and community division. Finalists from OzSBI's Pitch Fest will be selected to compete for cash and prizes at the EPIC Pitch Competition.
First Place Prize: $350 cash, 3 mentoring sessions (valued at $480) and 1 year coworking space at OzSBI (valued at $720)
Second Place Prize: $250 cash and 2 mentoring sessions from OzSBI mentors
Third Place Prize: $150 cash and 1 mentoring session from OzSBI mentors
OzSBI Entrepreneur of the Year
Since 2014, OzSBI has honored an area entrepreneur by naming them OzSBI’s Entrepreneur of the Year at our annual EPIC celebration.
National Small Business Week gives us the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from our seven-county area. Every day, they’re working to grow small businesses, create sustainable jobs, drive innovation and increase America’s global competitiveness.
We will announce the OzSBI Enterpreneur of the Year after the Pitch Competition.
Nominations for Entrepreneur of the Year are open to the public until Friday, April 26th. To nominate an inividual, please visit here.
Thank You, EPIC Sponsors!
