South Florida Business Journal
Written by Jane Teague
Autumn is a great time to re-charge and build networks
For some, New Year’s Eve signals a time to reassess and commit to the promise of a new lifestyle, career or relationship. For others, spring is representative of new beginnings. But for me, autumn has always been the season for renewal. Perhaps it is because I grew up in the northeast, where autumn signals a new harvest, and crisp mornings mark an end to summer’s oppressive heat.
As we welcome autumn in South Florida, there is no better time to reflect, renew and re-engage.
Large conference groups convene in Florida and offer updates on the latest science and technology trends. Statewide associations re-emerge after the summer months and leadership convenes to plan for Florida’s future.
And with an abundance of local groups and associations offering events daily for networking, education and human interaction, plugging in and recharging has never been easier. Below are just some of the possibilities:
Enterprise Development Corp. of South Florida (EDC)
EDC provides entrepreneurial support services and business incubation to high growth potential companies. EDC’s 16th Annual Emerging Technology Business Showcase (ETBS): South Florida’s Got Talent will take place on Nov. 14 in Fort Lauderdale, where entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors and service providers will hear from industry experts as well as 15 - 20 of South Florida’s most promising early stage companies. www.edc-tech.org.
Florida Foreign Trade Association (FFTA) XVII Alliance Business Expo
The FFTA provides individuals and companies a forum to exchange information and directly participate in foreign trade missions and local events. The XVII Alliance Business Expo will take place on Oct. 2 in Miami, featuring new services, products, and investment opportunities. www.ffta.com.
Florida Women’s Business Center (FLWBC) Terrific Tuesday Networking Events
The Florida Women's Business Center (FLWBC) is one of 100 Women's Business Centers nationally supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The organization provides training and multiple resources and referrals for women entrepreneurs. These events are held in West Palm Beach www.flwbc.org.
Small Business Investor Alliance National Summit for Middle Market Funds
This Summit is a national event that connects 400+ private equity fund managers, institutional investors, limited partners, investment bankers, and select professional service providers over the course of three days in Palm Beach from October 13th – 15th. www.sbia.org.
South Florida Technology Alliance (STFA)
The SFTA promotes the growth and success of the regional technology community. Offering monthly events, Citrix recently hosted Big Data Means Big Money, How IT Can Drive Profits not Overhead in Fort Lauderdale, where industry experts discussed how they are translating technology into business intelligence, customer engagement and revenues. www.southfloridatech.org.
Wireless Infrastructure Association (PCIA) Wireless Infrastructure Show
The PCIA represents the carriers, infrastructure providers and professional services firms that own and manage more than 130,000 telecommunications facilities throughout the world. The 2013 Wireless Infrastructure Show is taking place in Fort Lauderdale from October 7th – 10th. www.wirelessinfrastructureshow.com.
Looking ahead to 2014, you will want to consider The BioFlorida Latin America & Caribbean Life Sciences Conference, taking place on March 28 at Florida International University, which will provide a platform for commercial interaction among companies and research institutions in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean. www.bioflorida.com.
Also next spring, from May 4 through May 6 in Miami, the Technology Foundation of the Americas (TFA) will host the eMerge Americas Conference, a large-scale event focused on the key trends driving growth in the Latin American IT market. www.tfamericas.org/.
Although the days are getting shorter, there is plenty of time to explore the abundant resources available for jumpstarting your renewal. Much like our mobile devices, plugging in and recharging is essential for optimum performance.